Press Releases & News Briefs

PBS KIDS SPROUT ADDS TIME WARNER CABLE TO GROWING LIST OF DISTRIBUTORS

Multi-Platform Preschool Destination Shows Impressive Growth Within First Two Years of Operation

Philadelphia, PA - September 10, 2007 - 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, today announced that Time Warner Cable has signed an agreement regarding carriage of the 24-hour digital cable network. Time Warner Cable, who also carries Sprout's Video on Demand service, joins other distributors including Comcast, DirecTV, Cox, RCN, Insight, AT&T and Verizon in providing the quality content kids love and parents trust.

Time Warner Cable serves 13.4 million basic cable subscribers nationwide and is the second largest cable provider in the country.  Including Time Warner Cable, Sprout is now available in 34 million unique households through digital cable and/or Sprout On Demand.

"We are thrilled to add Time Warner Cable to the Sprout family," said Sandy Wax, president and general manager of PBS KIDS Sprout.  "Time Warner Cable's impressive subscriber base provides us the opportunity to share our network with millions of families across the country by providing 24-hour access to the most trusted programs and characters in preschool TV." 

PBS KIDS Sprout offers a variety of gold-standard, curriculum-based children's shows combined with short-form original programs uniquely designed to follow a preschooler's day from breakfast to bedtime.  Daytime programs feature stimulating and upbeat shows designed to get children moving and active, while evening programming includes soothing, relaxing shows to help them gently wind down after a busy day.

Sprout provides 60 hours of VOD programming each month, including 10 hours of Spanish-language programming (including Plaza Sésamo®, Angelina Ballerina™, Barney & Friends™, Bob the Builder™, Jay Jay the Jet Plane® and The Berenstain Bears™).   With VOD, a parent can access their preschooler's favorite show whenever they want it. 

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, HIT Entertainment, PBS and Sesame Workshop.  Since debuting its video on demand (VOD) service in April 2005, PBS KIDS Sprout has become the #1 On Demand service for younger children, generating over 250 million orders.  The 24-hour digital channel, which launched in September 2005 along with the website (www.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 34 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™, 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@sproutonline.com

Maureen Huff
Time Warner Cable
212-364-8206
maureen.huff@twcable.com