Press Releases & News Briefs

BETA RESEARCH STUDY RANKS PBS KIDS SPROUT℠ #1 IN SATISFACTION RATINGS AMONG ALL DIGITAL CABLE NETWORKS EVALUATED

Sprout also receives highest satisfaction rating among female viewers, viewers aged 18-34 and viewers aged 18-49

Philadelphia, PA - October 11, 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, has received highest honors in the latest Beta Research satisfaction ratings study released today. 

Sixty percent of respondents who indicated they are PBS KIDS Sprout viewers were "very satisfied" with the network, ranking Sprout the highest in satisfaction ratings among all 41 digital cable networks measured (tied with SOAPnet).  In this same category, Sprout was also #1 among female viewers, viewers aged 18-34 and viewers aged 18-49.   

Respondents were also asked what they would pay for each channel.  Women who are Sprout viewers value the network at $1.61, which was the second highest value among all networks evaluated and the highest value given to all children's television networks.

The study, which was designed to measure awareness, viewer satisfaction and perceived viewing and importance of digital networks, was conducted during July 2006 among a national sample of digital cable subscribers.  A total of 3,287 online questionnaires were completed.  The study included digital basic networks carried by most of the cable systems surveyed.

Beta Research Corporation, founded in 1970, has emerged as one of the premier market research companies in the United States, offering custom and syndicated research services to a wide range of business sectors.   

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.sproutletsgrow.com), is available on digital cable and satellite to almost 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