The increasingly influential tween demo will have a new show at its fingertips, as Canada’s DHX-owned Family Channel starts production on Savvy, a new girl-skewing pop culture series.
Commissioned by DHX Television and produced by Banger Films’ kids programming division, B Minnors, magazine-style Savvy will feature segments relating to music, fashion and DIY through peer profiles and how-to videos. The 20 x half-hour eps will debut on Family in spring 2016 and will be distributed globally by DHX Media.
Savvy revolves around three very different female hosts – newcomers Tehya Silbermann, Sarah Webber and Spencer Barbosa (pictured) – who feel like they’re drowning in a tidal wave of tutus, tiaras and princess dresses. Despite their different backgrounds, musical tastes and celebrity crushes, the girls put their fashion differences behind them and combine forces to create an online destination that reflects their lives in an authentic way.
DHX Television original production VP Michael Goldsmith says the show is in response to tween girls’ penchant for daily pop culture inspiration. Something they’re undoubtedly fulfilling on YouTube, and the series’ resemblance to current content on the Google-owned platform is apparent. (Yes, Savvy will have cat videos, too).
Among the studies re-affirming YouTube’s place atop tweens’ entertainment choices is a recent KidSay report, which ranked the service as the top site for US tweens and teens. And the findings showed that girls’ preferences revolved around DIY and lifestyle-focused channels.