PBS Kids Go!

Last updated

PBS Kids Go!
PBS Kids Go!.svg
Network PBS
PBS Kids
LaunchedOctober 11, 2004;20 years ago (2004-10-11)
ClosedOctober 7, 2013;11 years ago (2013-10-07)
Country of originUnited States
OwnerPBS
Headquarters Arlington, Virginia, U.S.
FormatAfternoon programming block
Running time2-3 hours
Original language(s)English

PBS Kids Go! is a defunct educational television brand used by PBS for programs aimed at early elementary-age children, in contrast to the younger, preschool target demographic of PBS Kids. [1] Most PBS member stations aired the PBS Kids Go! block on weekdays during after-school hours, generally 3-6 pm depending on local station scheduling. [2] In addition to the block, there was a PBS Kids Go! section on the PBS Kids website which featured games, videos, and other activities that were geared toward older kids. [3] The brand was used on air and online for nearly nine years from 2004 to 2013.

Contents

History

Development and launch

Upon recognizing that educational programming for elementary-age children was lacking, PBS adjusted its mission to include a greater focus on this older subset of viewers. [2] The PBS Kids Go! programming block was launched on October 11, 2004, alongside the premiere of brand new programs Maya & Miguel and Postcards from Buster . Also part of the block were existing PBS Kids series, Arthur and Cyberchase , both of which were already targeting a slightly older audience.

Cancelled 24-hour channel

In 2005, PBS joined with Comcast and other production companies to form the cable channel PBS Kids Sprout, [4] effectively replacing PBS' original 24-hour PBS Kids Channel. This left many local PBS stations with a vacancy on their multicast digital channel offerings, during a time when digital and high-definition broadcasts were increasing reach and gaining popularity. In April 2006, PBS announced plans for a replacement 24-hour digital multicast network called the PBS Kids Go! Channel. This would expand upon the afternoon PBS Kids Go! block on PBS, with additional new content and reruns of returning programs, such as HIT Entertainment's Wishbone and Kratts' Creatures . Other exclusive content for this channel would include a one-hour Spanish-language block called "PBS Kids Vayan!" (Spanish for "Go!", which would air select shows in Spanish with English subtitles), an evening "Go! Family" block, and an educational "Go! Figure" school block. [5] [6]

The PBS Kids Go! Channel was originally set to launch in October 2006. However, stations found that the sliding scale licensing fees were too high for what little exclusive programming they would have received, especially after spending additional funds for the PBS HD feed. With only one-third of PBS stations initially committing to carry the new network, the plans for the channel were ultimately withdrawn. [7]

PBS would later revive the 24/7 PBS Kids Channel on January 16, 2017 (a little over three years after the discontinuation of PBS Kids Go!), this time being structured as a multi-platform service with an online livestream of the channel on the PBS Kids website and video app, in addition to utilizing largely the same distribution methods that had been used for the original channel. [8]

Later years

Despite the failure to launch the 24-hour PBS Kids Go! Channel, the PBS Kids Go! afternoon block continued to air on local PBS stations over the next several years and continued to expand its lineup with new series, such as Fetch! with Ruff Ruffman , [9] WordGirl , [10] The Electric Company, [11] and Wild Kratts . [12] Many stations also carried other series under the PBS Kids Go! brand, such as Design Squad and reruns of Wishbone, [13] which typically aired over the weekend.

As online streaming began to increase in popularity, PBS developed the PBS Kids Go! video player on its website in 2008. This federally-funded, innovative video streaming platform featured video clips from a number of PBS Kids Go! shows which rotated on a weekly basis and linked to interactive online games. [14] The video player would later evolve into the PBS Kids Video app, which is now the primary source for free streaming of on-demand video clips and full episodes of PBS Kids programming.

