[New] CHANGES

Even before Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood first aired on February 19, 1968, on PBS, public television had been known as a trusted source of commercial-free educational and informational programs for children. Soon joined by Sesame Street, The Electric Company, Zoom, and more the shows comprised a block of 2-3 hours on weekdays through the 1970s and early 1980s.

The need for more educational shows became even more relevant in the era of latch-key kids and the expansion of kids’ shows on cable TV. As those needs were identified PBS greatly expanded its offering of programs to offer a safe haven that parents grew to trust. Shows like Reading Rainbow, Newton’s Apple, and 3-2-1 Contact joined the expanding line-up through the 1980s.

By the 1990s commercial TV aired shows that were as much about marketing products as they were about entertainment, leading to the Children’s Television Act of 1997. PBS took the opposite path and worked with educators, sociologists, and researchers to develop shows that taught children Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math, as well as healthy habits and tools that they can use to navigate society. PBS was dedicated to serving children to such a degree that starting in 1996 many stations aired kids’ shows from early in the morning until late in the afternoon – SDPB among them.

The next major development was the launch on January 16, 2017, with a 24/7 channel and live stream of the channel on the PBS Kids website and video app. Now parents and their kids had access to a linear live stream of programs online and over the air, as well as video on demand.

Now we are seeing an evolution in technology and the way people use television. This evolution is driven by the adoption of viewing on second screens by younger viewers. While the use of traditional viewing habits in the morning remains strong, children are migrating away from watching TV in the afternoons. This has caused PBS to review how they schedule their broadcast day.

Effective Monday, February 6 the weekday schedule on SDPB and PBS stations around the nation is changing. Favorite PBS Kids programs will remain on our main channel until 3:00 p.m. Central, 2:00 p.m. Mountain. After that, we will transition to shows that life-long learners can appreciate. National, regional, and local shows that explore the world and feed our curiosity. Plus, an hour of news from a different perspective leads into PBS NewsHour, which remains anchored in its usual time slot.

The PBS Kids 24/7 channel isn’t going anywhere either. It remains the only commercial-free channel offering programs for kids under age 10 available anywhere.

SDPB’s commitment to providing a safe place for children to consume educational programming remains strong. Combined with our Education Department which provides resources for parents, daycare providers, homeschoolers, and educators, SDPB is proud to offer shows to our audience where they live.

Time Mon-Fri 5:30am/4:30 MT 6am/5 MT 6:30am/5:30 MT Arthur 7am/6 MT Wild Kratts 7:30am/6:30 MT Curious George 8am/ 7 MT Daniel Tiger 8:30am/7 :30 MT Rosie’s Rules 9am/8 MT Molly of Denali 9:30am/8:30 MT Work It Out Wombats! 10am/9 MT Donkey Hodie 10:30am/9:30 MT Curious George 11am/10 MT Alma’s Way 11:30am/10:30 MT Nature Cat

Noon/11am MT Sesame Street 12:30pm/11:30am MT Xavier Riddle 1pm/Noon MT Odd Squad 1:30pm/12:30 MT Cyberchase 2pm/1 MT 2:30pm/1:30 MT Arthur Wild Kratts

Saturdays

Mister Rogers

Berenstain Bears

Wild Kratts

Curious George

Work It Out Wombats!

Daniel Tiger

Sundays Arthur Molly of Denali

Alma’s Way

Wild Kratts

Curious George Work It Out Wombats!

Daniel Tiger

Sesame Street

Rosie’s Rules