PBS to Launch Free 24/7 Multiplatform PBS KIDS Services

Provided by Local Stations, New TV Channel and Live Stream Will
Support PBS’ and Stations’ Mission to Reach All Children with
High-Quality Educational Content

Interactive Games Integration to Follow Initial Launch

ARLINGTON, Va.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–PBS, the nation’s most trusted provider of educational media for
children, today announced that it will launch new 24/7 children’s
services later this year. Provided by local stations, the free services
include a new TV channel and live stream on digital platforms. PBS
stations across the nation will be able to broadcast PBS KIDS shows 24
hours a day on an additional television channel and offer a live stream,
making it easy for children to watch their favorite series during
primetime and other after-school hours when viewing among families is
high. Viewers will be able to watch the station-branded live stream
through pbskids.org
and on the PBS
KIDS Video App, which is available on a variety of mobile devices,
tablets and over-the-top platforms such as Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire
TV, Android TV, Xbox One and Chromecast.

The live stream complements on-demand clips and full episodes, which
will continue to be available for free on the PBS KIDS Video App and
streaming via pbskids.org. Streaming on pbskids.org accounts for nearly
half of all time spent watching kids videos online, and the site is #1
in the kids category for total views and minutes spent.ⁱ
Across digital platforms, PBS KIDS averages 419.8 million streams per
month.ⁱⁱ

“Parents know that PBS KIDS makes a difference in their children’s
lives, which is why so many have said they would value having access to
our content throughout the day. Television continues to be the most
widely used platform for children’s educational content, especially
among low-income familiesⁱⁱⁱ,” said PBS President and CEO
Paula Kerger. “The new PBS KIDS 24/7 channel and live stream offered by
local member stations ensure that educational media is available to all
families, all the time and via a platform that works for them. Given
that 54% of all children nationwide do not have the opportunity to
attend preschool^iv, providing access is a critical element of
our public service mission.”

Following its initial launch, the live stream experience will expand to
offer an integrated games feature, enabling children to toggle between a
PBS KIDS show and an activity that extends learning – all in one
seamless digital experience. The live stream and games feature is
grounded in research demonstrating that measurable gains in learning are
achieved when children engage with PBS KIDS content on multiple
platforms. The games will align with the learning goals of each TV
series, deepening children’s involvement and supporting learning.

These new, free services will provide learning opportunities for all
children:

• PBS stations reach more kids aged 2-5, more moms with children under 6
  years old and more children from low-income families than any other
  kids TV network.^v PBS KIDS is the leader in streaming
  video, with pbskids.org placing first in the kids’ category for total
  video views and minutes spent.^vi In a recent survey, PBS
  KIDS led all networks in improving kids’ behavior with 74% of parents
  saying their child exhibits more positive behavior after engaging with
  PBS KIDS.^vii
• PBS serves all children and attracts a higher proportion of viewers
  from Hispanic and low-income households, compared to their
  representation in the U.S. population.^viii
• Research confirms that PBS KIDS media content helps children build
  critical skills that enable them to find success in school and life,
  while also helping parents increase their own engagement. A recent
  study conducted by WestEd found that PBS KIDS resources can help
  narrow the math achievement gap for children from low-income families
  and better prepare them for kindergarten. Additionally, parents’
  awareness of their children’s math learning increased significantly –
  as did their use of strategies to support their children’s learning.^ix
• Nielsen data demonstrates that live TV is the dominant way children
  access video, accounting for 68% of the time children spend watching
  video content.^x Most kids’ TV viewing takes place on
  weeknights and weekend afternoons and evenings.^xi This
  trend is true for all children, but especially for those in low-income
  families.^xii

The PBS KIDS 24/7 channel will include popular favorites, such as DANIEL
TIGER’S NEIGHBORHOOD, ODD
SQUAD, WILD
KRATTS and DINOSAUR
TRAIN; the new series NATURE
CAT and READY
JET GO!, which debuted February 15; and SPLASH (w.t.), a series from
The Jim Henson Company that will premiere in fall 2016. Stations will be
able to provide the PBS KIDS 24/7 channel in addition to their current
primary PBS channel, which will continue to feature a PBS KIDS day part.
The schedule of children’s programming on the primary PBS channel will
be different from the 24/7 channel, offering families a variety of
options.

The 24/7 PBS KIDS offering is an integral part of PBS’ long-term vision
for its children’s service and will build on the reach and impact local
stations already have in their communities, where they provide essential
services for kids, parents and teachers. In the coming year, PBS and
member stations will roll out a variety of additional initiatives
designed to meet the needs of today’s children, including new STEM
(science, technology, engineering and math) content, digital innovations
and customizable tools for parents and caregivers.

About PBS

PBS,
with 350 member stations, offers all Americans the opportunity to
explore new ideas and new worlds through television and online content.
Each month, PBS reaches nearly 100 million people through television and
nearly 33 million people online, inviting them to experience the worlds
of science, history, nature and public affairs; to hear diverse
viewpoints; and to take front row seats to world-class drama and
performances. PBS’ broad array of programs has been consistently honored
by the industry’s most coveted award competitions. Teachers of children
from pre-K through 12th grade turn to PBS for digital content and
services that help bring classroom lessons to life. PBS’ premier
children’s TV programming and its website, pbskids.org,
are parents’ and teachers’ most trusted partners in inspiring and
nurturing curiosity and love of learning in children. More information
about PBS is available at www.pbs.org,
one of the leading dot-org websites on the Internet, or by following PBS
on Twitter, Facebook
or through our apps
for mobile devices. Specific program information and updates for
press are available at pbs.org/pressroom
or by following PBS
Pressroom on Twitter.

ⁱ comScore Jan’15 – Dec’15.
ⁱⁱ
Google Analytics Jan ’15 – Jan ’16.
ⁱⁱⁱ
Zero to Eight: Children’s Media Use in America 2013, Common Sense Media.
^iv
The Annie E. Casey Foundation, 2014 Kids Count Data Book.
^v
Nielsen NPM, NPOWER, 9/22/2014-9/20/2015, Live+7, M-Su 6A-6A time period
reach. US K2-5, LOH w/C<6, K2-11 in HH w/Inc<$20K. PBS affiliates,
DISNEY, NICK, Disney Junior, Nick Jr., Sprout, TOON & Discovery Family.
^vi
comScore Jan’15 – Dec’15.
^vii Understanding School
Preparedness, Smarty Pants, 2014.
^viii Nielsen NPOWER
L+7 9/28/15-12/27/15, PBS stations M-F 7A-6P, K2-8 AA, HOH Hispanic, HH
Inc <$20K.
^ix Learning with PBS KIDS: A Study of
Family Engagement and Early Mathematics Achievement, WestEd, 2015.
^x
Nielsen Total Audience Report 3Q 2015
^xi Nielsen NPOWER
Live PUT, 9/28/2015 – 12/27/2015, K2-11 select dayparts
^xii
Nielsen NPOWER Live PUT, 9/28/2015 – 12/27/2015, K2-11 M-F 6-10P, M-F
7-12N, K2-11 in HH w/Inc<$20K.

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Contacts

PBS
Jennifer R. Byrne, 703-739-5487
jrbyrne@pbs.org
or
Maria
Vera, 703-739-3225
mvera@pbs.org