NPO Zappelin

{{short description|Dutch children's television block}}

{{Infobox television channel

| name = NPO Zappelin

| logo = NPO Zappelin logo 2018.svg

| launch_date = {{start date and age|2000|9|4|df=y}}

| owner = NPO

| country = Netherlands

| area = National. Also available in Belgium and Germany

| former_names = Z@ppelin (2000–2012)
Zappelin (2012–2014)

| sister_channels = NPO Zapp

| website = {{URL|http://www.zappelin.nl/}}

}}

NPO Zappelin is a Dutch television program block for younger children that launched as Z@ppelin in September 2000.{{cite web |url=https://www.adformatie.nl/targeting-segmentatie/publieke-tv-voor-jeugd-heet-zappelin |title=Publieke tv voor jeugd heet: Zappelin |access-date=28 December 2018 |date=19 July 2000 |work=Adformatie |language=nl |archive-date=28 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181228174945/https://www.adformatie.nl/targeting-segmentatie/publieke-tv-voor-jeugd-heet-zappelin |url-status=live }} The brand was created as a counterbalance to violent programming on its commercial competitors.[https://www.volkskrant.nl/voorpagina/zappen-doe-je-zo~be79c1c81/ Zappen doe je zo be]

Before Z@ppelin, the programmes were scheduled on all three public channels (Nederland 1, 2, and 3). On 4 September 2005, Z@ppelin became a channel for children aged 2–6 years.{{cite web |url=https://www.adformatie.nl/targeting-segmentatie/zppelin-wordt-zpp |title=Z@ppelin wordt Z@pp |access-date=28 December 2018 |date=10 May 2005 |work=Adformatie |language=nl |archive-date=28 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181228174858/https://www.adformatie.nl/targeting-segmentatie/zppelin-wordt-zpp |url-status=live }} The @ in the name of the channel was dropped on 10 September 2012.{{cite web |url=https://www.adformatie.nl/media/nieuwe-vormgeving-kinderzenders-zapp-en-zappelin |title=Nieuwe vormgeving kinderzenders Zapp en Zappelin |access-date=28 December 2018 |author=Maarten Hafkamp |date=3 September 2012 |work=Adformatie |language=nl |archive-date=28 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181228174914/https://www.adformatie.nl/media/nieuwe-vormgeving-kinderzenders-zapp-en-zappelin |url-status=live }}

On 12 March 2013, the NPO announced that Zapp and Zappelin would be renamed as NPO Zapp and NPO Zappelin. The reason for this change is to make the channels and its programmes more recognisable.{{cite web |url=http://www.totaaltv.nl/nieuws/12214/npo-wil-namen-publieke-tv--en-radiozenders-wijzigen.html |title=NPO wil namen publieke TV- en radiozenders wijzigen |publisher=TotaalTV.nl |author=Jarco Kriek & Jan Hein Visser |date=12 March 2013 |access-date=8 October 2015 |language=nl |archive-date=8 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208192546/http://www.totaaltv.nl/nieuws/12214/npo-wil-namen-publieke-tv--en-radiozenders-wijzigen.html |url-status=live }} The rebranding completed on 19 August 2014.{{cite web |url=http://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2014/07/14/dutch-pubcasters-rename-all-radio-and-tv-channels/ |title=Dutch pubcasters rename all radio and TV channels |publisher=BroadbandTVNews.com |author=Robert Briel |date=14 July 2014 |access-date=8 October 2015 |archive-date=8 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208115433/http://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2014/07/14/dutch-pubcasters-rename-all-radio-and-tv-channels/ |url-status=live }} Together with NPO Zapp it broadcasts on NPO 3 during daytime. It is also part of the 24-hour children's channel NPO Zappelin Extra.