What PBS KIDS does

PBS KIDS is the children's educational programming brand and digital platform operated by the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), a non-profit U.S. public broadcasting corporation founded in 1970. The PBS KIDS brand was launched in 1994 as a dedicated preschool-focused programming block and has since evolved into a multi-platform media ecosystem. PBS KIDS serves families with children ages 2 to 8, parents and caregivers, and preschool/early elementary educators, providing free, research-based content centered on early literacy (aligned with The Science of Reading), math, science, social-emotional learning, and cultural representation. The audience includes low-income families who lack access to formal Pre-K education, for whom the platform serves as a critical no-cost learning resource.

The platform consists of three integrated distribution layers: (1) a broadcast television programming block distributed nationally through PBS member stations across all 50 U.S. states and territories; (2) the responsive web platform at pbskids.org, which serves as the primary digital hub for educational games and videos; and (3) native mobile applications on iOS and Android. The product portfolio spans approximately 35+ branded show properties — including Sesame Street, Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood, Wild Kratts, Molly of Denali, Odd Squad, Pinkalicious & Peterrific, Arthur, and newer additions like Lyla in the Loop, Carl the Collector, and Phoebe & Jay — each supported by companion interactive games and video content. Content is produced through partnerships with GBH Kids, WNET, The Jim Henson Company, 9 Story Media Group, Brown Bag Films, Atomic Cartoons, and Sesame Workshop. Recent initiatives include the 2026 PBS KIDS Across America programming block timed to the U.S. 250th anniversary. The platform reaches 15.5 million monthly digital visitors.

PBS KIDS operates as a non-profit, freemium model: all games, videos, and educational content are provided at no cost to families, with no subscription tiers or paywalls. The revenue base is funded by federal appropriations through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), Department of Education grants (historically the Ready To Learn program), corporate underwriting from sponsors such as Google, General Motors, NYSED, and Beaches Resorts, and foundation grants (Rasmuson, Arthur Vining Davis). In 2025, CPB federal appropriations were eliminated under the Rescissions Act and the Ready To Learn grant was terminated by the Department of Education — together causing a $20 million annual direct funding loss and forcing a 30% workforce reduction, removal of dozens of games from the website, and a halving of the new show development pipeline. PBS KIDS is headquartered at PBS's offices in Arlington, Virginia.

Name

PBS KIDS

Legal name

Public Broadcasting Service

Website

https://pbskids.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

PBS KIDS is a non-profit, free multi-platform educational media brand serving families with children ages 2 to 8 in the United States. It operates a broadcast television block through PBS member stations, the pbskids.org website, and mobile apps delivering research-based games, videos, and shows supporting literacy, math, and social-emotional learning.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Children's Educational Media

NAICS

Educational Services (61), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Television Broadcasting Stations (4833), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Edutainment & Learning-Through-Play Channels (MPABAKAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Kids & Family Cable Networks (MPABAFAF), Family Co-Viewing Educational Channels (MPABAKAL), Early Childhood Educational Media (Songs, Stories, Interactive) (EDAGALAC)

Keywords

• Children's educational media
• Preschool educational content
• Public broadcasting programming
• Early childhood learning
• Educational games and videos

Headquarters

HQ city

Alexandria

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Federal Public Media Funding: Primary revenue stream from federal appropriations to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). In 2025, Congress passed the Rescissions Act eliminating approximately $1 billion in federal funding to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, causing severe impact to PBS Kids operations.
2. Ready To Learn Grant: Department of Education grant program that funded educational children's content development. The program was terminated by the Department of Education in May 2025, resulting in a $20 million annual loss that forced operational cuts.
3. Underwriting and Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorships and underwriting from organizations such as NYSED, General Motors, Google, Beaches Resorts, and foundations including Rasmuson Foundation and Arthur Vining Davis Foundations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

PBS KIDS operates a free, multi-platform preschool educational content destination delivering curriculum-aligned games, on-demand videos, and interactive media across broadcast television, the pbskids.org website, and native iOS/Android mobile applications. The offering targets children ages 2-8 with content covering early literacy, math, science, and social-emotional development, organized around a portfolio of approximately 35+ branded show properties produced in partnership with leading children's media studios.

Product overview

PBS KIDS is a multi-platform educational media brand offering a unified ecosystem of children's educational content across television, web, and mobile. The portfolio centers on the main PBS KIDS website (pbskids.org) which serves as the primary digital hub providing free access to educational games and videos. The platform features a diverse portfolio of approximately 35+ branded show properties spanning animated series (like Molly of Denali, Pinkalicious & Peterrific, Lyla in the Loop), live-action series (like Odd Squad, Sesame Street), and puppet-based productions (like Donkey Hodie, Wowsabout). Each show brand is supported by a dedicated collection of interactive games organized under the PBS KIDS Games product, with video content accessible through PBS KIDS Videos. The shows collectively address educational domains including early literacy, math, science, social-emotional learning, and cultural awareness. Recent initiatives include PBS KIDS Across America (2026) celebrating America's 250th anniversary with new programming across multiple series.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PBS KIDS Read: Literacy-focused programming featuring authors reading stories
• PBS Kids Across America
• Wowsabout
• America's Awesome Kids
• City Island: USA!

