Arlington, VA and Los Angeles, CA (June 24, 2008)- PBS KIDS, the leading provider in quality entertaining, educational media, and Kidtoons, a division of The Bigger Picture, an AccessIT company, have joined forces to bring the highly esteemed PBS KIDS brand to the big screen by adding PBS KIDS program shorts and music videos to the on-going Kidtoons in-theatre matinee program. Participating theatres include National Amusements, Carmike, Abingdon Cinemall, Allen, Atlas, Emagine, Marquee, Neighborhood, AccessIT's Pavilion Theatre, Rave Motion Pictures, Republic Theatre Group, Showplace and UltraStar.
PBS KIDS is the most highly ranked and trusted brand by parents. Through this unique partnership, PBS KIDS will bring clips of their acclaimed and parent-endorsed programming to the big screen for the first time ever, creating an age-appropriate and educational movie going experience for kids ages 2 to 8. While PBS's children's programs have been featured during Kidtoons in the past, including Sesame Street, Thomas & Friends, Mama Mirabelle's Home Movies, Franny's Feet and many others, this historic agreement puts PBS KIDS content on Kidtoons' theatre screens every weekend, as part of every Kidtoons program.
The PBS KIDS content for parents and young children will be included within more than 70 minutes of filmed content, screening at more than 100 theaters throughout 2008 and into 2009.
Featured content from PBS KIDS includes, but is not limited to:
- Martha Speaks - Based on the best-selling children's book series by Susan Meddaugh, the Martha Speaks animated TV series from WGBH Boston follows the adventures of Martha, a loveable dog whose appetite for alphabet soup gives her the ability to speak. The new series premieres on PBS KIDS in September 2008 and is designed to bolster the vocabulary of 4 to 7-year-olds within the context of great stories in engaging, comical ways.
- Sid the Science Kid - Produced by The Jim Henson Company in partnership with KCET, Sid the Science Kid is a preschool series that embraces and celebrates the curiosity of its young viewers and encourages them to explore the foundations of science in everyday occurrences, such as melting popsicles and sneezing. The animated series premieres on PBS KIDS in September 2008 and is created using the Henson Digital Puppetry Studio.
- WordGirl - Designed to build early elementary school kids' vocabulary, WordGirl chronicles the adventures of Becky Botsford, a mild-mannered fifth grader who, at the call of duty, transforms into WordGirl - caped crusader and definition dynamo.
- Music videos featuring Mr. Steve, the new music teacher from the PBS KIDS preschool destination. Songs cover topics including shapes, counting, transportation, space, weather, pets and much more.
- Music video featuring music from They Might Be Giants to promote healthy living. This summer, PBS KIDS and PBS KIDS GO! invite children on a virtual road trip with a destination all about being engaged and healthy. Beginning June 2nd, kids can fuel their minds and bodies with health-themed episodes and online activities learning how their favorite character role models in ten different series live healthy and smart. Kicking off the trip with some new tunes, Arthur, WordGirl's Captain Huggyface and others join in an exclusive new music video entitled "Get Up and Go" featuring music by famed rock band, They Might Be Giants.
- And much more from upcoming and current series!
"Kidtoons' brings quality, family-friendly content to theatres that helps young minds grow and learn while also entertaining them," said Michele Martell, chief operating officer, The Bigger Picture. "PBS KIDS is the ideal partner as they are also keenly focused on creating content for both kids and their parents to enjoy."
"Based on our research, we know parents are looking for content that enriches their children's learning and takes them on an age-appropriate journey filled with new experiences," said Lesli Rotenberg, SVP Children's Media, PBS. "By partnering with Kidtoons, PBS KIDS can continue to guide children through learning adventures but this time, on the big screen."
Recent Kidtoons movie events include Sesame Street: Dinosaurs, National Geographic's Big Summer Safari, Care Bears Grizzle-ly Adventures, Strawberry Shortcake Let's Dance and Bob the Builder: On Site - Roads and Bridges. For a complete list of theaters showing Kidtoons, visit www.kidtoonfilms.com.
Kidtoons partner content is delivered to theatres via satellite wherever possible via AccessIT's 254 site satellite network which reaches 40 states around the U.S.
The Bigger Picture is a leader in the digital distribution of entertainment targeted to specific audiences. The programs include Kidtoons, G-rated movies for kids on the weekends, world-renowned operas from the San Francisco Opera, anime films for teen and college audiences, inspirational faith-based movies, concerts and High Octane Sports. The Bigger Picture has released more than 60 movies digitally. For more information, visit www.kidtoonfilms.com and www.thebiggerpicture.us.
Access Integrated Technologies, Inc. (AccessIT) is the global leader in providing integrated solutions for digital cinema. The Company's ground-breaking digital cinema networked services along with its Library Management Server and Theatre Command Center have enabled theaters across the United States to play more than seven million digital 2-D and 3-D showings of Hollywood features to date. Access Integrated Technologies and AccessIT are trademarks of Access Integrated Technologies, Inc. For more information on AccessIT, visit www.accessitx.com. [AIXD-G]
PBS KIDS, for preschoolers, and PBS KIDS GO!, for early elementary school kids, are committed to providing the highest quality non-commercial content and learning environment for children across the country. Providing age-appropriate, diverse programming for kids, PBS KIDS and PBS KIDS GO! programs consistently earn more prestigious awards than any other broadcast or cable network. Only PBS KIDS and PBS KIDS GO! have earned the unanimous endorsement of parents, children, industry leaders and teachers. With additional PBS resources to complement its programming, including PBS KIDS online (pbskids.org), PBS KIDS GO! online (pbskidsgo.org), PBS Parents (pbsparents.org), PBS Teachers (pbs.org/teachers), PBS KIDS Raising Readers and literacy events across the country, PBS is providing the tools necessary for positive child development. PBS is a nonprofit media enterprise owned and operated by the nation's 355 public television stations, serving more than 73 million people each week and reaching 99% of American homes.
-PBS-
CONTACT:
Jill Newhouse Calcaterra
Terra Pacific Entertainment Marketing
(310) 471-0197
jcalcaterra@roadrunner.com
Jill Corderman
PBS KIDS
703.739.5788
jcorderman@pbs.org
www.pbs.org/pressroom