PBS Kids to go 24/7

PBS Kids’ Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood

PBS Kids in the US is to launch as a round-the-clock, stand-alone channel dedicated to children’s programming.

The free network is due to be announced officially today, according to reports in the US, and is expected to begin broadcasting this fall. It will also be available to stream online.

Currently, PBS Kids is available only as a daily programming block, while some shows are also able to be streamed online via the PBS Kids website.

However, the publicly funded broadcaster is aware that not all US children have access to high-speed broadband and is therefore keen to be able to provide content for children on television in the evening.

“Given the fact that there are so many kids where on-demand is not an option, we want to be able to reach those kids,” Paula Kerger, CEO of PBS, told the New York Times.

Series set to air on the channel include shows that will already be familiar to PBS Kids viewers, such as Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Dinosaur Train and Wild Kratts.