Products and services

• PBS KIDS Website The main digital platform at pbskids.org offering free educational games, videos, and interactive content for children ages 2-8, featuring navigation across all show properties and organized content by show and learning category.
• PBS KIDS Games Collection of educational games organized by show, featuring interactive gameplay designed to teach literacy, math, problem-solving, and science skills for preschool and early elementary children.
• PBS KIDS Videos Video streaming platform offering full episodes, clips, and shorts from the PBS KIDS show catalog, organized by show with curated collections and video picks of the week.
• PBS KIDS Mobile Apps Native iOS and Android applications available through the App Store and Google Play, providing mobile access to PBS KIDS games, videos, and educational content.
• Sesame Street Long-running educational children's series featuring iconic characters like Elmo, produced by Sesame Workshop, teaching early learning skills including literacy, numeracy, and social-emotional development.
• Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood Animated preschool series helping young children navigate daily experiences and emotions, building on the legacy of Fred Rogers' Neighborhood with curriculum-aligned social-emotional learning content.
• Wild Kratts Adventure series where brothers Chris and Martin Kratt explore animals and their habitats using creature powers, teaching biology, ecology, and animal science concepts.
• Molly of Denali First nationally broadcast children's series to feature a Native American lead character, teaching informational text skills through Alaska Native culture and storytelling.
• Super Why's Comic Book Adventures New animated series expanding the Emmy-nominated SUPER WHY! franchise using a comic book-inspired format to support early literacy skills for preschoolers and kindergartners, aligned with The Science of Reading research.
• Wowsabout Puppet preschool special produced by The Jim Henson Company celebrating awe and exploring the natural wonder of Sequoia National Park, featuring characters Ronald and Roxy emphasizing curiosity, creativity, and environmental stewardship.
• America's Awesome Kids New series premiering as part of PBS KIDS Across America initiative, showcasing places and children across America to teach civics and social studies.
• City Island: USA! New live-action series about places and people across America, part of the PBS KIDS Across America multi-platform rollout produced by Future Brain Media.
• Phoebe & Jay Animated series targeting children ages 2-8 with focus on functional literacy, the last PBS KIDS show to receive funding from the Ready To Learn initiative before the Department of Education terminated the program.
• Count on June Bug! Math-focused series teaching counting and early math skills through engaging characters and stories, produced by WNET with funding from the New York State Education Department and General Motors.

Quantifiable outcome

• 15.5 million monthly digital visitors
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• GBH KidscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 March 2026GBH Kids is a production partner for PBS KIDS content including Molly of Denali and contributes to the PBS Kids Across America initiative with civics and social studies programming.
• The Jim Henson CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 February 2026The Jim Henson Company is producing 'Wowsabout,' a puppet preschool special for PBS KIDS celebrating awe and exploring Sequoia National Park, featuring input from emotion scientist Dr. Dacher Keltner. This is part of PBS KIDS Across America initiative premiering in 2026.
• 9 Story Media GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner9 Story Media Group serves as a production partner for PBS KIDS, producing shows such as Super Why's Comic Book Adventures. The company also provides animation services through its Brown Bag Films subsidiary.
• Future Brain MediaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFuture Brain Media is a production partner contributing to PBS Kids Across America with the series City Island: USA!, premiering June 12, 2026.
• Sesame WorkshopcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSesame Workshop is the nonprofit educational organization behind Sesame Street, which airs on PBS KIDS. The relationship involves co-production and distribution of Sesame Street content through the PBS KIDS platform.
• WNETcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWNET (THIRTEEN Productions LLC) is a PBS member station and production partner for PBS KIDS shows including Count on June Bug!, which is funded by NYSED and General Motors.
• Atomic CartoonscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAtomic Cartoons is a production partner for Molly of Denali, providing animation services alongside GBH Kids.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Nickelodeon: Paramount's flagship children's brand producing animated and live-action preschool/early-elementary programming with a comparable multi-platform distribution model. Directly competes for kids' attention against PBS KIDS.
• Sesame Workshop: Non-profit producer of Sesame Street, which airs on PBS KIDS. Operates adjacent digital platforms (Sesame Street YouTube, apps) and competes with PBS KIDS for educational preschool mindshare while also being a production partner.
• Disney Junior: Disney's preschool-focused cable and streaming channel with branded IP, games, and apps targeting the same ages 2–8 demographic. Direct competitor in educational/character-driven preschool media.
• Noggin: Paramount's subscription preschool streaming service offering ad-free educational content, including Nickelodeon and Sesame Workshop IP. Direct subscription alternative to PBS KIDS' free offering.
• YouTube Kids: Google/Alphabet's ad-supported free platform delivering curated children's video content, increasingly including educational programming. Competes head-to-head for parent trust and screen time in the same demographic.
• Cartoon Network: Warner Bros. Discovery's kids network with multi-platform distribution, comparable IP-based games and apps, and audience overlap with PBS KIDS' older elementary viewers.

Emerging players

• Khan Academy Kids: Free, research-backed adaptive learning app for ages 2–8. Directly comparable educational mission and free-distribution model, with overlap in early literacy, math, and social-emotional content.
• BabyFirst TV: Cable and streaming channel targeting the youngest end of the preschool demographic (toddlers and pre-K), with comparable video-led educational distribution via TV and apps.

Broad incumbents

• Highlights for Children: Long-established children's media brand with magazines, apps, and digital content targeting similar ages. Comparable in curriculum-aligned educational positioning but distributed primarily via paid channels.
• Amazon Kids+: Subscription bundle from Amazon offering curated children's books, videos, games, and educational apps from multiple studios. Competes as a paid alternative for parents seeking bundled educational content.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/PBSKIDS
• Facebookfacebook.com/PBSKIDS
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/between-the-lions

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about PBS KIDS