Press release from ABC
Octonauts, an ABC For Kids program, has achieved unprecedented success online and on air in its first four weeks of broadcast.
The share among viewers aged 0-4 was 33% after its premiere on January 2 at 5.10 on ABC2. It also received a 39% share among the same audience after it aired on ABC1 on January 3 at 8.15am.
Amongst viewers aged 5-12, Octonauts ranked number one on ABC1 rating the highest for series average and peak episode during the month of January.
ABC TV online have also recorded success with the program after it nearly half a million plays across ABC TV's iview and 'Watch Now' services.
ABC TV‟s iview recorded 108,000 plays for Octonauts and placed it in the top program spot for the month of January.
During the same period, the ABC For Kids 'Watch Now' service recorded 370,000 plays of streamed video content as well as the Octonauts TV page receiving 94,000 visits and 123,000 page views.
Octonauts follows a team of adventurous heroes who dive into action whenever there is trouble under the sea. The series was adapted from the award-winning imaginative books by design team Meomi, produced by UK Company, Chorion (Olivia) and animated by Academy Award nominee Brown Bag Studios of Eire.
Controller of ABC TV's Children's Television Tim Brooke-Hunt said “The strong cross-platform success of the Octonauts on ABC For Kids, both on air and on line, which was achieved very quickly after release, proves that our younger audience like to engage very broadly with their favourite programs. Chorion is to be congratulated on this unprecedented runaway success.”
SVP Creative for Chorion Kurt Mueller said: “Octonauts was made for anyone with a curious mind, a love of nature, and a soft spot for daredevil cats with mysterious pirate pasts! We're thrilled that ABC and its audience has embraced the show and its characters with such enthusiasm and affection.”