Contact: Stan Cleiland, Vice President, Community Relations and Strategic Communications
(904) 358-6366 • scleiland@wjct.org
For Immediate Release
WJCT to Launch Free Localized 24/7 Multiplatform PBS KIDS Services
Provided by WJCT, New 24/7 WJCT PBS Kids Channel and Live Stream Will Support WJCT’s Mission to Reach All First Coast- Area Children with High-Quality Educational Content
(Jacksonville, FL, January 10, 2017); WJCT announces that it will launch new, free localized 24/7 children’s services. Provided by WJCT, the free services include a new TV channel and live stream on digital platforms. The effort is WJCT’s latest initiative to support early learning in the community. WJCT will broadcast PBS KIDS shows 24 hours a day on an additional television channel WJCT PBS Kids Channel 7.5 and offer a live stream, making it easy for First Coast 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 WJCT-branded live stream through pbskids.org and on the PBS KIDS Video App, which is available on a variety of mobile devices and tablets. The live stream complements on-demand clips and full episodes, which will continue to be available for free on the PBS KIDS Video App and streaming via pbskids.org.
Following its initial launch, the localized live stream experience will expand 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. 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.
“WJCT 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,” says WJCT President and CEO Michael Boylan. “We are excited to build on the work we do every day for First Coast families by adding these new 24/7 services to our offerings, 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 new 24/7 channel and digital offerings, WJCT will build on this reach and impact.
Through this effort, WJCT will extend its commitment to early learning by offering more families high-quality PBS KIDS content that is trusted by parents and proven to help kids learn. In a recent survey, PBS KIDS led all networks in improving kids’ behavior, with 74% of parents saying their child exhibits more positive behavior after engaging with PBS KIDS. And years of research confirm that PBS KIDS media content helps children build critical skills that enable them to find success in school and life, while also helping parents increase their own engagement. A recent study conducted by WestEd found that PBS KIDS resources can help narrow the math achievement gap for children from low-income families and better prepare them for kindergarten. Additionally, parents’ awareness of their children’s math learning increased significantly – as did their use of strategies to support their children’s learning.
Designed to meet the needs of today’s kids, WJCT’s new, free 24/7 services 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 WJCT PBS KIDS 24/7 channel will 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. WJCT will provide the PBS KIDS 24/7 channel on Channel 7.5, in addition to its current primary Channel 7.1 channel, which will continue to feature a PBS KIDS day part. The schedule of children’s programming on the primary WJCT channel will be different from the 24/7 channel, offering families a variety of options. The full local schedule is available at wjct.org. To access Channel 7.5,viewers with over-the-air only television access will need to rescan their antenna.
The 24/7 PBS KIDS offering is an integral part of WJCT’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.
WJCT is the community-supported public broadcasting station for the First Coast. WJCT is your community, your world. For more information on WJCT’s in-depth programming content, log on to WJCT Online at wjct.org. Like WJCT on Facebook (facebook.com/wjctjax) and follow WJCT on Twitter (@WJCTJax) and Instagram (@WJCTJax).
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