"We see the launch of Discovery Kids on NBC as an important investment in our licensees and a terrific opportunity to create valuable product extensions for our popular kids programming, as well as the overall Discovery Kids brand," said Neal Lieberman, vice president of licensing for Discovery Communications.

Other programs in the three-hour block are “Walking with Dinosaurs,” a fast-paced, half-hour series derived from Discovery’s hit show and targeted to a young audience; “Endurance,” a high-stakes competition drama that challenge young contestants to figure out what it takes to prevail in matches of skill, strength, speed and smarts; and “Black Hole High,” which invites kids to an extraordinary middle school where scientific mysteries and oddities are the norm.

In addition to the coalition with NBC, Discovery Kids is overhauling its Ready, Set, Learn television lineup. Ready, Set, Learn is a programming block that is televised on the Learning Channel and targets preschoolers.

Under the changes, the weekday morning block will feature a new host, Little Penguin, who will appear in both animated and live-action form. The revamped format will also feature new curriculum-based series developed by top kids producers and studios, including Jim Henson Productions, WGBH and Decode.
The launch of the new format will take place February 24 and will provide a safe, active, participatory alternative for early learners from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m.

Programming will include “Animal Jam, a live-action dance series from Jim Henson Productions; "Save-Ums," an action-packed 3-D animated series with mini-superheroes; and "Ni Ni’s Treehouse," a returning live-action series from Ready, Set, Learn that demonstrates powers of imagination.

Also joining the lineup later next year will be "Toddworld," a quirky new animated series based on the inspirational books from author Todd Parr, and “Peep and the Big Wide World,” a science and nature program from the WGBH production team.

Ready, Set, Learn started on TLC in December 2010, and has helped young children gain social skills in preparation for school and life beyond the home.

The block of programming has received several awards from the National Education Assn. and the American Academy of Children’s Entertainment. It also has received a 2010 CableAce Creators Award.