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| Type | Cable television channel and VOD service |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Availability | National |
| Owner | Comcast, HIT Entertainment, PBS, & Sesame Workshop |
| Key people | Sandy Wax (president) |
| Launch date | 2005 |
| Former names | (none) |
| Official website | www.sproutletsgrow.com |
PBS KIDS Sprout is a U.S. digital cable television channel, video-on-demand (VOD) service, and website providing PBS KIDS content for preschoolers. Sprout launched initially as a VOD service on April 1, 2005, and later as a broadcast channel replacing the PBS KIDS Channel on DirecTV (as of September 26, 2005) and on digital cable (as of October 1, 2005). The PBS KIDS Channel had been up and running for six years and was largely paid for by DirecTV, which decided not to renew its licensing deal. Its replacement, Sprout, is a partnership owned by Comcast (40%), HIT Entertainment (30%), PBS (15%), and Sesame Workshop (15%).
PBS Kids Sprout Team Members
Kevin. Kevin, the daytime (and late night) host, is in charge of the Sprout Birthdays Department. He reads mailed-in birthday cards, recognizing the names of children celebrating birthdays, and leading the Sprout Birthday Song. Children recognized on-air by Kevin receive a special bonus: Magic Sprouting Seeds. He and Melanie host together on the Christmas Show.
Melanie. Melanie is the host of The Goodnight Show, which begins every evening at 6:00pm ET (5:00pm CT). She plays games, tells stories, sings songs, dances, does crafts, and gives encouraging advice. Melanie's companion, Hush, is a goldfish whom she calls upon when it is time to introduce a show. Melanie is played by Melanie Martinez, a 1994 graduate of the Tisch School of the Arts. She and Kevin host together on the Christmas Show
Barney. Barney is in the host of Thanksgiving on PBS KIDS Sprout: 6 full hours of Barney And Friends.
Big Bird and the Kids. Big Bird and the kids are the host of Spring on PBS KIDS Sprout
Shows Currently on Sprout
- Angelina Ballerina
- Berenstain Bears
- Big Sister, Little Brother
- Bob the Builder
- Barney & Friends
- Boohbah
- Caillou
- Dragon Tales
- James the Cat
- Jay Jay the Jet Plane
- Kipper
- Make Way for Noddy
- Pingu
- Sagwa, the Chinese Siamese Cat
- Sesame Street
- Teletubbies
- Thomas & Friends
- Zoboomafoo
Criticism and Complaints
When Sprout replaced the PBS KIDS Channel, the change was met with some criticism and complaint:
- The PBS KIDS Channel had become part of many toddlers' routines, even bedtime routines, and affected parents and children resented having to change these routines.
- Certain popular shows (e.g., Arthur, Clifford, Between the Lions) were not found on the new channel.
- Some of the shows on Sprout last only 15 minutes; where PBS KIDS Channel would air two 15-minute episodes back to back, Sprout broadcasts only one. This was seen as shortchanging viewers' expectations.
- Kevin, and especially Melanie, were singled out for criticism, being called insulting to the viewer's intelligence and offputting.
- Not least, the commercial business model of PBS KIDS Sprout can be seen as breaking the PBS brand's core promise of non-commercial, public-interest broadcasting.
External links
- Official Site
- Comcast, PBS Plan New Service (Frank Ahrens, Washington Post, April 5, 2005)
- Saluting Sprout's Launch: PBS Sprouts a Kids Triumph (Debra Kaufman, TelevisionWeek, December 5, 2005)