Closure

On May 15, 2013, PBS announced at their annual conference that the PBS Kids Go! brand would be discontinued in the fall, with all Go! programming rebranded with an updated, universal branding design across all of PBS's children's programming. [15] PBS considered the nine year long effort to age up its overall audience to be successful, but studies showed that brand recognition was not strongly differentiated from that of PBS Kids, and many shows ended up being successful with broad audiences in both younger and older age groups. [16] The new PBS Kids redesign was introduced on October 7, 2013, coinciding with the debut of Peg + Cat , at which point PBS Kids Go! was officially dissoved. After the shutdown, all shows that premiered before the launch of the PBS Kids Go! block returned to the main PBS Kids block after nearly a decade, and all shows that premiered during the PBS Kids Go! block were permanently moved to the main PBS Kids block.

Programming

Former programming

Original programming

TitlePremiere dateEnd date
Arthur 13October 11, 2004October 7, 2013
Cyberchase 13
DragonflyTV 1May 30, 2010
Postcards from Buster February 25, 2012
Maya & Miguel October 10, 2007
Fetch! with Ruff Ruffman May 29, 2006November 4, 2010
Design Squad February 21, 2007December 9, 2009
Wishbone 12June 2, 2007October 7, 2013
WordGirl 3September 3, 2007
Animalia January 5, 2008January 23, 2010
The Electric Company January 19, 2009April 4, 2011
SciGirls 3February 11, 2010October 7, 2013
Wild Kratts 3January 3, 2011

Shorts and web series

PBS Kids Go! aired shorts and other interstitial content related to its main programming, usually in between episodes or right before the end credits. Short-form programming included The Amazing Colossal Adventures of WordGirl (debuted on November 10, 2006, and later became a full series [17] ) and Oh Noah! (debuted as Noah Comprende on April 11, 2011 [18] ), both of which were featured on air and online. As with many other PBS Kids shows, there was miscellaneous live-action interstitial content featuring kids talking about things they do; about their families' heritage; or other topics specific to the associated program, typically used as a time-filler. In addition, there were web-exclusive short series on the PBS Kids Go! website, including Fizzy's Lunch Lab, [19] Jim Henson's Wilson & Ditch: Digging America, [20] and Chuck Vanderchuck's 'Something Something' Explosion. [18] The PBS Kids Go! website was also home for new companion websites of then out-of-production series Kratts' Creatures and Zoom , and other educational websites, like "KidsWorld Sports" and "It's My Life".

Writing and illustrating contest

In 2009, PBS launched the first contest called PBS Kids Go! Writers Contest to continue the annual writing and illustrating competition for children in kindergarten through 3rd grade, which started in 1995 as the Reading Rainbow Young Writers and Illustrators Contest. In 2014, it was renamed to PBS Kids Writers Contest.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NBC</span> American broadcast television network

The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is America’s first public broadcaster and radio network serving as the flagship property of the NBC Entertainment division of NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast. The headquarters of NBC is in New York City at the Comcast Building. NBC also has offices in Chicago at the NBC Tower.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Children's television series</span> Television programs designed for and marketed to children

Children's television series are television programs designed specifically for children. They are typically characterised by easy-going content devoid of sensitive or adult themes and are normally broadcast during the morning and afternoon when children are awake, immediately before and after school schedules generally start in the country where they air. Educational themes are also prevalent, as well as the transmission of cautionary tales and narratives that teach problem-solving methods in some fashion or another, such as social disputes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nickelodeon</span> American childrens pay television channel

Nickelodeon is an American pay television channel owned by Paramount Global through Paramount Media Networks' subdivision, Nickelodeon Group. Launched on April 1, 1979, as the first cable channel for children, the channel is primarily aimed at children and adolescents aged 2 to 17, along with a broader family audience through its program blocks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Disney Afternoon</span> Programming block

The Disney Afternoon, sometimes abbreviated as TDA, was a created-for-syndication two-hour programming block of animated television series. It was produced by Walt Disney Television Animation and distributed through its syndication affiliate Buena Vista Television. Each show from the block has aired reruns on Disney Channel and Toon Disney. Disney Channel reaired four shows on "Block Party," a two-hour block that aired on weekdays in the late afternoon/early evening.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kids' WB</span> American childrens programming block

Kids' WB was an American children's programming block that originally aired on The WB from September 9, 1995, to September 16, 2006, and later on The CW from September 23, 2006, to May 17, 2008. Initially launched as a competitor to Fox Kids, Kids' WB aired primarily during the Saturday morning and weekday after-school time slots, although airtimes for the block's programming varied at the local affiliate's discretion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WGBH-TV</span> PBS member station in Boston

WGBH-TV, branded GBH or GBH 2 since 2020, is the primary PBS member television station in Boston, Massachusetts, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fox Kids</span> Childrens programming division of Fox

Fox Kids was an American children's programming block and branding for a slate of international children's television channels. Originally a joint venture between the Fox Broadcasting Company (Fox) and its affiliated stations, it was later owned by Fox Family Worldwide.

