SPROUTERIFFIC WORK IN PROGRESS!
Hi, Sproutlets! I will continue to expand this from time to time as I find more Sproutacular information.
September 6, 1999: PBS launches the short-lived 24-hour PBS KIDS channel, in an effort to compete with NOGGIN (now Nick Jr. as of 2009).
October 20, 2004: PBS, Sesame Workshop, HiT Entertainment, and Comcast announce plans to launch an on-demand service for preschoolers and a companion 24-hour digital linear channel. (Cite)
April 5, 2005: A formal groundbreaking takes place in the form of the VOD service. Parents could pause, fast forward and rewind the shows so their children could enjoy favorite scenes as many times as they’d like. (Cite)
September 26, 2005: The Sprout channel and its website (then called sproutletsgrow.com) launch to the public.
September 28, 2005: Kimberly-Clark's HUGGIES and Pull-Ups are announced as the sponsors for PBS KIDS Sprout. Kimberly-Clark explored the use of the on TV, online and VOD technologies to initiate Huggies and Pull-Ups cross-promotional content opportunities with viewers of the network. (Cite)
July 14, 2006: TVN Entertainment Corp. and PBS KIDS Sprout extend their partnership with a then-new VOD agreement. TVN provided distribution and asset management services for all the shows. Sprout used up online data from TVN’s ADONISS 2 platform and Provider Remote Interface (PRI) toolset to track and monitor on-demand programs and update metadata on a web basis. (Cite)
August 14, 2006: Melanie Martinez gets unfairly fired from The Good Night Show, after the block's crew discovered her in a Technical Virgin PSA called "Future." The block went on hiatus until they could find a new host (Michele Lepe joined as Nina in December 2006). (Cite)
September 18, 2006: Sprout launches its first webseries, Sprout Diner, and a series of interstitials featuring Sparkle the Fire Safety Dog.
September 26, 2006: Sprout celebrates its first anniversary. Leo (Noel MacNeal) guest hosts The Good Night Show until the new host is found. (Cite)
July 23, 2007: Sprout launches The Let's Go Show. (Cite)
September 26, 2007: Sprout launches Musical Mornings with Coo and The Sunny Side Up Show. The latter of which was a live block. Also premiering was a new season of the Good Night Show and Play With Me Sesame, a Sesame Street spin-off originating from NOGGIN. (Cite)
2008: Sprout launches "Sprout Please!" (a throwback to "I Want My MTV" from the 80s), a campaign to request for Sprout in your home. Commercials included kids and characters saying the title, and one was set to Elizabeth Mitchell's cover of "Three Little Birds."
2008: Sprout launches "Pajanimals," a musical interstitial series from the Jim Henson Company and Sixteen South.
January 16, 2008: Sprout launches a content-driven initiative called "Sprout Smart," to help Sproutlets and Grown-Up Sprouts establish an early foundation of healthy habits.. The initiative was sponsored by Motts for Tots. (Cite)
May 1, 2008: Sprout launches The Sprout Sharing Show. Premiering with the block is PICMe, a personalized Irish cartoon. (Cite)
September 23, 2008: Sprout partners with the Pajama Program to launch "The Great Sprout Tuck-In," extending their "good night mission" with The Good Night Show and also encouraging families to give. Sprout collected books and pajamas to give to the Pajama Program and then they would be distributed to children in need. (Cite)
August 24, 2009: Wiggly Waffle launches, hosted by The Wiggles.
September 21, 2009: Yet another Good Night Show season and Rubbadubbers, of Nick Jr. and CBeebies premiere. Sprout and its on-demand service unveiled a new look, designed by the company Trace Pictures and Justin Stephenson.
September 26, 2010: Sprout begins investing in original programming with the debut of Noodle and Doodle.
July 7, 2011: Sprout launches its "Kindness Counts" initiative, including PSAs, digital and social media components, programming tie-ins and local extensions
September 26, 2011: Sprout debuts a full-length series based on its Pajanimals interstitials. (Cite)
October 24, 2011: Poppy Cat debuts on the channel.
February 14, 2012: The Super Sproutlet Show launches, with host Bean appearing on the Sunny Side Up Show. (Cite)
March 28, 2012: Sprout helps NBC launch its "NBC Kids" block for children, which includes many shows from the channel. (Cite)
June 20, 2012: Wibbly Pig, 64 Zoo Lane, and Olive the Ostrich launch on a new season of The Good Night Show, which now takes place in the "You + Me Tree."
August 24, 2012: Sprout partners with Produce for Kids and appears on the display unit in the produce section, featuring shows like LazyTown. (Cite)
November 2012: The Chica Show premieres and becomes Sprout's highest rated original series to date.
