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PBS today announced a plan to revamp their children’s television offerings.

PBS announces a five-year initiative entitled PBS KIDS Next Generation Media, defining the role PBS will play in the changing digital children’s media landscape. Most immediately prescribed by this initiative are a new preschool multi-platform destination and a 24-hour multicast service for early elementary school kids. Both will launch in fall 2006. Lesli Rotenberg, Senior Vice President, PBS Brand Management, has been tasked to lead this cross-divisional effort.

As for what that all means in the short term, here are the highlights:

• Launching 3 new shows in 2006. It’s a big big world featuring science and geography (January), Curious George teaching preschoolers math and engineering (fall), and Fetch! aimed at elementary school children (June).
• Inclusion of a live host between shows
• Grouping shows by development stage
• Enhancing the internet platform

Children’s programming is becoming more and more competitive, and PBS is probably feeling the pressure to remain relevant. At one time, they were the only game in town. Then as there were more alternatives, PBS Kids remained one of the few commercial free entities. But with cable came the Playhouse Disney block, as well as Noggin. Both offering commercial free, educational television. I know that in my house, very few PBS shows get watched. While the shows are still fine, my kids prefer some of the other alternatives.

Press Release: PBS launches PBS Kids Next Generation Fall 2006
PBS Kids: PBSKids.org
Related Post: It’s a big big world

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