Susan Petroff
Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB)
Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) is going digital. The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) is funding proposals to help producers learn how to use digital technology. This technology has the potential to help public television better fulfill its mission to provide programming and services that emphasize education, innovation, diversity, and local relevance.
One type of technology, "multicasting," will make available additional channels for thematically linked program series designed for specific segments of the population. For example, CPB is hoping to seed a new service (and eventually a new channel) for Hispanic families that will include local, regional, and national programs, and services in English and in Spanish. Already, a discrete children's service is planned that will feature an expanded line-up of Ready-To-Learn children and adult programs.
"Enhanced television" will combine the flexibility of the interactive computer with the engagement of storytelling to create a new breed of multiyear entertainment. Viewers with interactive keypads or remote controls will be able to navigate seamlessly through program elements for additional resources, text, graphics, animation, or audio clips.
Here's how it works in the world of children's programming: enhancements might include specially designed games for children that reinforce the learning in programs like "Sesame Street" and "Arthur," or learning tools for parents to help them become more active in their children's education. For example, during a program a parent may see an icon displayed at the bottom of the screen that lets him know there are enhancements available. The new technology will pause the television program while the parent checks it out and resume when the parent is ready to finish viewing the program with his child. The parent can click on the icon during the program or at the end of the program. An icon might contain a beautifully illustrated "digital" book, which he can read to his child. If he has to begin fixing dinner, he can click on the audio feature, so his child can enjoy the book and continue exploring the world of language and words while the parent is busy. The enhancements could include tips on better ways to read to children, how to select appropriate television programs for them, or developmental information. The possibilities are infinite—limited only by the producer's and educator's imagination.
You won't have to wait long for two new shows for children on PBS. Two upcoming Ready-To-Learn projects, "Between the Lions" and "Dragon Tales," are preparing to debut in the 1999–2000 broadcast season. Funded by the U.S. Department of Education, each series is laying down the groundwork to take advantage of the technology that is projected to be widely available by the year 2003.
"Between the Lions," produced by public television station WGBH/Boston in partnership with Serious Thinking, Ltd., is a multiple-media initiative that will help teach children, ages 4–7, to read and motivate them to want to learn to read and write. By helping young viewers learn to read, and by encouraging parents and caretakers to read to their children at least once a day, "Between the Lions" will prepare America's children for success in school and ensure that they enter the 21st century able and eager to read, write, and learn.
"Between the Lions" takes place in a magical library in which books come to life. Using an inventive mix of live action, animation, and puppetry, children will be enchanted and educated by a cast of unusual characters that the producers feel will become as popular and emblematic of the literacy movement as Smokey the Bear is of fire safety. They include Theo and Cleo, the lions and hosts of the library/show; the cubs Lionel, seven, and Leona, four; Click the Mouse; Heath the Thesaurus; Cliff Hanger; and more.
The new interactive technologies will be powerful tools for learning when put to the task. The WWW site will reflect and extend the material on the television series. All of this material will be repurposed for digital TV once it becomes available in homes. In the meantime, animated video material targeted to parents and children will be reversioned for use in Ready-To-Learn workshops which are conducted by public television stations and their community partners throughout the country. These workshops emphasize reading as a companion activity to viewing educational television.
To ensure that the messages and lessons of "Between the Lions" reach a large national audience, partnerships have been formed with numerous libraries, publishers, and organizations such as the American Library Association, Library of Congress Center for the Book, Reading Is Fundamental, and the National Coalition for Literacy.
"Dragon Tales," produced by Children's Television Workshop in partnership with Columbia Tri-Star Productions, is an animated, musical adventure series featuring 5-year-old Emmy, her kid brother Max, and their three young dragon friends—Ord, Cassie, and Zak & Wheezie (a two-headed dragon). Together they explore the marvels of Dragon Land and help each other overcome obstacles, face fears, and learn new strategies for dealing with the challenges they encounter. Targeted to children ages 2–5, themes will be brought to life through artist Ron Rodecker's drawing of dragons.
A hefty outreach effort also will be mounted for the project as well as an online component that will be repurposed for digital TV (DTV). The online site will include activities for parents and children to play and learn together, a downloadable section and a section for feedback. A radio component will consist of 65 "Parenting Moments," designed to support the content of the companion parenting series and to help promote the television series.
Whether or not you are ready for DTV, you and your families can look forward to some landmark programming from public television and the U.S. Department of Education. Mark your calendars for Fall 1999 for the premier of "Dragon Tales," and Spring 2000 for the premier of "Between the Lions."
For more information, contact Joe Caliguro (202) 219-1596.
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