Press Releases & News Briefs

CALLING ALL CHEFS! PBS KIDS SPROUT℠ ANNOUNCES THE SPROUT DINER CONTEST

Beginning Thanksgiving Day, Sprout viewers can submit their favorite, healthy recipe for a chance to have it featured on Sprout Diner’s 2007 season

Philadelphia, PA - November 20, 2006 - PBS KIDS Sprout, the first and only 24-hour preschool destination available on TV, on demand and online for kids ages 2-5 and their parents and caregivers, announces the first ever "Sprout Diner Contest," running November 23 through December 31, 2006. 

PBS KIDS Sprout is looking for participants to submit a tasty, fun and healthy recipe named for Thomas the Tank Engine™ (for example, "Choo Choo Chopped Salad" or "Thomas' Tasty Tomato Dip").  Sprout will be accepting contest entries through the end of December and the winner will be chosen in the new year.  The winning recipe will be animated and presented on an upcoming episode of Sprout Diner.  For the official rules and requirements, please go to www.sproutonline.com

"Spending time in the kitchen together cooking and sharing the fun of preparing family meals is a great way for parents and their preschoolers to bond," said Andrew Beecham, senior vice president of programming for PBS KIDS Sprout.  "We wanted to combine this family ritual with a way to promote healthy eating in a fun and friendly way.  It will be exciting for the winning family to see their creation come to life on Sprout Diner." 

Designed to encourage preschool children to eat nutritious foods, Sprout Diner also inspires parents and caregivers with healthy eating ideas.  Each animated short-form episode features its own nutritious and fun recipe inspired by popular preschool characters like Barney, Elmo, the Teletubbies, Noddy, Sagwa, Caillou and the Berenstain Bears.  Sprout Diner owner Brussel Sprout, his daughter Bean and her daughter Alfalfa create the healthy dishes for each character that calls in to order after a hard day's play. 

Children and their parents are encouraged to visit www.sproutonline.com to download the recipes so they can make them together at home. KidsHealth.org, a national non-profit children's health organization and the web's most visited children's health site, were nutritional consultants for the recipes which include yummy, healthy treats like Bob's Berry Delicious Shake, Elmo's Funny Face Pizza Pies and Barney's Purple Hummus Dip.

About Sprout
PBS KIDS SproutSM, the first and only 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, the country's leading provider of cable, entertainment and communications products and services; HIT Entertainment, a leading provider of quality entertainment for young children; PBS (Public Broadcasting Service), the most trusted distributor of award-winning children's programming; and Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit educational organization behind Sesame Street.

Since debuting its video on demand (VOD) service in April 2005, PBS KIDS Sprout has become the #1 Kids On Demand service, generating over 100 million orders since launch.  The 24-hour digital channel, which launched in September 2005 along with the website (www.sproutonline.com), is available on digital cable and satellite to 20 million committed subscribers.  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™, Sagwa: The Chinese Siamese Cat™,  Caillou™, The Berenstain Bears™, Jay Jay the Jet Plane™, Teletubbies™, Dragon Tales™, Pingu™, Make Way For Noddy™, Jakers! The Adventures of Piggley Winks™,  and more.

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CONTACT:
Jenni Glenn
PBS KIDS Sprout
215-667-2703
jenni_glenn@sproutletsgrow.com