Wishbone is an American live-action children's television series that aired from 1995 to 1997 and originally broadcast on PBS. It is about a Jack Russell Terrier dog named Wishbone who daydreams about being the lead character of stories from classic literature.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PBS Kids</span> American PBS childrens programming brand

PBS Kids is the brand for most of the children's programming aired by PBS in the United States. The target audience is children between the ages of 2 and 8. PBS Kids brand programming is aired daily on most local PBS stations during a daytime block, typically scheduled in the morning hours, in addition to a separate 24/7 channel. Both the block and 24/7 service are broadcast over the air, via cable and satellite providers and on streaming platforms. Select programming is also available internationally.

<i>Zoboomafoo</i> 1999 television series

Zoboomafoo is a live-action/animated children's television series that originally aired on PBS from January 25, 1999, to November 21, 2001. After the original run on public television, reruns were shown on PBS Kids Sprout until 2012. A total of 65 episodes were aired. A creation of the Kratt Brothers, it features a talking Coquerel's sifaka lemur named Zoboomafoo, performed by Canadian puppeteer Gord Robertson, and mainly portrayed by a lemur named Jovian, along with a collection of returned animal guests.

A weekday cartoon is the colloquial term for the animated series programming that was typically scheduled on weekday mornings and afternoons in the United States on many major television networks and in broadcast syndication since the 1960s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PBS Kids Bookworm Bunch</span> Former preschool television block at PBS Kids

The PBS Kids Bookworm Bunch was a short-lived preschool television block produced by Canada-based animation studio Nelvana Limited that aired on PBS from September 30, 2000 to September 5, 2004. It typically aired on weekend mornings, depending on station preference and scheduling. The programs that formed the Bookworm Bunch were all based on children's books: Corduroy, Elliot Moose, Timothy Goes to School, Seven Little Monsters, George Shrinks, and Marvin the Tap-Dancing Horse.

<i>Fetch! with Ruff Ruffman</i> American animated television series

Fetch! with Ruff Ruffman is an American live-action/animated television series that aired on PBS Kids Go! and is largely targeted toward children ages 6–10. It is a reality competition hosted by Ruff Ruffman, an animated anthropomorphic dog who dispenses challenges to the show's real-life contestants. The series ran from May 29, 2006, to November 4, 2010 on PBS across five seasons and 100 episodes, and featured 30 contestants. Although a sixth season was planned, with auditions taking place in January 2010, WGBH announced on June 14, 2010 that the series would end due to lack of funding. In June 2008, the series received its first Emmy for Best Original Song for its theme.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PBS</span> American public television network

The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) is an American public broadcaster and non-commercial, free-to-air television network based in Arlington, Virginia. PBS is a publicly funded nonprofit organization and the most prominent provider of educational programs to public television stations in the United States, distributing shows such as Frontline, Nova, PBS News Hour, Masterpiece, Sesame Street, and This Old House.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Noggin (brand)</span> American childrens edutainment brand (1999-2024)

Noggin was an American edutainment brand that launched on February 2, 1999. It was co-founded by MTV Networks and Sesame Workshop. It started out as a cable television channel and a website, both centered around the concepts of imagination, creativity, and education. From 2015 to 2024, Noggin was a streaming service.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Universal Kids</span> American childrens television channel

Universal Kids is an American children's television channel owned by the NBCUniversal Media Group division of NBCUniversal, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Comcast.

