ABC TV is gearing up for the Christmas launch of kid-targeted ABC3, along with a number of other changes and activities set to take place before the year’s end.

The net’s currently on a national hunt called Me on 3 for hosts for the new digital FTA channel, looking for diverse new talent and big personalities with kid appeal. More details are available at abc.net.au/meon3, with applications closing on July 17.

ABC3 will target the six to 15 age demo, with a core demo of eight to 12s, offering programming on-air and online in dramas, adventure series, music, wildlife, quiz shows, comedies, Indigenous programs, news and sport. It’ll broadcast daily from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Kim Dalton, ABC’s director of television, stated that while he knows it’ll take time, the net’s long-term aim is to attain 50% of broadcast content on ABC3 to be Australian. He also notes that ABC3 will target primary school kids, while a new dedicated preschool block called ABCforKids will air on ABC2 by the end of the year. It’ll air weekdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on weekends from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Since announcing a number of live-action and animated series back in April, ABC has brought on a number of other projects, including live-action comedy After School Care (a joint initiative between ABC3, Film Victoria and the Australian Children’s Television Foundation), character-driven sitcom West Coast Kids (joint project with Screen West and the Australian Children’s Television Foundation), kid-friendly News and Current Affairs (produced by ABC TV’s Behind the News team in Adelaide), Extreme Sports and Culture, which explores art, music and fashion that’s centered around extreme sports, and Music.

ABC3 will also be boast an online hub that’ll feature social interactivity, games, video, and user-generated content, with TV experience will be extended through websites, blogs and a range of entertaining and informative online activities along with access to access ABC3 programs.