November 24, 2012: A Sprout float debuts in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
December 12, 2012: Sprout hits record ratings across its competitors, with an average total day household coverage area 0.23 rating / 122k homes. (Cite)
April 22, 2013: Sprout announces the additions of Sing It, Laurie!, Ruff-Ruff, Tweet, and Dave, Tree Fu Tom, Boj, and Lily's Driftwood Bay following a second season of The Chica Show. (Cite)
July 30, 2013: Sprout begins a Sunny Side Up Show "Host Hunt" audition contest. (Cite)
September 19, 2013: Sprout extends its Kindness Counts initiative by starting a contest called "The Kindest Kid," where a kind Sproutlet who enters full rules on sproutonline.com becomes the channel's Chief Kindness Officer (CKO) for a day and visits the set of The Sunny Side Up Show.
November 1, 2013: Sprout reaches over 60 million homes with a multi market launch including New York and LA. (Cite)
November 13, 2013: Comcast's NBCUniversal acquires a full ownership of Sprout, following a buyout of PBS, Sesame Workshop, and HiT Entertainment. As a result of this, the PBS Kids branding is no longer in the channel's name. (Cite)
June 2014: Sprout launches Astroblast!, based on a series of children's books by Bob Kolar. A live broadcast of The Good Night Show takes place in the set of The Sunny Side Up Show.
September 26, 2015: Sprout rebrands for its 10th anniversary, including Nina's World and Sydney Sailboat, The Sunny Side Up Show gets a shortened name and moves to a city, and the channel drops all PBS shows except Caillou and The Berenstain Bears. It is unknown why both shows continued to air past 2015.
September 9, 2017: Sprout becomes Universal Kids.
September 26, 2010: Sprout begins investing in original programming with the debut of Noodle and Doodle.
July 7, 2011: Sprout launches its "Kindness Counts" initiative, including PSAs, digital and social media components, programming tie-ins and local extensions
September 26, 2011: Sprout debuts a full-length series based on its Pajanimals interstitials. (Cite)
October 24, 2011: Poppy Cat debuts on the channel.
February 14, 2012: The Super Sproutlet Show launches, with host Bean appearing on the Sunny Side Up Show. (Cite)
March 28, 2012: Sprout helps NBC launch its "NBC Kids" block for children, which includes many shows from the channel. (Cite)
June 20, 2012: Wibbly Pig, 64 Zoo Lane, and Olive the Ostrich launch on a new season of The Good Night Show, which now takes place in the "You + Me Tree."
August 24, 2012: Sprout partners with Produce for Kids and appears on the display unit in the produce section, featuring shows like LazyTown. (Cite)
November 2012: The Chica Show premieres and becomes Sprout's highest rated original series to date.
November 24, 2012: A Sprout float debuts in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
December 12, 2012: Sprout hits record ratings across its competitors, with an average total day household coverage area 0.23 rating / 122k homes. (Cite)
April 22, 2013: Sprout announces the additions of Sing It, Laurie!, Ruff-Ruff, Tweet, and Dave, Tree Fu Tom, Boj, and Lily's Driftwood Bay following a second season of The Chica Show. (Cite)
July 30, 2013: Sprout begins a Sunny Side Up Show "Host Hunt" audition contest. (Cite)
September 19, 2013: Sprout extends its Kindness Counts initiative by starting a contest called "The Kindest Kid," where a kind Sproutlet who enters full rules on sproutonline.com becomes the channel's Chief Kindness Officer (CKO) for a day and visits the set of The Sunny Side Up Show.
November 1, 2013: Sprout reaches over 60 million homes with a multi market launch including New York and LA. (Cite)
November 13, 2013: Comcast's NBCUniversal acquires a full ownership of Sprout, following a buyout of PBS, Sesame Workshop, and HiT Entertainment. As a result of this, the PBS Kids branding is no longer in the channel's name. (Cite)
June 2014: Sprout launches Astroblast!, based on a series of children's books by Bob Kolar. A live broadcast of The Good Night Show takes place in the set of The Sunny Side Up Show.
September 26, 2015: Sprout rebrands for its 10th anniversary, including Nina's World and Sydney Sailboat, The Sunny Side Up Show gets a shortened name and moves to a city, and the channel drops all PBS shows except Caillou and The Berenstain Bears. It is unknown why both shows continued to air past 2015.
September 9, 2017: Sprout becomes Universal Kids.
Can you talk about the Sprout signoff
ReplyDeleteI was 9 years old when I watch Wiggly Waffle before I went to school in 3rd Grade
ReplyDeleteWhen I was almost 4 years old, The sprout channel just came out, not only that, the good night show had a first debut too
ReplyDeleteThe first time I watch The good night show, I listen to Melanie until she got fired due to adult stuff
ReplyDeleteJust then, In December 2006, I was 5 years old when Nina had a first debut
ReplyDelete