A Nova Scotia tv production company has created an information service on the Internet that compliments its successful children’s show and serves as a marketing vehicle for related products.

Cochran Entertainment produces the Theodore Tugboat show for the cbc and for syndication around the world.

Cochran Interactive, the sister company of Cochran Entertainment, has developed an Internet service it calls an Online Activity Centre with three levels, or pads, of services related to the show.

The first is specifically for children, and contains an interactive story during which children make decisions affecting the plot.

As well, users can download a page from an online coloring book, or arrange to get a postcard from Theodore.

The second pad is more for parents and educators.

There, they can get background information on the series, plot synopses and information about other children’s services on the Internet.

The third level is directed at people involved in the television production industry.

It gives information on how to order a screening cassette, and explains different formats in other countries.

At the moment, Cochran is offering Theodore Tugboat T-shirts through the service, and expects that as encryption capabilities become better, and credit card use on the Internet becomes safer, there will be opportunities to market a number of products.

‘This is intended to be a revenue generator,’ Cochran says.

The company is in the process of developing another Internet site for the cbc’s Street Cents program, which will contain information on the program and a catalogue of products examined on it.

‘To the best of my knowledge, it’s the first initiative by a production company to get into the Internet as a content provider,’ says Cochran, who plans to become more involved in this type of marketing.

‘These are the first of many destinations that we’re building for the Internet,’ he says.