As of Monday, January 16, the first ever nationwide 24-hour PBS KIDS channel launches in the US, provide by member stations across the map on TV and via live streaming on digital platforms, giving children and caregivers even more flexibility in accessing PBS’ educational content. The launch was announced by PBS President & CEO Paula A. Kerger at the Television Critics Association Winter Press Tour on Sunday.
“By offering PBS KIDS programming 24/7, PBS stations will extend the reach and impact that they already have in their communities, where they provide essential services for families,” said Kerger. “With the launch of the multi-platform 24/7 PBS KIDS channel, all of America’s children will be able to access our trusted educational content anywhere, anytime and through any device. As the only free national 24/7 kids’ TV service in the U.S., the PBS KIDS channel will be a game changer for all families – especially our nation’s most underserved, many of whom do not attend preschool and rely solely on over-the-air television for media content.”
108 PBS licensees are expected to launch the channel by the end of the year, making it available to 90 percent of US TV households. The January 16 debut will occur across 75 licensees, with additional roll-outs in the coming month. PBS KIDS 24/7 will also stream on pbskids.org and on the free PBS KIDS Video app. Later this year, the stream will introduce a first-of-its-kind integrated games feature.
At launch, PBS KIDS 24/7 will feature 21 series in its schedule: Arthur, Bob the Builder, Caillou, The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot about That!, Clifford the Big Red Dog, Cyberchase, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Dinosaur Train, Fetch! With Ruff Ruffman, Nature Cat, Odd Squad, Peg + Cat, Ready Jet Go!, Sesame Street, Sid the Science Kid, Splash and Bubbles, Super Why!, Thomas & Friends, Wild Kratts, WordGirl and WordWorld.
And starting April 21, the channel will present “PBS KIDS Family Night.” a weekly program event featuring movie specials or themed programming every Friday from 7-9 p.m., with encores Saturday and Sunday evenings. “Family Night” will kick off with favorites Odd Squad: The Movie, Splash and Bubbles: One Big Ocean and Sesame Street: The Cookie Thief, and will premiere Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood: Tiger Family Trip, Wild Kratts Alaska: Hero’s Journey (working title), Ready Jet Go!: Return to Bortron 7 and Arthur and the Haunted Treehouse.
“We know from years of research that PBS KIDS helps children build important social-emotional and school readiness skills, and that the learning potential of media is multiplied when parents co-view with their children,” said Lesli Rotenberg, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Children’s Media and Education, PBS. “We are encouraged to see how much parents value family viewing time, ranking PBS KIDS as the number-one use of family screen time, because parent involvement is critical to our long-term vision of using the power of media to create a personalized learning experience that engages and meets the needs of kids, parents and teachers.”
