Provided by Twin Cities PBS (TPT), New TV Channel and Live Stream Will Support TPT’s Mission to Reach All Twin Cities-Area Children with High-Quality Educational Content
Interactive Games Integration to Follow Initial Launch
Saint Paul, Minn., Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2016 – Today, Twin Cities PBS (TPT) announced that it will launch new, free localized 24/7 children’s services later this year. Provided by TPT, the free services include a new TV channel and live stream on digital platforms. The effort is TPT’s latest initiative to support early learning in the community. TPT will broadcast PBS KIDS shows 24 hours a day on an additional television channel and offer a live stream, making it easy for children in the Twin Cities area 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 TPT-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.
Following its initial launch, the localized 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.
“Today, Twin Cities PBS dedicates over one-third of its broadcast hours to the best educational programs for children,” said Jim Pagliarini, President & CEO, TPT. “I am pleased to say that we are more than re-doubling that commitment by joining with PBS to launch a new 24-hours-a-day, 7-days-a-week TPT/PBS Kids broadcast channel that will also be streamed live to tablets and computers throughout Minnesota.”
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.[i] With its new 24/7 channel and digital offerings, TPT will build on this reach and impact.
Through this effort, TPT will extend its commitment to early learning by offering more families high-quality PBS KIDS content that is trusted by parents and proven to help kids learn. 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.[ii] And years of research confirm 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.[iii]
Designed to meet the needs of today’s kids, TPT’s new, free 24/7 services will provide learning opportunities for children whenever and wherever they access media. Nielsen data demonstrate that live TV is the dominant way children access video, accounting for 68% of the time children spend watching video content.[iv] Most kids’ TV viewing takes place on weeknights and weekend afternoons and evenings.[v] This trend is true for all children, but especially for those in low-income families.[vi]
The TPT 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 & BUBBLES, a series from The Jim Henson Company that will premiere on November 23. TPT will provide the PBS KIDS 24/7 channel in addition to its existing PBS Kids schedule on TPT 2 and TPT Life. The schedule of children’s programming on the primary TPT 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 TPT’s long-term vision for its children’s service and will build on its reach and impact in the community, where it provides essential services for kids, parents and teachers. In the coming year, TPT 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. These include our ongoing production of SCIGIRLS (in both English and Spanish), Second Saturdays family events in the TPT Street Space, and a new national children’s show currently in development for PBS.
About Twin Cities PBS (TPT)
The mission of TPT is to “enrich lives and strengthen our community through the power of media.”
As one of the nation’s leading public media organizations, Twin Cities PBS (TPT) uses television, interactive media and community engagement to advance education, culture and citizenship. Over its nearly 60-year history, TPT has been recognized for its innovation and creativity with numerous awards, including Peabody awards and national and regional Emmys.
Based in St. Paul, MN, TPT is the most highly-viewed public TV station in the nation, reaching more than 1.7 million people each month through multiple broadcast and online channels. The organization’s particular areas of focus include: the educational readiness of children; serving the needs and unleashing the potential of America’s aging population; engaging a new generation in the power of public media; and being the preferred media partner for organizations that align with our mission to enrich lives and strengthen community.
For more information about TPT, visit our website at www.tpt.org or join us on Facebook and Twitter.
Contact:
Elle Lyons, TPT Communications Manager
[email protected] | 651-229-1491
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[i] 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.
[ii] Understanding School Preparedness, Smarty Pants, 2014.
[iii] Learning with PBS KIDS: A Study of Family Engagement and Early Mathematics Achievement, WestEd, 2015.
[iv] Nielsen Total Audience Report 3Q 2015
[v] Nielsen NPOWER Live PUT, 9/28/2015 – 12/27/2015, K2-11 select dayparts
[vi] 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.
© Twin Cities Public Television - 2016. All rights reserved.
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