As TVwithThinus reported in March would happen soon, the PBS Kids channel is being added to MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV service in South Africa and sub-Sarahan Africa to all DStv packages as a new 3-month pop-up channel.
In July 2018 MultiChoice added PBS Kids content to its DStv Now Catch Up service.
At the time MultiChoice told TVwithThinus that it is testing the content and would make it more broadly available if there's a demand for it.
PBS Kids is the children's programming brand of America's Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) that is broadcast as a kids programming block on PBS in the United States, but it is also a digital video channel streaming kids content as part of a video app that PBS launched in January 2017.
MultiChoice says PBS Kids will be available for a 3-month period from Wednesday 22 May to Thursday 22 August to all DStv Premium, DStv Compact Plus, DStv Compact, DStv Family and DStv Access subscribers.
PBS Kids will run on DStv channel 313.
Shows on PBS Kids will include Pinkalicious & Peterrific, Arthur, WordWorld, Postcards from Buster, Peep and the Big Wide World and Time Warp Trio.
Asked what MultiChoice learnt from making the PBS Kids content available as video streaming only, MultiChoice told TVwithThinus on Monday that "we received a lot of positive feedback from our viewers when PBS Kids was made available on DStv Now and our parents appreciate the fact that DStv is providing the kind of kids' programming that will help to make them classroom ready, while also keeping them entertained".
Andrea Downing, PBS Distribution co-president in a statement says "We are excited to offer this new audience the opportunities that PBS Kids content offers. PBS Kids is the number one educational media brand for kids, offering children the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds. DStv is inviting parents and children to experience this trusted content that helps children learn and grow."
Yolisa Phahle, CEO of General Entertainment for MultiChoice, says in a quotable that "MultiChoice is always open to exploring ways to expand our customer offering, adding a children's channel that is not only entertainment for the entire family but also experiential and educational adds value to the DStv packages".
Yolisa Phahle isn't really saying this, with the same quote that is replaced by MultiChoice Africa and attributed to different MultiChoice executives in various African countries who customise-regionalise the same MultiChoice drop-in quote.
MultiChoice released show synopsis for some of the PBS Kids programming:
Pinkalicious & Peterrific
Based on the beloved book series by Victoria Kann, the show encourages children to engage in self-expression and to explore the arts, including music, dance, and visual arts. Kids will be inspired to get creative by Pinkalicious, Peter, and their friends through adventures in their neighbourhood of Pinkville.
Arthur
Based on the best-selling children's books by Marc Brown, Arthur follows the adventures of 8-year-old Arthur Read. Join the aardvark for heartfelt and humorous stories about family, friends, and the challenges of growing uup.
Wordworld
The lovable WordFriends take children on adventures in a world of words where they encounter problems that can only be solved by building a word. Playfully demonstrating the connections between letters, sounds, words, and meaning, WordWorld empowers children to advance from learning letters to learning how to read.
