Internet start-up AmebaTV has soft-launched its new children’s service, and says it is in the process of shipping set-top boxes to parents around Canada.

The Winnipeg-based company looks to deliver child-appropriate and ad-free shows directly to viewers via the Internet, and recently took delivery on its first proprietary set-top boxes, made by U.K.-based CompleteTV.

‘We’re looking to launch in the U.S. anywhere from the next 12 to 18 months,’ notes Havelka, who adds that he’s also open to global rollout in a future phase. Ameba targets the three- to 12-year-old set.

The service launched its beta version late last year, and will run as such for another six months. The boxes are currently available for $20 a month, $6 for the rental and $14 for the programming. The company is relying on grassroots marketing and word of mouth.

The AmebaTV library includes 500 hours of live-action and animated shows from such producers as Decode Entertainment, Breakthrough New Media, Casablanca Kids, marblemedia, Portfolio, TVO and the NFB — though Ameba CEO Tony Havelka and business development exec Rita Carbone Fleury are looking to acquire more, including multilingual programming.