Funding from the Arthur Vining Davis Foundations will support new content, updates, and research on innovative digital experience for kids
July 14, 2011, Arlington, VA –PBS Foundation has received a $250,000 grant from the Arthur Vining Davis Foundations to support PBS KIDS GO!’s robust digital playground of videos, games, mobile experiences, and other interactive content for children. The grant will fund the continuation of innovative digital technology experiments and research in educational gaming for school-aged kids.
“PBS KIDS GO! was created for school-aged kids, who we know have limited choices for media content that is age-appropriate, fun and educational,” said Lesli Rotenberg, Senior Vice President, Children’s Media, PBS. “Through this initiative, we have developed engaging interactive content for kids that puts them in the driver’s seat, allowing them to explore and learn in a safe interactive environment. This grant will allow us to continue this important work.”
The grant will fund website expansions, game development, research, and PBS station and producer support for PBS KIDS GO!. Upcoming projects include new short-form episodes of existing web-originals such as FIZZY’S LUNCH LAB, new site features to enable users to customize their experience on the site, and more content on new media platforms, such as mobile devices and interactive white boards. Much of this content will be evaluated through educational impact testing and will help PBS produce content that serves a broader age-range of children as they build their reading, math and science skills.
“PBS KIDS GO! is constantly experimenting with new technologies to help drive educational impact for kids,” said Jason Seiken, Senior Vice President, Interactive, Product Development and Innovation, PBS. “We’ve had great success so far, and we’ve seen particularly significant growth over the past year. Unique visitors on PBSKIDSGO.org are currently up 30% year-on-year, and average time spent on the site is up 23%. And PBSKIDS.org has been the #1 kids entertainment site for free videos streamed for the past nine months. As PBS KIDS GO! continues to gain momentum, we will continue to look for ways to experiment and innovate across platforms to help increase learning.”
PBSKIDSGO.org includes the PBS KIDS GO! video player, which features over 3,000 video clips from PBS KIDS GO! series such as WILD KRATTS, ARTHUR and WORDGIRL, and averages 4.8 million streams per month (Google Analytics). The site also features four web-only series as well as in-video games and companion gaming sites for television programs. Additional site features include the Webonauts Internet Academy, an internet safety site for kids, and the “Secret Box,” a customizable space for kids to store their own creations.
The Arthur Vining Davis Foundations, established in 1952, provide grants for private higher education, religion, secondary education, health care and public television. The Foundations are dedicated to strengthening America’s future through education. The Foundations have been a prolific funder for PBS, providing grants for content such as WGBH’s PBS KIDS series MARTHA SPEAKS and WETA’s The Latino Americans. The PBS KIDS GO! grant continues the foundation’s commitment to both public television and children’s educational media.
“We are pleased to be able to contribute to the continued innovation and development of PBS KIDS GO! The site provides creative, reliable and versatile resources to help support learning by young school-age children,” commented Dr. Jonathan Howe, Executive Director of the Foundations.
Support from the Arthur Vining Davis Foundations will build upon the significant investment in PBS KIDS GO! from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). PBSKIDSGO.org was initially funded by and continues to receive support through contributions from CPB.
About PBS KIDS GO!
PBS KIDS GO! offers early elementary children the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television, online and community-based programs. For more information on specific PBS KIDS GO! content supporting literacy, science, math and more, visit PBS.org/pressroom, join our community online on Twitter and Facebook, or visit PBSKIDSGO.org.
About the Arthur Vining Davis Foundations
The Arthur Vining Davis Foundations, based in Jacksonville, Florida, are a national philanthropic organization established through the generosity of the late American Industrialist, Arthur Vining Davis. The Arthur Vining Davis Foundations currently provide grants for a variety of areas, including private higher education, religion, secondary education, health care and public television. To learn more, visit avdf.org.
Media Contacts
Maria Vera, PBS / 703.739.3225 / mvera@pbs.org
Caitlin Melnick, 360 Public Relations / 617.585.5775 / cmelnick@360publicrelations.com
