Toon Goggles
Toon Goggles is an American on-demand entertainment service for children that provides animated cartoons, live-action shows, games and music worldwide via the web and mobile applications on smartphones, OTT devices, smart TVs and tablets,[1] led by CEO and co-founder Stephen Hodge.
Based in Los Angeles, CA, Toon Goggles has developed partnerships with Sony, Samsung and Roku.[2] Their children's content is compliant with COPPA (Children's Online Privacy Protection Act).[3]
Toon Goggles allows animators to publish their shows for free. Animation rights holders are then provided with analytical data regarding the popularity of each show that they can present to network producers and/or investors.[4]
In December 2014, Toon Goggles introduced 4K streaming of 18 series within their service.[5]
Features
Many of Toon Goggles customers use the service on children's tablets, especially Techno Source's Kurio7[6] and Oregon Scientific's MEEP![7]
- Some Features Include:
- 6 show categories including boys, girls, action, comedy, preschool, and educational
- 6 game categories including arcade, puzzle, sports, action, strategy and adventures
- News stories and educational content for kids and tweens
- TG Radio, a kid-safe music service with pop hits and soundtracks
- Parental control switch to monitor viewing
- UHD 4K streaming[8]
- Access over 3G/4G/Wi-Fi and ability to save cartoons for offline viewing
- Localized interface in 18 different languages for global use
Background
The Toon Goggles application is developed by Toon Goggles Inc., a start-up based in Los Angeles. In 2011, a demo website (www.toongoggles.com) was created to take to MIPCOM to show animation companies the exposure they could receive by placing their cartoons on the Toon Goggles service.[9] The mobile application was created soon after. In 2012, the platform secured one of its first partnerships with Panasonic to appear on the VIERA Connect television.[10] Toon Goggles has been pre-installed and promoted on a variety of devices for sale.
Stephen L. Hodge, Managing Director, spearheaded the creation of Toon Goggles in 2011.[11] James R. Cahall, Chief Technology Officer, heads the service's technology development and feature integration, including the company's move to offer 4K streaming.[12] Jordan Warkol, Director of Business Development was an actor for 15 years starting at the age of 4 playing 'Froggy' in the 1994 version of "The Little Rascals.".[13]
Business model
Originally a free service, Toon Goggles now follows the Freemium model, offering users free content with pre-screened advertising and the ability to upgrade to the subscription service with an ad-free model.[14]
Partners
Toon Goggles has the following partnerships.
- Samsung[2]
- Panasonic[10]
- Sharp Aquos
- Sony[15]
- Roku[16]
- Western Digital[17]
- Vizio[18]
- Wide Open West[19]
- Seiki[20]
- KD Interactive[21]
- Techno Source[6]
- Oregon Scientific[7]
- Netrange[22]
- Southern Telecom[23]
- Hisense[24]
- Idolian Mobile[25]
- Nook[26]
- U.S. Cellular[27]
- Other Partners:
References
- "Toon Goggles". www.toongoggles.com. Retrieved 2018-09-07.
- Gary Rusak, "Toon Goggles added to Samsung’s Smart TV platform", Kids Screen, 1/23/2014
- Jesse Whittock, "Toon Goggles Builds Library with YFE",C21 Media, 1/31/2012
- Wendy Goldman Getzler, "Cartoon website targets kids and network execs",Kids Screen, 3/18/2011
- Ryan Waniata, " Vizio’s P-series 4K UHD TVs will get more content thanks to Amazon, Ultraflix, and Toon Goggles", Digital Trends, 12/22/2014
- Anna Attkisson, "Techno Source Kurio 7 Review", Laptop Mag, 09/14/2012
- Jeremy Dickson, "Toon Goggles hits the Meep! screen tablet",Kids Screen, 9/12/2012
- "Sony Electronics Showcases New 4K Ultra HD TV Line", 1/25/2015
- Jeremy Dickson, "Toon Goggles secures kids content from BRB",Kids Screen, 7/17/2012
- Jeremy Dickson, "Toon Goggles content to reach Panasonic smart TVs",Kids Screen, 6/14/2012
- "Toon Goggles, Inc". Gust. Retrieved 2018-09-07.
- "Powerslyde Profiles – Stories Behind The Apps: Toon Goggles". powerslyde. 2013-11-19. Retrieved 2018-09-07.
- "Jordan Warkol". IMDb. Retrieved 2018-09-07.
- "Toon Goggles Initiates Subscription Based Service",PR Web, 10/01/2012
- Ed Washington, "Toon Goggles lands on Sony Xperia", Animation World Network, 2/04/2013
- Roku. "Roku". Roku. Retrieved 2018-09-07.
- Jeremy Dickson, "Western Digital puts on Toon Goggles", Kids Screen, 1/07/2014
- Mercedes Milligan, "Toon Goggles, VIZIO Partnership Kicks Off",Animation Magazine, 8/04/2014
- "Toon Goggles launches on WOW! Ultra TVs",Animation Magazine, 12/15/2014
- "Seiki/Toon Goggles Partnership Brings 4K and More to Streaming Kids' Video". PRWeb. Retrieved 2018-09-07.
- "http://mobileandroidgeeks.com/toon-glasses-in-partnership-with-techno-source-on-new-kurio7-android-tablet-for-families.html"
- Jeremy Dickson, "Netrange Deal Brings Kids Entertainment Platform to Smart TVs Everywhere", 12/29/2014
- Wendy Goldman Getzler, "Polaroid’s kids Tablet to feature Toon Goggles content",Kids Screen, 5/28/2013
- "Kids Service Toon Goggles Signs Content Deal with Over-the-Top Provider XUMO to Add Free Children's Entertainment to 20 Million Devices: LG Smart TVs Included". Multichannel. Retrieved 2018-09-07.
- http://www.wxvt.com/story/22070655/idolian-mobile-to-add-toon-goggles-app-to-its-line-of-android-tablets-pcs
- "Toon Goggles Launches Free App For Barnes and Noble’s Critically Acclaimed Nook HD and Nook HD+",Business Wire, 3/04/2013
- "Toon Goggles Brings Kids Mobile Hub to US Cellular Customers",Consumer Electronics Net, 1/20/2015
- "Toon Goggles Signs Deal with PacketVideo". Animation World Network. Retrieved 2018-09-07.