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HBO Max Adds More Kids Content by Ordering Two Unscripted Kids Competition Series

It seems HBO Max is on a mission to buff up their kids programming. Days after announcing they will be the new home of Sesame Street and its entire library, HBO Max announced today that they have ordered eight episodes of two unscripted kids competition series, Karma and Craftopia.

Karma, an hour-long series, will be hosted by Michelle Khare, an extreme lifestyle enthusiast with almost two million followers on YouTube. The show, which is currently in production, takes 16 contestants, from ages 12 to 15, off the grid to solve puzzles and overcome physical challenges, with the laws of karma setting the rules. This competition series tests the mental and physical stamina of its young contestants as they unravel how their social actions impact their success in the game.

Craftopia on the other hand, is a half-hour series that will be hosted by Lauren Riihimaki, aka LaurDIY, one of YouTube’s top creators with over 21 million followers across all her social platforms. The show takes 9 to 15-year old contestants and puts their imaginations to the test as they are challenged to make their crafting dreams come true in a magical studio. After racing to fill up their carts with inspiring materials from the studio “store,” crafters meet larger-than-life challenges, making the most amazing creations the world has ever seen. Production for Craftopia will begin later this year.

“We are giving kids an opportunity to show us their absolute best as they strive for excellence in both challenging and creative situations,” said Jennifer O’Connell, executive vice president, original content, HBO Max. “With Michelle and Lauren at the helms, we are aiming to surprise and delight our young viewers. These shows are incredible additions to our growing list of HBO Max kids originals.”


Stephanie Sengwe is writer based in New York who covers companies in the streaming industry including AT&T, Amazon, Apple, Hulu, Roku, and Netflix . She also contributes daily news coverage on streaming services and devices for The Streamable.

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