<i>Lets Go Luna!</i> Animated educational television series

Let's Go Luna! is an educational animated children's television series created by Joe Murray that aired on PBS Kids. Murray formerly worked on the Nickelodeon animated series Rocko's Modern Life and Cartoon Network animated series Camp Lazlo. It is co-produced by 9 Story Media Group. Judy Greer provides the voice of the titular Luna. In the first season, there are 38 half-hour episodes and a one-hour special. The second season has 26 episodes and premiered on May 10, 2021. Each episode consists of two 11-minute story segments, with a short segment of one of the characters telling a folktale, song or poem from that country in between.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The N</span> Programming block on the Noggin television channel

The N was a prime time and late-night programming block on the Noggin television channel, aimed at preteens and teenagers. It was launched on April 1, 2002, by MTV Networks and Sesame Workshop.

References

  1. ↑ "Early Elementary School Kids Turning To PBS KIDS GO! For A Place Of Their Own". About PBS - Main. Retrieved July 11, 2022.
  2. 1 2 "In 2004, PBS Focuses on New Platforms While Delivering on Public Service Mission". About PBS - Main. Retrieved July 11, 2022.
  3. ↑ "PBS KIDS GO!". February 5, 2005. Archived from the original on February 5, 2005. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
  4. ↑ "Comcast, HIT Entertainment, PBS and Sesame Workshop Announce Plans to Launch Ground-Breaking 24-hour Preschool Children's Television Channel". About PBS - Main. October 20, 2004. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
  5. ↑ "PBS KIDS GO! Channel To Launch October 2006". About PBS - Main. April 4, 2006. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
  6. ↑ Egner, Jeremy (April 3, 2006). "World and Go! streams flow into PBS plans". Current. Archived from the original on April 25, 2016. Retrieved March 30, 2016.
  7. ↑ Everhart, Karen (July 17, 2006). "PBS Kids Go! channel: plan is no-go for now". Current. Current Publishing Committee. Archived from the original on May 9, 2016. Retrieved April 4, 2016.
  8. ↑ Evans, Greg (February 23, 2016). "PBS To Launch PBS Kids – A 24/7 Children's Channel And Live Stream". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on July 1, 2017. Retrieved September 10, 2017.
  9. ↑ "FETCH!™ with Ruff Ruffman Unleashed on the Web on PBS KIDS GO!". PRWeb. Archived from the original on August 7, 2009. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
  10. ↑ "LITERACY TAKES THE LEAD ON PBS KIDS AND PBS KIDS GO!". About PBS - Main. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
  11. ↑ Weisman, Jon (July 13, 2009). "PBS offers surge of 'Electric Company'". Variety. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
  12. ↑ bbAdmin (July 28, 2010). "Kratt Brothers Team up with 9 Story for New Animal Adventure Comedy Series - "Wild Kratts" on PBS Kids GO!® Premieres January 2010". 9 Story Media Group. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
  13. ↑ "PBS Pressroom - WISHBONE". February 3, 2008. Archived from the original on February 3, 2008. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
  14. ↑ "PBS KIDS GO! Debuts Full-Screen Online Video Player". Animation World Network. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
  15. ↑ @yvonneinla (May 15, 2013). "Register" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  16. ↑ "PBS Kids Go! goes bye-bye as colorful branding revamp rolls out to stations | Current.org". August 10, 2013. Archived from the original on August 10, 2013. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
  17. ↑ "LITERACY TAKES THE LEAD ON PBS KIDS AND PBS KIDS GO!". About PBS - Main. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
  18. 1 2 "PBS Launches New Spanish Language and Music Web Series on PBSKIDSGO.ORG". About PBS - Main. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
  19. ↑ "LAUGHTER IS THE KEY INGREDIENT IN FIZZY'S LUNCH LAB," A NEW HEALTH-THEMED WEB-ONLY PROPERTY LAUNCHING NOVEMBER 16 ON PBSKIDSGO.ORG". About PBS - Main. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
  20. ↑ "'WILSON & DITCH: DIGGING AMERICA' NEW PBS CHILDREN'S WEB-ONLY SOCIAL STUDIES SERIES ON PBSKIDSGO.ORG THIS FALL (August 2, 2009)". About PBS - Main. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.