PBS Launches New Shows, Initiatives

PBS has unveiled new initiatives and programs focused on reading and art, while PBS Kids is set to bring back the canine star of the classic program Fetch! With Ruff Ruffman in an all-new digital series and will premiere the animated show Luna Around the World.

PBS will launch The Great American Read (working title) in spring 2018. The new eight-part TV series and nationwide campaign explores the joy of books and the power of reading and is told through the prism of America’s 100 best-loved books, as chosen by the public. The Great American Read encompasses the PBS series, community reading programs and special events, as well as a range of digital and social media initiatives. Also in spring 2018, PBS will air Civilizations, a new nine-part series presented in partnership with the BBC that tells the story of art from the dawn of human history to the present day on a global scale. Inspired by Civilization, Kenneth Clark’s landmark 1969 acclaimed series about Western art, the show will reveal the roles art and creativity have played in the forging of humanity.

The Ruff Ruffman Show is a brand-new short-form animated digital series that aims to help kids aged 4 to 8 learn core science concepts through videos, gameplay and hands-on activities. In the series, canine host Ruff Ruffman and his assistants Blossom and Chet answer questions from real kids. All 20 videos of the show will be available on September 28 on PBS Kids digital platforms, including online and via the PBS Kids Video app.

The videos will also roll out on the PBS Kids YouTube channel beginning September 28, and segments from the series will air on the new PBS Kids 24/7 channel and live stream this fall. PBS stations will also offer the content in underserved communities across the U.S. Related games will be available online and on the PBS Kids Games app. A Ruff Ruffman app will also become available on a range of mobile devices. The Ruff Ruffman Show was developed as part of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) and PBS Ready to Learn Initiative with funding from the U.S. Department of Education. Ready to Learn is a federal program that supports the development of innovative educational television and digital media targeted at preschool and early elementary school children and their families. The multiplatform series is produced by WGBH Boston.

“At PBS Kids, we’re always looking for ways to innovate across platforms through new formats and interactive content to meet the needs of today’s kids,” said Lesli Rotenberg, the senior VP and general manager of children’s media and education at PBS. “We’re excited to offer The Ruff Ruffman Show through digital shorts to introduce children to a variety of science concepts that allow them to learn from challenges and failure. Ruff is a character kids can relate to, modeling skills they can apply to their own daily curiosities.”

“WGBH is dedicated to creating opportunities for children to discover and learn, and Ruff Ruffman is the ideal character to engage kids in science experimentation,” said Terry Fitzpatrick, WGBH’s VP for children’s media and education. “We’re delighted that he is joining the CPB-PBS Ready to Learn Initiative to introduce real-world science experiences that are essential building blocks for lifelong achievement.”

“Public media’s free and high-quality educational programs introduce important learning concepts to children in innovative ways,” said Deb Sanchez, CPB’s senior VP for education and children’s content. “The Ruff Ruffman Show demonstrates for young learners how to think like scientists, promoting positive perceptions of themselves as explorers of their world and learners.”

In addition, PBS Kids revealed that the all-new animated series Luna Around the World, created by Joe Murray (Rocko’s Modern Life, Camp Lazlo) and produced by 9 Story Media Group, will premiere in fall 2018. The new multiplatform series will debut nationwide on PBS stations, the new 24/7 PBS Kids channel and PBS Kids digital platforms. The show focuses on a social studies curriculum and is meant to encourage kids aged 4 to 7 to explore and appreciate cultures from around the world, as well as to build global citizenship and social skills. The series follows the adventures of three friends from Australia, Mexico and the U.S. as they traverse the globe with their parents’ traveling performance troupe. Each episode will feature two 11-minute stories and interstitial content, including live-action segments about arts and cultures, and animated folktales and songs.

The program is currently in production on 38 half-hour episodes and an hour-long special. Digital content will also be available for kids, parents and teachers beginning in fall 2018, and a Luna Around the World app will launch after the series’ debut. 9 Story Distribution International is managing the distribution and merchandising rights for the property outside of Canada.

“Our approach with Luna Around the World is to offer engaging stories and adventures that are fun, developmentally appropriate and align with our whole-child approach to content,” said Linda Simensky, the VP of children’s programming at PBS. “Luna is a trusted guide who will encourage children to learn about the world beyond their own neighborhoods. The series seeks to foster an appreciation for cultural diversity, developing social and civic skills and promoting global stewardship.”

“Luna Around the World is designed to ignite kids’ curiosity about the world and inspire them to learn about the many different cultures that call it home,” added Murray. “Through this show, my goal is to give all children the opportunity to explore cultures other than their own, and to learn about the similarities that unite all of us through challenges that kids can relate to, with the universal language of laughter woven into each story.”

“We are thrilled to be working with PBS Kids and the incredibly talented Joe Murray to bring Luna Around the World to life,” said Vince Commisso, the president and CEO of 9 Story Media Group. “We’ve had the pleasure of working with PBS Kids over the years on several shows, including Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Peg + Cat, Wild Kratts and Nature Cat, and it’s exciting to take our partnership to the next level. The PBS Kids team is best-in-class at what they do, and showcasing Luna Around the World across their various platforms will have tremendous reach with kids.”

The news about all series and initiatives was unveiled during the Television Critics Association Press Tour.