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WHRO KIDS TO LAUNCH 24/7 MULTIPLATFORM PBS KIDS SERVICES
Provided by WHRO Public Media, WHRO Kids TV Channel Will Add Online Digital Live Stream Services
to Reach All Eastern Virginian Children with High-Quality Educational Content
Interactive Games Integration to Follow
NORFOLK, VA (January 5, 2016) – Today, WHRO Kids announced that they will launch a new updated 24/7 channel programming free localized 24/7 children’s content and a new, digital live streaming platform on Monday, January 16. The effort is WHRO Kids’ latest initiative to support early learning in the community and ensure that valuable, educational content is accessible to anyone, anywhere, anytime.
WHRO Kids will continue to broadcast PBS KIDS shows 24 hours a day with an updated program schedule and offer a live stream, making it easy for Eastern Virginian 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 WHRO Kids-branded live stream through pbskids.org and on the PBS KIDS Video App, accessible on a variety of mobile devices and tablets.
In addition, WHRO Kids will be rolling out additional resources in the Spring, including:
- A digital suite and website specific to the Eastern Virginian family with localized content, resources and more;
- Livestreaming capabilities on over-the-top platforms such as Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Xbox One and Chromecast; and
- Expansive, localized live stream experience 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.
"WHRO Kids has been an integral part of the community for years, delivering content and services that parents trust and that move the needle in early learning," said Angie Callahan, Director of Children's Services at WHRO Public Media. "We are excited to build on the work we do every day for Eastern Virginian families by adding these new platforms, ensuring that our proven educational content is accessible anytime and anywhere to all kids – especially those who need it the most."
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. With its enhanced 24/7 channel and digital offerings, WHRO Kids will build on this reach and impact. Designed to meet the needs of today’s kids, WHRO’s continued 24/7 educational programming 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 67% of the time children spend watching video content. Most kids' TV viewing takes place on weeknights and weekend afternoons and evenings. This trend is true for all children, but especially for those in low-income families.
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.
Viewers can tune into the 24/7 channel on WHRO Kids 15.3 (Cox Digital 108, Charter Digital 120, FIOS Channel 462) and also catch morning children programming on WHROTV-15. The full local schedule is available at www.whro.org/tv/schedule. Programming will continue to include popular favorites such as DANIEL TIGER'S NEIGHBORHOOD, ODD SQUAD, WILD KRATTS and DINOSAUR TRAIN; PBS KIDS' newest series SPLASH AND BUBBLES, NATURE CAT and READY JET GO! will also be featured.
The 24/7 PBS KIDS offering is an integral part of WHRO Public Media'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. WHRO offers significant educational and development services to children and families throughout the region, including two traveling vans (focused on reading and STEM), First Books program, Reading, Math and Coding Camps.
To learn more about WHRO's Children's services and resources, visit education.whro.org and follow WHRO on Facebook.
About WHRO: Since its founding in 1961, WHRO Public media has offered educational services throughout Eastern Virginia to educators, students, adult learners and families. WHRO Education is proud to offer online educational and new media services to 286,000 students and 25,000 educators every month. To learn more, visit whro.org.
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i Nielsen NPOWER L+7 9/21/2015-9/18/2016 M-Su 6A-6A TP reach, 50% unif., 6+ min. K2-5, LOH 18-49w/C<6, K2-11 in HH w/Inc<$20k.
ii Nielsen Total Audience Report 2Q2016.
iii Nielsen NPOWER Live PUT, 9/21/2015-9/18/2016, K2-11 select dayparts.
iiii Nielsen NPOWER Live PUT, 9/21/2015-9/18/2016, K2-11 M-F 6-10P, M-F 6A-12N, K2-11 in HH w/Inc<$20k.
