PBS KIDS Sprout

Infobox Network
network_name = PBS KIDS Sprout
network_
country = United States
network_type = Cable television channel and VOD service
slogan =
available = National
owner = Comcast
Sesame Workshop
Nicktoons Studios
HIT Entertainment
PBS
launch_date = September 26, 2005
website = [http://www.sproutonline.com/ www.sproutonline.org]
past_names = (none)
key_people = Sandy Wax (president)
terr avail = Not Available
sat serv 1 = DirecTV
sat chan 1 = Channel 295
Channel 1361 (VOD)
sat serv 2 = Dish Network
sat chan 2 = Channel 102
terr avail =
sat serv 1 = DirecTV
sat chan 1 = Channel 295
cable serv 1 = Available on most cable systems
cable chan 1 = check Local Listings for channels|

PBS KIDS Sprout (sometimes referred to as PBS Sprout, KIDS Sprout, or just Sprout) is a U.S. digital cable television channel, video-on-demand (VOD) service, and website providing PBS KIDS shows and original programming for preschoolers and their families. Sprout launched initially as a VOD service on April 4, 2005, and later as a cable and satellite channel on September 26, 2005.

Sprout is co-owned by Comcast, Sesame Workshop, Nicktoons Studios, HIT Entertainment and PBS. The channel is not accessible on Dish Network as they have not yet bought the rights to the channel.

Programming

Current Programming

*Angelina Ballerina
*Barney & Friends (Seasons 1-10)
*Bob the Builder
*
*Bounce
*Caillou
*Dive Olly Dive!
*Dragon Tales
*Fireman Sam
*Fifi and the Flowertots
*Jay Jay the Jet Plane
*Kipper
*Musical Mornings with Coo (Sprout Original)
*Pic Me
*Pingu
*Play with Me Sesame
*Sesame Street
*Sprout Diner (Sprout Original) (Weekends only)
*Teletubbies
*The Berenstain Bears
*The Good Night Show (Sprout Original Series)
*The Hoobs
*The Let's Go Show (Sprout Original Series) (Weekends only)
*The Many Adventures of Mr. Mailman (Sprout Original)
*The Sprout Sharing Show (Sprout Original)
*The Sunny Side Up Show (Sprout Original)
*Thomas & Friends
*Zoboomafoo

Past Programming

*Big Sister, Little Brother
*Boohbah
*Jakers! The Adventures of Piggley Winks
*James the Cat
*Sagwa
*The Birthday Show (moved to The Sunny Side Up Show)

Personalities

"Musical Mornings with Coo"

*Coo is an animated bird who lives in a cuckoo clock and is the host of "Musical Mornings with Coo", which premiered September 26, 2007. She introduces programs and segments with songs about morning, waking up, and beginning-of-the-day routines.

"The Sunny Side Up Show"

*Kelly, portrayed by Kelly Vrooman, is a main host on "The Sunny Side Up Show", which premiered on September 26, 2007. Along with co-hosts Chica, Kevin and Sean. They introduce programs and lead themed activities.

*Chica is a chicken puppet who co-hosts "The Sunny Side Up Show" with Kelly, Kevin and Sean. She lives in a building called The Sunshine Barn, and has a voice which resembles a kazoo. Her character was introduced on the aforementioned premiere of "The Sunny Side Up Show".

*Kevin, portrayed by Kevin Yamada, was the original host of "The Birthday Show". This segment, which originally aired several times daily, featured birthday cards sent in by parents for their children. Kevin would read these birthday cards as a list of "Sproutlet" birthdays scrolled along the bottom of the screen. "The Birthday Show" began in a short format, but was expanded to a fifteen-minute segment where, along with birthday cards and the crawl of viewer birthdays, Kevin would feature footage of an individual "Sproutlet's" birthday celebration. Often, the activities shown in these segments had some tie-in to Sprout shows--for example, children playing Zoboomafoo Bingo (where animal pictures were used instead of numbers) or creating an "Angelina Ballerina" party favor. On September 26, 2007, "The Birthday Show" was absorbed into "The Sunny Side Up Show" with Kevin joining Chica and Kelly to display birthday cards and offer birthday wishes

*Sean, portrayed by Sean Roach, is the newest host added to "The Sunny Side Up Show".

*Mr. Mailman is a cartoon character who delivers cards and mail. Originally a part of "The Birthday Show", the character was then featured in "The Many Adventures of Mr. Mailman". He still performs his original role, delivering birthday cards on "The Sunny Side Up Show".

"The Let's Go Show"

*Banjo is a small pink puppy who co-hosts "The Let's Go Show" with Miles.

*Miles is the host of the "The Let's Go Show". He also makes occasional appearances on The Sunny Side Up Show.

"The Good Night Show"

Current Hosts

*Nina, portrayed by Michele Lepe, is the current host of "The Good Night Show". She also makes occasional appearances on "The Sunny Side Up Show" .

*Star, a star-shaped puppet, is the co-host of "The Good Night Show". Star serves as the child character of the show, asking questions about the evening's theme, or encouraging viewers to follow him as he performs nighttime routines such as brushing his teeth or reading a bedtime story.

*Lucy is a firefly puppet used to introduce shows on "The Good Night Show" She is also featured in games, such as "Lucy Light the Way"; in this game, viewers are shown parts of a picture (as though they were illuminated by a firefly's light) and viewers then guess what the picture represents.

*Hush is a real-life goldfish who was used to introduce episodes on "The Good Night Show". He currently still appears at the end of every show, as Nina closes the show by "saying good night to Hush" and reciting a poem in which viewers are encouraged to "make a wish".

Previous Hosts

*Melanie was the original host of "The Good Night Show" when it premiered in 2005. She was portrayed by Melanie Martinez. She left the show abruptly in 2006, reportedly due to concerns over inappropriate content (sexual innuendo) in a satirical film she had appeared in while in college. [ [http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/05/arts/television/05pbs.html?_r=1&ex=1155441600&en=fd54f884c076286f&ei=5070&emc=eta1&oref=slogin PBS Firing of Host of ‘The Good Night Show’ Draws Protests - New York Times ] ]

*Leo, played by Noel MacNeal, was the interim host of "The Good Night Show" after Melanie's dismissal. He filled in as guest host of "The Good Night Show" until Nina became the new host of "The Good Night Show" in late 2006.

References

External links

* [http://www.sproutonline.com/ Official site]
* [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A26669-2005Apr4.html?nav=rss_business Comcast, PBS Plan New Service] (Frank Ahrens, "Washington Post", April 5, 2005)
* [http://tvweek.com/news/2005/12/saluting_sprouts_launch_pbs_sp.php Saluting Sprout's Launch: PBS Sprouts a Kids Triumph] (Debra Kaufman, "TelevisionWeek", December 5, 2005)
* [http://tvweek.com/news/2006/11/special_report_familyfriendly.php Kids Sprout Takes Root as Leader in Genre] (Allison J. Waldman, "TelevisionWeek", Nov 27, 2006)