From Hollywood’s dual strikes, to deep content cuts in streaming, the kids entertainment industry had much more to grapple with in 2023 than usual.

But despite all of the challenges, many companies retrenched, refocused and brought their A-games in 2023. The votes for this year’s Kidscreen Hot50 ranking have been tallied, and here are the industry’s picks for the hottest companies in broadcasting, production, distribution, licensing and digital media.

PBS KIDS made Hot50 history in broadcasting by becoming the first linear channel to take the number-one spot, after years of streaming domination by Netflix and, more recently, Disney+. Among its achievements, the US public broadcaster responded to the post-pandemic learning loss by integrating critical topics like civics in new series Rosie’s Rules and computational thinking in Work It Out Wombats!. In the same category, British broadcaster Sky made its Hot50 debut on the heels of launching an ad-free Sky Kids linear channel.

Last year’s production runner-up Aardman earned its first crown in the category after a busy year that culminated with delivering its long-awaited sequel Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget (pictured) to Netflix for a December 15 global movie premiere. The studio also collaborated with Lucasfilm on an acclaimed episode of Disney+ anthology series Star Wars: Visions Season Two.

Mattel was a force to be reckoned with this year, rocketing from ninth spot in 2022 all the way up to number-one in licensing on the strength of its impressive movie tie-in program for Barbie.

Meanwhile, 9 Story Distribution International snagged its second consecutive distribution title, with industry voters giving props to its AVOD sales efforts (1,700 half hours of new content were placed on those platforms in the past year) and acquisitions growth strategy (seven new series were added to the portfolio, including two from South Korea).

In digital media, PBS KIDS reclaimed its number-one spot by producing content that’s bolstering foundational learning in social studies among US kids. The pubcaster also launched its first original podcast (Keyshawn Solves It) this year.

As for Hot50 newcomers, Aussie prodco Cheeky Little Media (Kangaroo Beach), LA-based Titmouse (Angry Birds Mystery Island), mindfulness brand Headspace (The Mindful Adventures of Unicorn Island) and Banijay Kids & Family (Totally Spies!) all made the cut for the first time.

Here are the complete Hot50 lists by category for 2023:

BROADCASTING
1. PBS KIDS
2. BBC Children’s
3. Apple TV+
4. Netflix
5. Sky Kids
6. ABC Australia
7. Disney+
8. TVOKids
9. CBC Kids
10. WildBrain

PRODUCTION
1. Aardman Animations
2. Ludo Studio
3. Atomic Cartoons
4. 9 Story Media Group/Brown Bag Films
5. Fred Rogers Productions
6. Sinking Ship Entertainment
7. Titmouse
8. Cheeky Little Media
9. Mattel TV
10. BBC Studios Kids & Family

DISTRIBUTION
1. 9 Story Distribution International
2. CAKE
3. Jetpack Distribution
4. Sinking Ship Entertainment
5. WildBrain
6. Sesame Workshop
7. Aardman Animations
8. Banijay Kids & Family
9. Guru Studio
10. Australian Children’s Television Foundation

LICENSING
1. Mattel
2. 9 Story Brands
3. Aardman Animations
4. WildBrain
5. Spin Master
6. BBC Studios Kids & Family
7. Sesame Workshop
8. Jazwares
9. Sinking Ship Entertainment
10. Paramount Consumer Products

DIGITAL MEDIA
1. PBS KIDS
2. Moonbug Entertainment
3. Aardman Animations
4. WildBrain
5. Sesame Workshop
6. 9 Story Media Group
7. Mattel
8. Headspace
9. The LEGO Group
10. Dubit

All of these companies are showcased in a special feature that’s available for download now. It will also be part of Kidscreen’s February/March 2024 magazine issue and distributed at Kidscreen Summit (Feb 4-7, San Diego), where the number-ones in each category are to be honored at the 2024 Kidscreen Awards ceremony taking place on Monday, February 5.

Now in its 10th year, the Hot50 rankings are determined by an industry vote that Kidscreen’s 16,500-plus print and digital subscribers are invited to take part in.