Kids explore.
Parents exhale.

Founded by Drew, a parent and former teacher who wanted a safer, simpler way for his kids to find shows like Sesame Street.

A product in development: a compact TV stick, a simple kid remote, and a parent app. Parents get suggestions for developmentally appropriate content and choose what to approve. Kids explore a home screen of all those shows and movies. Four favorite buttons each open one assigned show or movie.

Families with children around ages 5–10 who want kids to discover good TV independently, within thoughtful boundaries.

The planned parent app will suggest shows and movies based on your child’s age, interests, and stage of development. Think of recommendations coming from Common Sense Media and other groups you trust. You choose which suggestions to approve. New recommendations go to you first; children only explore titles you have approved.

The compact, USB-stick-shaped device plugs into your TV’s HDMI port. Final TV compatibility and setup requirements will be confirmed before orders open.

Content availability and streaming integrations are still being developed. We expect to add providers one at a time—think Netflix, then Disney+, and more as we grow. Those are examples, not a confirmed launch lineup or order. You’ll use your existing subscriptions to access the content. Cardboard TV is the “brick” layer on top: bringing the shows you approve into one space for your kids to explore. We’ll share confirmed providers and compatibility before taking payment.

You assign each marker icon—clover, cat, bug, or raindrop—to one show or movie in the parent app. For example, clover could open Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood and cat could open Encanto. The home screen includes all approved titles, not just those four favorites. Examples illustrate the feature; content availability is not yet confirmed.

We’re targeting about $100 for setup, including the TV stick and remote, then about $10 a month to maintain and run the service. Content subscriptions may be separate. Final pricing will be confirmed before purchase.

In tech, a “bricked” device usually means it has stopped working and is about as useful as a brick. We’re borrowing the word for something intentional and reversible: locking your child’s TV experience to the shows and movies you approve. In the planned product, you tap the remote to your phone to apply those choices. Kids can browse their approved library and use the favorite buttons, while changes stay with the parent. You can unlock and update the library in the parent app. The TV itself isn’t broken, and this doesn’t mean every other input or device in your home is locked. Final controls and compatibility are still in development.

Nice try, tiny remote hacker. The goal is that once your TV is bricked, the regular remote can’t be used to leave the approved viewing space—kids use the Cardboard TV remote to explore their shows instead. We’re still developing how that works across different TVs, so we’ll confirm which remotes, inputs, and controls can be restricted before launch.

Under the couch? In the toy kitchen? We get it. A bricked TV needs a grown-up escape hatch. We’re planning an emergency recovery option so a missing remote doesn’t leave your family stuck. The exact recovery steps and replacement options are still in development; we’ll share them before launch.

The planned parent app includes viewing windows and duration limits, alongside your approved show list.

The name is inspired by the simplicity and possibility of a cardboard box. The product concept uses a durable device and kid-friendly remote; the cardboard is our brand’s playground.

Not yet. Join the early-access list for development updates and first access when orders open. There is no payment or commitment.