New Children's App Granted First U Rating From BBFC

Hopster Launches With Unlimited, On-Demand TV And Learning App For Kids Aged 2-6

No Ads, No Unexpected In-App Payments – Only Good Stuff

13 March, 2014 – LONDON, UK – Parents concerned about the quality of kids TV, bamboozled by the choice of mobile apps, or frustrated with ads and unexpected in-app payments need worry no longer. Hopster, the new unlimited, subscription based TV and learning app for preschoolers makes screen time good for kids and guilt-free for parents by combining world-class kids TV shows with fun learning games.

Family viewing habits are changing. Kid’s total time spent watching TV is in decline. Complementing the traditional big screen is a host of new devices and a range of new content. With over 60% of children aged 2-6 in the UK having access to an iPad and half of parents spending £10-14.99 a month on digital content, this new world has created new issues for parents. Research conducted for Hopster by specialist youth research agency Dubit, found that the expense of digital content, worries about in-app payments and concerns over quality programming topped a list of parents’ concerns. As kids use of digital continues to grow, there’s increasing desire for high quality, safe, on-demand content that parents can trust.

Developed in accordance with the UK Early Years Foundation, multiple international learning curriculums and leading educationalists, Hopster is the first app to ever be granted a U rating by the BBFC (British Board of Film Classification), ensuring content is particularly suitable for preschoolers.

“The U rating is well recognised by parents in the UK as marking content that’s particularly suitable for younger children”, added David Austin, Assistant Director at the BBFC. “Our primary role is protecting children from unsuitable content and ensuring parents can make informed choices about what their children watch. The TV shows and games on the Hopster app are all classified according to the BBFC Guidelines, which are based on regular and large-scale public consultation exercises. By only providing content that is classified U, the Hopster app gives parents the confidence that their children are accessing age appropriate TV shows and games.”

How Hopster works
Hopster is available for iPad and designed exclusively for 2-6 year olds. You can download the app for free from the App Store and then unlock the full range of content for a monthly subscription fee of only £3.99 – which is easy to administer because it’s linked to your Apple account, and easy to cancel anytime if you wish.

Hopster’s library includes over 1000 episodes of world-class programmes that are available on-demand and will capture the imagination of any toddler. New episodes are added weekly from shows such as Babar, Madeline, Paddington Bear and 64 Zoo Lane to Monster Math Squad, Louis, Ben & Holly’s Little Kingdom and Tractor Tom.

What’s more, the team behind Hopster has created a beautiful world that’s a pleasure for kids to swipe through and explore entirely on their own. And because there are no ads, and no sneaky in-app purchases, parents can rest assured they won’t be hit with a surprise bill or toy request from their toddler.

Nick Walters, Hopster Founder added, “Hopster’s a new type of kids TV service designed for touch screens first. The magic of touch screens is that they enable us to put two screens in one: combining brilliant TV shows and fun, learning games, all in a beautiful world that’s a pleasure to swipe through and explore. It’s a completely different experience from linear TV or conventional video on demand services. In fact, it’s never been done before and it’s an experience we think kids and parents are going to love.”

Hopster’s full range of programmes currently includes subscription video on demand episodes of kid’s favourites: Ben & Holly’s Little Kingdom, Humf, Tractor Tom, Babar, Babar and the Adventures of Badou, Little Bear, Max & Rub, Maggie & The Ferocious Beast, SuperWhy, Madeline, Paddington Bear, Monster Math Squad, 64 Zoo Lane, Pablo the Little Red Fox and Louie. More will be announced in the coming months.

-ENDS-

Notes to Editors:
Research for Hopster was conducted by research agency Dubit in January 2014 amongst 1000 parents of children aged between two and six years old across the UK.

Source: RealWire