PBS Kids Expands Content Library to ‘Help Kids Want to Learn’
By Movieguide® Contributor
PBS Kids is planning some major expansions, from new shows to video games and podcasts.
“When you think of kids’ media as just a marketing tool or if you think of it as a way to boost your subscribers, you’re missing a huge opportunity to really use the creative potential of these formats to enrich lives, to help kids want to learn more, and to show them worlds that they might not get to see otherwise,” Sara DeWitt, senior vice president and general manager at PBS Kids, said.
She explained that Fred Rogers, star and creator of MISTER ROGERS’ NEIGHBORHOOD, “set the foundation” for what the network wants to do.
“We always want to ensure we’re offering a safe place where they can learn about these topics in an age-appropriate way, guided by input from child development and subject-matter experts, which is so critical when approaching these topics with young kids,” DeWitt continued.
As part of their 2023-2024 expansion, PBS Kids plans to debut 26 new series and new seasons of existing shows. The network will also experiment with interactive technology in a new show called LYLA IN THE LOOP.
“Show producers will create interactive episodes that integrate AI-assisted conversation with Lyla,” CartoonBrew wrote. “During these episodes, Lyla will ask viewers questions, and the program will then use responsive AI technology to understand what the viewer says and respond accordingly.”
They also plan to expand the content offered on the PBS Kids Video app, from new episodes and shows, to more podcasts and games.
The Hollywood Reporter wrote that PBS Kids’ “overall podcasts have garnered 77 million streams and 10 million downloads across PBS Kids podcasting platforms” and that “16 new games and 22 game updates will roll out, alongside expanded Spanish language content on both its audio and games platforms.”
GameIsHard reported on the gaming expansion, praising PBS Kids for being “dedicated to expanding accessibility for all viewers, including those with disabilities, through new technologies like responsive AI algorithms.”
While PBS Kids plans to use their content to teach children, parents should be aware of what kind of topics shows include. Movieguide® previously reported on PBS Kids’ inclusion of an LGBT wedding on a children’s show:
A recent episode of the ODD SQUAD on PBS Kids featured a same-sex wedding, adding to the list of children’s content that promotes the LGBT+ agenda.
While the live-action show claims that its goal is to teach children between the ages of 5 and 8 about math, the episode titled “Monumental Oddness,” features a subplot dedicated to the marriage of two lesbian characters.
The episode’s main plot follows the ODD SQUAD, a group of superhero children, as they try to save various landmarks. The group believes that the Eiffel Tower is next, where two brides are told to evacuate before they can proceed with their wedding.
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