Pocket.watch Launches 24/7 Kids’ Channel on Roku’s Ad-Supported Streaming Platform

Pocket.watch, a children’s entertainment company, has announced the launch of a 24/7 channel on Roku’s ad-supported streaming service, The Roku Channel. The new channel will be housed in the newly launched Roku Kids section of the streamer’s ad-supported service, making it one of the first partners on the new destination. As part of the partnership, pocket.watch will act as a featured content provider, premiering exclusive content from Ryan Kaji of the YouTube channel Ryan’s ToysReview. Pocket.watch plans to launch five 22-minute ad-supported “Ryan’s World” specials that will be exclusive to the platform until Nov. 19. Overall, pocket.watch’s 24/7 channel will include content from the company’s content partners, including Ryan’s ToysReview, EvanTube, JillianTube, and the HobbyKids. “Families have come to know pocket.watch as a trusted source for family-friendly content, and it’s a top priority for us to connect families with the popular content they love in environments that are safe, curated and premium,” Chris M. Williams, pocket.watch CEO, said. “We are proud to work with great new OTT services like The Roku Channel to deliver quality programming with today’s biggest digital stars to their quickly growing audiences.” Among the premium content featured on pocket.watch’s channel will be a daily two-hour “Ryan’s World” block, an animated cartoon based on the HobbyKids family, co-created by Butch Hartman (“Fairly Odd Parents,” “Danny Phantom”), a live-action and animation hybrid from EvanTube, and mixed-media “play-ventures.” In the future, the company says it plans to launch additional content from its other digital partners, including The Onyx Family, MarMar, and a host of new pocket.watch creators. “We’re excited to have pocket.watch content available on Roku Kids,” Rob Holmes, vice president of programming and engagement at Roku, said. “The desire for free, ad-supported entertainment continues to grow and working with pocket.watch gives us an incredible portfolio of series representing family-friendly talent and brands from the digital world.” Launched by former Disney exec Chris Williams in 2017, pocket.watch has made a business by creating franchises based on popular YouTube creators. It has developed and launched a consumer product line based on Ryan’s ToysReview and also produces “Ryan’s Mystery Playdate,” which airs on Nickelodeon. Based in Culver City, the company has raised more than $20 million in funding from investors, including Viacom, Greycroft, Third Wave Digital and United Talent Agency (UTA).