PBS Kids Go!

PBS Kids Go! is a former television brand used by PBS for programs aimed at older children, in contrast to the kindergarten and preschool-level PBS Kids. It was primarily broadcast on PBS stations during the afternoon hours on weekdays. It debuted on October 11, 2004, and was closed on October 7, 2013.

For the channel the block was on, and the former block on PBS Kids, see PBS Kids and PBS Kids Bookworm Bunch.
PBS Kids Go!
NetworkPBS
PBS Kids
LaunchedOctober 11, 2004 (2004-10-11)
ClosedOctober 7, 2013 (2013-10-07)
Country of originUnited States
OwnerPBS
Key peopleNatasha Wing, Latoya Ravenau
HeadquartersLos Gatos, California
FormatAfternoon programming block
Running time2 hours
Original language(s)English

History

The PBS Kids Go! programming block was launched in October 2004, with the purpose of making older children watch and appreciate PBS Kids educational programming as it was found that only preschoolers and kindergarteners were watching PBS Kids. With the discontinuation of the original PBS Kids Channel (a revived version has been launched as of January 16, 2017) in favor of PBS Kids Sprout in 2005, PBS Kids Go! continued its run on PBS.[1]

In April 2006, PBS announced that, in October 2006, a 24-hour digital multicast network called PBS Kids Go! Channel would be launched with additional content. Slated were several programming blocks, an evening Go! family block targeted at both children and their families, a Spanish language-programming block, "PBS Kids Vayan!" and a school block. KidsWorld Sports, HIT Entertainment’s Wishbone reruns and Kratts’ Creatures were planned as exclusive programs for the network. These exclusive shows plus those from the PBS block would total seven hours of original programming. At this time, PBS planned on adding one or two new series per year. The network was to be fee-based, allowing those stations that subscript to place the network's exclusive programs on their analog channel if they order. A branded interactive club was also part of the plan, with stations working it into their existing club or starting a new club and branding it how they would like to.[1]

With only one third of PBS stations affiliating with the network and half needed on July 6, 2006, the network was withdrawn. PBS left open the possibility to re-offer the network. Stations found that the sliding scale licensing fees were too high for what little exclusive programming they received, especially after spending additional funds for the PBS HD feed.[2]

On August 7, 2013, PBS announced that the PBS Kids Go! brand would be discontinued, with the Go! programming rebranded into a new universal branding design across all of PBS's children's programming. The redesign was introduced two months later on October 7, 2013 with the launch of Peg + Cat. PBS considered the effort to age up its overall audience with the Go! effort to be successful, negating the need to continue it further.[3]

Programming
  • 1 Premiered before the launch of PBS Kids Go!
  • 2 Aired under the PBS Kids banner.

Original programming
Title Premiere date End date
Arthur1 October 11, 2004 October 7, 2013
Zoom1 2 September 2, 2007
Cyberchase1 October 7, 2013
DragonflyTV1 May 30, 2010
Maya & Miguel December 31, 2010
Postcards from Buster February 24, 2012
Fetch! with Ruff Ruffman May 29, 2006 September 2, 2012
Design Squad February 28, 2007 March 20, 2011
Wishbone1 June 3, 2007 September 6, 2009
WordGirl September 3, 2007 October 7, 2013
Animalia January 5, 2008 September 6, 2009
Martha Speaks2 September 1, 2008 October 7, 2013
The Electric Company January 23, 2009
SciGirls February 11, 2010
Wild Kratts January 3, 2011

Web series
Title Premiere date End date
KidsWorld Sports October 27, 2006 May 4, 2007
Space Race March 22, 2011 October 7, 2013
Oh Noah! September 17, 2012

Shorts

PBS Kids Go! aired shorts, usually right before the end credits of Cyberchase and Maya & Miguel, right after the end credits of Animalia, and during breaks between episode pairs of Arthur, to fill time during long-form programming. These include Go! Figure, WordGirl, Oh Noah, Space Race, A Word From Us Kids and miscellaneous shorts featuring live-action kids talking about things they do; about their families' heritage; or other topics with Maya (Candi Milo) or Miguel (Nika Futterman) doing a voiceover.

Writing and illustrating contest
Main article: PBS Kids Writers Contest

In 2009, PBS launched the first contest called PBS Kids Go! Writers Contest to continue the annual writing and illustrating competition for children in Kindergarten through 3rd grade, which started in 1995 as the Reading Rainbow Young Writers and Illustrators Contest. In 2014, it was renamed to PBS Kids Writers Contest.

See also

References
  1. Egner, Jeremy (April 3, 2006). "World and Go! streams flow into PBS plans". Current. Archived from the original on April 25, 2016. Retrieved March 30, 2016.
  2. Everhart, Karen (July 17, 2006). "PBS Kids Go! channel: plan is no-go for now". Current. Current Publishing Committee. Archived from the original on May 9, 2016. Retrieved April 4, 2016.
  3. "PBS Kids Go! goes bye-bye as colorful branding revamp rolls out to stations". Current.org. 2013-08-07. Retrieved 2013-08-16.
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