In deepening its multi-platform strategy, preschool network Sprout has created Ruff-Ruff, Tweet & Dave, a show that encourages kids to simultaneously watch and play on their tablets at the same time.  The network has also renewed a second season of The Chica Show.

The original series Ruff-Ruff and Tweet & Dave joins new programming acquisitions including Tree Fu Tom, Boj and Driftwood Bay. Sprout also recently announced the renewal of LazyTown for a third season and earlier this year introduced a new-short form music series entitled Sing It, Laurie!

Debuting on Sprout in 2014, Ruff-Ruff, Tweet & Dave is a preschool game show that encourages kids to play along on a smartphone or tablet. Ruff-Ruff, Tweet & Dave are three young friends who ask multiple-choice questions to kids throughout the show. Audio watermarking technology will be utilized to activate smartphones and tablets so kids can use their devices to select the right answers to the questions. Ruff-Ruff, Tweet & Dave is a co-production with Collingwood O’Hare, one of the studios behind The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That! and in association with Sparky Animation and Bejuba! Entertainment. It has also been pre-sold to CBeebies in the UK.

The Chica Show was Sprout’s highest-rated original series premiere to-date when it launched in November 2012. Its second season will debut in July.

Timed with the content additions, Sprout is expanding its online presence, digital capabilities and consumer products business. The network recently re-launched its website and introduced an online retail site. So far, Sprout has released more than 100 new online games this year. The network has also launched a video jukebox microsite called Sprout Tunes, where families can watch more than 40 full-length music videos.