In early 2022, The Daily Wire pledged to invest US$100 million in kids content over a period of three years. And in October 2023, its first major kids venture emerged with the launch of Bentkey. Unlike its controversial parent company’s unequivocal focus on conservative viewpoints, Bentkey claims to be intentionally apolitical. Available in the US for US$99 annually, the SVOD platform is marketed as an alternative entertainment platform adhering to traditional family values.

According to The Daily Wire, it’s an answer to market demand from conservative families for programming that runs counter to what it characterizes as left-leaning content currently available on Disney+.

Bentkey is open to a wide variety of content, as long as it doesn’t “challenge the broad values of our core audience,” explains The Daily Wire co-founder Jeremy Boreing, who spearheaded the development and rollout of Bentkey.

At launch, the platform offered 162 episodes from a catalogue of 17 shows, including four originals (a.k.a. “Bentkey Adventures”). Bentkey’s lineup so far has mainly targeted preschoolers, with flagship titles including 2D toon Chip Chilla and live-action series A Wonderful Day with Mabel Maclay. While its long-term goal is to ramp up more of this proprietary content, Bentkey’s big focus right now is stocking up on acquisitions, says Boreing.

What is Bentkey looking for?
As a young platform, Bentkey is still learning its audiences’ preferences. The app is casting a wide net for all formats, with a slight preference for animation. Longform tween storytelling is especially high on the team’s wishlist. “That preteen market is where we would like to do more development and acquisition,” says Boreing.

Despite the current lineup’s preschool skew, Bentkey’s most-watched acquisition toon is the Viking-inspired tween fantasy Runes (26 x 22 minutes) from France’s Les Armateurs. “Over the next 24 months, we want to grow a more robust offering for eight-plus,” says Boreing. He’s also keen to scoop up classic IP libraries, as well as popular international series that have been under-exposed in the US market. “We’re looking for shows made by producers around the world who understand and appreciate the sanctity of childhood.”

Bentkey is open to acquiring completed titles, as well as getting involved in projects that are still in early development. There are even opportunities for something in between—a good case in point is Gus Plus Us (13 x 11 minutes) from Texas-based Caster Studios. The streamer acquired season one for launch, and is on board to co-produce season two.

Just launched and coming up next
The platform recently added a 2D-animated Millimages series called Louie & Yoko Build (78 x seven minutes), as well as BBC Studios/BYUtv’s The Canterville Ghost (four x 52 minutes). Meanwhile, Chip Chilla and A Wonderful Day with Mabel Maclay will return with second seasons later this year.

Boreing adds that two more as-yet-unannounced animated series are in the works to join the Bentkey Adventures roster. But the platform’s most ambitious in-house production will be its first feature film, Snow White and the Evil Queen. This live-action pic is in pre-production now and targeting a 2024 release

This story originally appeared in Kidscreen‘s February/March 2024 magazine issue.

Featured image from left to right: Runes, Chip Chilla and Snow White and the Evil Queen.