PBS Kids

PBS Kids

Type	Children's programming
Country	United States Canada Mexico (1996–99)
Availability	Throughout North America
Founded	July 11, 1994[1] (as PTV) September 6, 1999 (as PBS Kids)
Slogan	A Little Wonder Goes a Long Way.
Headquarters	Arlington, Virginia
Broadcast area	North America
Area	North America
Owner	PBS
Key people	Jake Hollies (PBS Kids Go founder)
Launch date	July 11, 1994[1] (block; as PTV) September 6, 1999 (as PBS Kids)
Dissolved	September 26, 2005 (PBS Kids Channel)
Former names	PTV Park (July 11, 1994 – September 5, 1999)
Affiliation	PBS
Official website	pbskids.org

PBS Kids is the brand for most of the children's programming aired by the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) in the United States. Some public television children's programs not produced by PBS member stations or transmitted by PBS which is produced by independent public television distributors such as American Public Television are not labeled as "PBS Kids" programming, and it is mainly a programming block branding.

History

The framework for PBS Kids was established as part of PBS's "Ready to Learn" initiative, a project intended to facilitate access of early childhood educational programming to underprivileged children.^[2] On July 11, 1994, PBS repackaged their existing children's educational programming as a new block called "PTV".^[1][3] In addition to scheduled educational programming, PTV also incorporated interstitial content such as "The P-Pals", which featured animated characters shaped like PBS logos delivering educational content from their fictional world, "PTV Park". These interstitial shorts were aimed at younger children.^[1] Older children were targeted with live action and music video interstitials.^[1]

On September 5, 1999, the PTV brand was retired. Children's programming on the PBS network was then rebranded with the introduction of new bumpers, idents, and promos featuring the P-Pals' replacements, Dot and Dash, (designed by Richard McGuire and produced at Lee Hunt Associates, later produced at Primal Screen) on September 6, 1999. Along with the block of programming on PBS, PBS Kids lent its name to a separate television network, which launched on the same date^[4] and was targeted to children from 4 to 7 years old. The PBS Kids Channel ran for six years and was largely funded by El Segundo, California-based satellite provider DirecTV. The channel was shut down on September 26, 2005, in favor of a new commercial cable and satellite joint venture, PBS Kids Sprout, which was developed in partnership with Comcast (who later bought full control of the network via NBCUniversal^[5]). About half of PBS's member stations operate their own children's channels as multicasting services.^[6]

Until late 2013, PBS Kids programming was split into two sub-blocks: the PBS Kids Preschool Block and PBS Kids Go! (the latter in turn replaced PBS Kids Bookworm Bunch, which ran from 2000 to 2004^[7]). On May 8, 2013, PBS Kids programming was added to the Roku streaming player.^[8] On May 15, 2013, PBS Kids announced that Thomas & Friends, which had aired mainly on weekends on most PBS stations, would be moving to the daily schedule starting on October 7, 2013, due to an increase in ratings.^[9] Also, as of October 7, 2013, to coincide with the debut of Peg + Cat, PBS Kids has received another graphic redesign for the first time since 2008, which was made by Primal Screen. In the new rebrand, Dash has been phased out, but Dash's face still remains in the PBS Kids logo. Also, Dot has slight been significantly redesigned with a newer design. As well as that, Dot is now joined by two new additional mascots: Dee and Del. Dot, Dee, and Del serve as the official PBS Kids mascots, and PBS Kids promos, bumpers, and idents show them doing various activities, such as building a birdhouse, making a big race with vehicles, exploring a cave with bats, and more.

Programming

¹ Indicates program that was syndicated to selected PBS stations by American Public Television.

Current programming

The following PBS Kids programs are in production and air on PBS stations or are available for streaming online. Programs from both the PBS Kids Preschool Block and the now-defunct PBS Kids Go! are listed because these programs are also part of the PBS Kids brand.

Rerunning programs

NOTE: These programs are no longer in production and run only on PBS stations that select them. Therefore, the programs may vary among stations.

• Angelina Ballerina: The Next Steps (2009–11)
• Bali (2014)¹
• Barney and Friends (1992–2010)
• The Berenstain Bears (2003–06)
• Between the Lions (2000–10)
• Bob the Builder (2005–13)
  • Bob the Builder: Project: Build It
  • Bob the Builder: Ready, Steady, Build!
• Caillou (2000–10)
• Clifford the Big Red Dog (2000–03)
• Cyberchase (2002–14)
• The Electric Company (2009–11)
• Fetch! with Ruff Ruffman (2006–12)
• Franny's Feet (2007–11)
• Maya & Miguel (2004–08)
• Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (1968–2001)
• Peep and the Big Wide World (2004–11)¹
• Pocoyo (2009–10)¹
• Ribert and Robert's Wonderworld (2005–08)¹
• Roey's Paintbox (2015)¹
• Ruby's Studio (2016)¹
• Scientastic! (2014)¹
• SciGirls (2010–15)
• Shalom Sesame (2011–13)
• Sid the Science Kid (2008–13)
• Signing Time (2006–08)¹
• WordGirl (2007–15)
• Wunderkind Little Amadeus (2008–09)¹
• Zoboomafoo (1999–2001)
• The Zula Patrol (2005–09)¹

Blocks

• PBS Kids Preschool Block

Former programming

The following programs are no longer in production, although some of them may still air in reruns on other channels.

Blocks

• The Game (1996–99)
• PBS Kids Bookworm Bunch (2000–04)
• PBS Kids Go! (2004–13)

References

External links

• Official website
• PBS Kids Play website