NBC Will Launch NBC Kids, a New Saturday Morning Preschool Block Programmed by Sprout®, Saturday, July 7

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif., March 28, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- NBC will launch NBC Kids, a new Saturday morning programming block designed specifically to address the developmental needs of preschool-aged children, premiering on Saturday, July 7.  Programmed by the kids experts at Sprout, the nation's first 24-hour preschool television channel, this new three-hour block will feature educational series that promote active, healthy lifestyles for younger children. 

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NBC Kids will include the U.S. broadcast premieres of quality, preschool series "The Wiggles," Sprout's "Noodle & Doodle," Jim Henson's "Pajanimals," "Poppy Cat," "Justin Time," as well as the popular "LazyTown," designed to encourage healthy eating and exercise. 

The announcement was made jointly by Robert Greenblatt, Chairman of NBC Entertainment, and Sandy Wax, President of Sprout.

"NBC is proud to partner with Sprout in providing progressive new programming that will entertain and encourage children to achieve more positive life choices," said Greenblatt.  "This is an ideal blend of entertaining shows that also offer promising benefits to the development of children on many levels."     

"Producing this new block for NBC will extend the reach of quality preschool programming beyond Sprout's cable, VOD and digital platforms affording millions of families the opportunity to watch quality preschool series that promote active, healthy lifestyles," said Wax.

NBC Entertainment develops and schedules programming for the network's primetime, late-night, and daytime schedules. NBC's quality programs and balanced lineup have earned the network critical acclaim, numerous awards, and ratings success. NBC has earned more Emmy Awards than any network in television history.

NBC's roster of popular scripted series includes such critically acclaimed and Emmy Award-winning comedies as "The Office" and "30 Rock," the latter starring Alec Baldwin and Tina Fey.  NBC's drama slate includes the veteran, award-winning series "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" and the popular first-year musical "Smash."  Unscripted series for NBC include the vocal competition hit "The Voice" as well as "The Biggest Loser," "The Celebrity Apprentice" and "America's Got Talent."  NBC's late-night story is highlighted by "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon," "Last Call with Carson Daly" and "Saturday Night Live." NBC Daytime's "Days of our Lives" consistently ranks among daytime's top programs in the valuable women 18-34 category.

The five-time, Emmy Award-winning NBC.com streams full episodes and provides original content for NBC entertainment shows online and through apps for mobile and tablet devices.

About Sprout®
Available in over 50 million homes, Sprout is the first 24-hour preschool destination available on TV, on demand and online for children ages 2-5 and their parents and caregivers.  The 24-hour digital channel, which launched in September 2005 along with the website (SproutOnline.com), is the only channel that follows the day of a preschooler from breakfast to bedtime with its distinctive, interactive programming and original hosted blocks.  Sprout's VOD offering is the #1 on demand service for younger children with over one billion views. 

Sprout is a partnership among NBCUniversal, PBS, Sesame Workshop and Apax Funds.  Its program lineup of gold-standard, curriculum-based preschool shows includes:  Sesame Street®, Bob the Builder™, Barney & Friends™, The Wiggles®, Caillou®, Pajanimals™, Thomas & Friends™,  LazyTown™, and more.

SOURCE Sprout