MediaBuyerPlanner: Fueling the concern among advocacy groups about the effect that exposure to TV and commercials has on kids at an early age, "The Media Family" report released yesterday from the Kaiser Family Foundation revealed that parents might be using electronic media as babysitters for young children, with 80 percent of children under age six watching an average of two hours of TV each day, writes Adweek. Also, 60 percent of babies 1 year old and younger watch TV at least some of the time.

The Kaiser study found that 30 percent of children six and under live in homes where the TV is on during most or all meal times. Also, respondents said their kids reacted to food ads by asking to have the food advertised or go to the restaurant in the commercial.

Some marketers think it's the parents' responsibility to protect young children from the effects of screen media, while Susan Linn, co-founder of the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood, said that exposure to screen media is habit forming, and that watching for several hours is linked to child obesity and poor school performance.

Preschool-targeted networks include the recently launched BabyFirst TV and PBS's 24-hour Kids Sprout.