PBS to launch UK channel

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PBS_UK
http://www.pbs.co.uk

To some this is great, as we can see programmes such as Nova and perhaps Jim Lehrer...but...

I think it's a shame that Sesame Street is not included on their schedule, citing that the market is well served for kids.  I don't think so.  A programme like Sesame Street, while the way it teaches American-style writing and speaking in different accents, I can't think of a show in the UK that teaches the social values that my friends on the Street do.

Particularly gutted for my 2 and 5 year olds, as they absolutely love the meager few episodes of Sesame Street we have on DVD (old school) or our media drive.

I think it's a shame that Sesame Street is not included on their schedule, citing that the market is well served for kids.  I don't think so.  A programme like Sesame Street, while the way it teaches American-style writing and speaking in different accents, I can't think of a show in the UK that teaches the social values that my friends on the Street do.

Particularly gutted for my 2 and 5 year olds, as they absolutely love the meager few episodes of Sesame Street we have on DVD (old school) or our media drive.

They used to air Sesame Street every weekday lunchtime on Channel 4 (from 12.30pm until 1.30pm, if I remember correctly) - I grew up with it here in the UK... I even used to look forward to being home sick from school just so I could watch it!

It's such a shame that it's not on here anymore. It was aired on ITV between 1971 and 1987 and then on Channel 4 from 1987 to 2001. They even mentioned it on Radio 1 the other week when they were playing a 'Guess the TV theme' game. Here's an interesting article about Sesame Street in the UK from the BBC website: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8340141.stm.

It's not surprising they would do this. So many programmes are joint productions between BBC and PBS (a lot with WGBH the Boston affiliate) anyway.

Maybe we should start a petition to bring Sesame Street to the channel!  My husband grew up watching it as a kid in Scotland and it's one of the few children's programs I can think of I'd actually want my kids to watch!  Well, in addition to Curious George - which I love.  Did it make it to the list?

Maybe we should start a petition to bring Sesame Street to the channel!  My husband grew up watching it as a kid in Scotland and it's one of the few children's programs I can think of I'd actually want my kids to watch!  Well, in addition to Curious George - which I love.  Did it make it to the list?

I have a strong feeling its do more with the Childrens Television Workshop holding back on Sesame Street more than PBS holding back.  If I remember correctly, I think they separated themselves from PBS to do more of their own funding?

There was a big article about the launch in the Guardian media section on Monday:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/oct/16/paula-kerger-pbs-uk-channel-interview?newsfeed=true

It said Sesame Street hadn't been on in the UK since 2001.

Well, in addition to Curious George - which I love.  Did it make it to the list?

Curious George is on CITV.  I've got dozens recorded on V+!!

I have a strong feeling its do more with the Childrens Television Workshop holding back on Sesame Street more than PBS holding back.  If I remember correctly, I think they separated themselves from PBS to do more of their own funding?

It's called Sesame Workshop now     Regardless of why they separated (I think it was to gain more independent and corporate funding) PBS has always been the main broadcast outlet for CTW/SW

I don't know if it has anything to do with PBS UK not putting Sesame Street on the schedule, but I know part of the controversy surrounding Sesame Street (and yes, there was controversy) was the amount of American culture British children were exposed to.  I know there was a large group of people who didn't shed a tear when it was no longer available here, and it had to do with the push to put more British children's programming on the telly.

I don't know if it has anything to do with PBS UK not putting Sesame Street on the schedule, but I know part of the controversy surrounding Sesame Street (and yes, there was controversy) was the amount of American culture British children were exposed to.  I know there was a large group of people who didn't shed a tear when it was no longer available here, and it had to do with the push to put more British children's programming on the telly.

There is an issue with an educational programme such as that, teaching spelling, when that spelling is incorrect in this country.

I don't know how much spelling came into it, unless you count "zed" and "zee":

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8340141.stm

About the early BBC rejection:

The show crossed the Atlantic 18 months after its US launch, but the BBC rejected it because of its "authoritarian aims" in trying to change children's behaviour.
"This sounds like indoctrination, and a dangerous extension of the use of television," said the head of children's programmes at the time, Monica Sims.
TV critic Barry Norman, writing in The Times in November 1971, said it was "neither good enough nor bad enough" to justify all the fuss, adding that the BBC had no need for it because it already broadcast Blue Peter and Play School.

Apparently, according the article, the show is "outdated" and the guests won't be familiar to British children.  I remember hearing a Woman's Hour with a section on it claiming that the fear was to do with Americanisation (although, there's widespread American children's programming on offer, just not so much on the Beeb).

No Sesame Street....still?    I just don't get it.

My son has (sadly) forgotten about Elmo and friends in the year that we've lived here. But *I* still miss it. Beats the heck out of Peppa Pig, etc...

Maybe we should start a petition to bring Sesame Street to the channel!  My husband grew up watching it as a kid in Scotland and it's one of the few children's programs I can think of I'd actually want my kids to watch!  Well, in addition to Curious George - which I love.  Did it make it to the list?

Curious George and SuperWhy (a couple of my fave PBSKids shows) are actually on Nick Jr.--if you get that channel, that is.

No Sesame Street....still?    I just don't get it.

My son has (sadly) forgotten about Elmo and friends in the year that we've lived here. But *I* still miss it. Beats the heck out of Peppa Pig, etc...

Timmy Time is awesome, though!

They have Sesame Tree in Ireland. 

But yeah, Teletubbies and In the Night Garden are so much better. 

I'm having characters that don't speak are so much better than unfamiliar people.  Aside from which, most of the people on SS were there for the parents.  Kids, one hopes, are going to get Twin Peaks references, or True Blood ones.

My friend though did used to get yelled at primary for starting her letters from the bottom rather than from the top.  Or vice versa.  As if it matters if the kid learns ho to write. 

It would be wonderful if Sesame St came to PBS. I haven't noticed that much for toddlers that is American. There's lots for older children but nothing really for toddlers so Sesame st would be great to have!