Burbank, CA (February 6, 2009) PBS KIDS Sprout, the first
24-hour preschool destination available on TV, on demand, and
online for kids ages 2-5 and their parents and caregivers, has set
a mobile marketplace precedent with iPhone applications for
preschoolers on the go. Two new free apps will be available this
month. Designed by The Studio at New Wave Entertainment, the apps
enable kids and their parents to stream Sprout podcasts, play an
interactive game, and view a programming schedule with clips; all
through a branded player.
The Sprout Player scheduled to launch later this month is
a branded video player application that streams podcasts of 3-4
minute Sprout shows currently available on Apple's iTunes store.
Designed for the preschooler on the go, video player offers simple
audio instructions voiced by Kelly Vrooman, one of the hosts of
Sprout's "Sunny Side Up Show," television's only live show for
preschoolers, airing every weekday morning from 9 a.m. to noon. The
Player also includes a promotional area where parents can view
Sprout's programming schedule and click on promotional clips for
upcoming events. The Player is managed on the client end via an
asset management system that allows for easy uploading of videos,
promos, or graphic assets.
The "Dress Chica" game, which launched in late January, is
an extension of a popular online game currently featured on their
website at SproutOnline.com. The iPhone app takes the game to the
next level allowing children to touch and drag dress up items onto
Chica, shake the phone to make her dance, save their picture, add a
greeting, e-mail it to friends and family, and even submit it to
Sprout where it might be shown on national television during the
"Sunny Side Up Show." Both apps are free and are promoted on
SproutOnline.com.
Jennifer Molod, Senior Director of Digital Media at Sprout
said, "The objective of the iPhone launch is to create awareness
for the Sprout brand and to expand Sprout's presence in the
marketplace. Our goal is to be everywhere for moms and preschoolers
whenever they need us, whether that's on television, online or when
they are in the car going to the supermarket."
"It was great to collaborate with the Sprout team," says Scott
Williams, VP Creative Director of the Studio at New Wave
Entertainment. We were able to take their existing assets and
extend them into this new space by adding features that helped
elevate the user experience and also make a nice showpiece to
generate brand awareness for Sprout."
To access New Wave Entertainment's site to view the stills and
video of the applications go to https://www.nwetransfer.com
and log in using STUDIOPR as the username and RELEASES02 as the
password.
About Sprout
PBS KIDS SproutSM, the first 24-hour preschool
destination available on TV, on demand, and online for kids ages
2-5 and their parents and caregivers, was created as a partnership
among Comcast Corporation, HIT Entertainment, PBS and Sesame
Workshop. Since debuting its video on demand (VOD) service in April
2005, Sprout has become the #1 On Demand service for younger
children, generating over half a billion views. The 24-hour digital
channel, which launched in September 2005 along with the website
(SproutOnline.com), is the only channel that follows the day of
child from breakfast to bedtime with its distinctive programming.
Currently, Sprout is available in 45 million unique households.
The network's program lineup of gold-standard,
curriculum-based children's shows includes: Sesame Street®, Bob the
Builder™, Barney & Friends™, Thomas & Friends™, Angelina
Ballerina™, Caillou®, The Berenstain Bears™, Dragon Tales™, Pingu™,
Make Way For Noddy™, The Hoobs™, Fifi and the Flowertots™ and
more.
The Studio at New Wave Entertainment is the industry's
leading force in creative marketing, main title and broadcast
design, DVD/BD menu design, and interactive content development.
For further information regarding The Studio, please contact Kelley
Max at 818-955-5276 or visit www.studio-nwe.com.