Arlington, VA, April 16, 2012 – PBS KIDS announced today that in February 2012 its current weekday block of preschool programming took the top four spots for kids ages 2 to 5 for the first time, according to Nielsen NPower national program ratings. Among kids ages 2-5, CURIOUS GEORGE® was number one, THE CAT IN THE HAT KNOWS A LOT ABOUT THAT! and SUPER WHY! tied for second place and DINOSAUR TRAIN placed fourth. PBS KIDS also drew record audiences online; February marked the first time PBSKIDS.org was the number one kids’ site for both unique viewers and videos viewed (comScore VideoMetrix, February 2012).
Building on February’s momentum, in March a special CAT IN THE HAT-A-THON in celebration of Dr. Seuss’ 108th birthday also scored high ratings. More than 2.2 million kids ages 2 to 11 tuned in to PBS stations across the country for a two-hour marathon of the hit program THE CAT IN THE HAT KNOWS A LOT ABOUT THAT!. Additionally, unique visits to THE CAT IN THE HAT KNOWS A LOT ABOUT THAT! website rose 80 percent during the 10-day period leading up to the marathon (Google Analytics). Video streams also spiked: from February 21 to March 2, there were more than 12 million video streams for the program online and on the PBS KIDS Video App, available free on iPad, iPhone and iPod touch (thePlatform, Google Analytics).
“In addition to our success with the preschool audience, PBS KIDS was also number one among moms* in February with 6 shows in the top 10. CURIOUS GEORGE, SESAME STREET, SUPER WHY!, THOMAS & FRIENDS, and DINOSAUR TRAIN took the top five slots and THE CAT IN THE HAT KNOWS A LOT ABOUT THAT! placed seventh,” said Lesli Rotenberg, Senior Vice President, Children’s Media, PBS. “More and more families are turning to us for engaging and educational content as we continue to make it available wherever they are.”
As high ratings, online and mobile content usage demonstrate, PBS KIDS is increasingly serving children wherever they live, learn, and play – on TV, online, through mobile devices, in the classroom, and with a new line of educational toys.
*PBS KIDS was number one among moms ages 18-49 with children under the age of 3 in February 2012.
Ratings source: Program Ratings are Live+7 AA 1/30/2012 - 2/26/2012; CAT IN THE HAT-A-THON reach is Live+7 AA Reach & Frequency with a 6 minute qualifier and 75% unification
About PBS KIDSPBS KIDS, the number one educational media brand for kids, offers all children the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television, online and community-based programs. For more information on specific PBS KIDS programs supporting literacy, science, math and more, visit PBS.org/pressroom. Follow PBS KIDS on Twitter and Facebook.
Curious George and related characters, created by Margret and H.A. Rey are copyrighted and trademarked by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and used under license. Licensed by Universal Studios Licensing LLP. Television series: ©2012. Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.
Photo credit: Series copyright 2010, CITH Productions, Inc. and Red Hat Animation, Limited. Underlying characters copyright 1957, 1985 Dr. Seuss Enterprises, L.P.
Contacts: Maria Vera, PBS; 703.739.3225; mvera@pbs.org Caitlin Melnick, 360 Public Relations; 617.585.5775; cmelnick@360publicrelations.com