Type: Press Releases

Posted on by Brooke Wehrle

 A new collection of products from Donkey Hodie, the hit preschool puppet series, will be introduced nationwide this year. Fred Rogers Productions, the award-winning children’s educational media organization behind multiple Emmy®-winning PBS KIDS series, and Licensing Street, licensing agent for the show, have partnered to secure deals with top brands in a variety of categories. The debut Donkey Hodie collection, which will include apparel from Komar and Mad Engine, as well as costumes from Rubies, is set to launch this fall.

“Consumer demand for Donkey Hodie products has been high since the series debut and we’re excited to welcome these best-in-class licensees to the Donkey Hodie family,” said Matt Shiels, Vice President of Business and Legal Affairs, Fred Rogers Productions. “They are sure to help extend the whimsical and huggable world of Donkey Hodie so children can create their own imaginative series-themed adventures.”

“Donkey Hodie is a winner with kids and families,” said Jason Korfine, Partner at Licensing Street. “Just like viewers who are drawn to the series, licensees have been eager to join in, too, and we’re delighted to be working with Komar, Mad Engine, and Rubies to offer new series-inspired products for fans everywhere.”

The first Donkey Hodie products heading to retail include:

  • Komar – Sleepwear
  • Mad Engine – T-shirts and apparel
  • Rubies – Costumes and role-play

In addition, Jada Toys, master toy partner, will introduce a range of Donkey Hodie toys, including highly anticipated feature plush. Toys and additional character plush are expected later this year.

 

 

 

 

 

Posted on by Brooke Wehrle

Kidscreen announced that Fred Rogers Productions has earned the #9 spot in the Production category of their annual Hot 50 honors. The Hot 50 rankings are the results of votes from our peers in the children's media industry.

We are grateful to share these kudos with our production partners, many of whom are fellow honorees.

Kidscreen magazine is one of the premiere trades that covers children's media. The organization also holds an annual summit that brings together companies from across the children's media industry.

Read more to see the full line-up on here..

Posted on by Brooke Wehrle

Fred Rogers Productions is pleased to announce six Emmy nominations for 2022. We are very proud to share this honor with our production partners 9 Story Media Group, Pipeline Studios, Sinking Ship Entertainment, and Spiffy Pictures.

 

OUTSTANDING WRITING FOR A PRESCHOOL ANIMATED PROGRAM:

Alma’s Way

Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood

 

OUTSTANDING DIRECTING FOR A PRESCHOOL ANIMATED PROGRAM:

Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood

 

OUTSTANDING LIGHTING DESIGN FOR A LIVE ACTION PROGRAM:

Donkey Hodie

 

OUTSTANDING COSTUME DESIGN/STYLING:

Odd Squad

 

OUTSTANDING SPECIAL EFFECTS COSTUMES, HAIR AND MAKEUP:

Odd Squad

Posted on by Brooke Wehrle

Pittsburgh, PA, October 24, 2022 – Fred Rogers Productions, the award-winning children’s educational media organization behind multiple well-loved, Emmy®-winning PBS KIDS series, has named Mallory Mbalia to the newly created position of Director of Learning and Education. In her new role, Mbalia will work to expand the company’s “neighborhood” of educational partners and advisors as well as collaborate with its production; marketing, communications, and engagement; fundraising; and licensing teams. She reports to President & CEO Paul Siefken. 

“We are excited to welcome Mallory to the team and look forward to tapping into her expertise to help us realize our educational goals, now and in the future,” said Siefken. “Mallory is respected throughout both the public television and education communities for connecting content to the classroom and to parents and caregivers, and her experience will translate perfectly to our work in support of children and their families.” 

"Since I was a little girl, I have felt a part of the ‘neighborhood,’” said Mbalia. “Mister Rogers had a beautiful way of making every child feel special every day. To be a part of such an impactful cross-generational organization is a dream come true and I look forward to contributing to its mission through my work.” 

Before joining Fred Rogers Productions, Mbalia was Director of Education at PBS North Carolina in Education and Innovation, where she created and delivered educational initiatives statewide for educators, parents and caregivers, and children of all ages. In 2018, she was named a PBS Digital Innovator All Star for her work as an education outreach trainer. Prior to her tenure as a Director at PBS NC, Mbalia was an assistant elementary school principal after starting her career as a kindergarten teacher. 

Mbalia holds two M.S. degrees, one in School Administration from North Carolina State University and the other in Curriculum and Instruction from University of Phoenix, as well as a B.S. in Human Development with a concentration in Child and Adolescent Development from Howard University. 

About Fred Rogers Productions 

Fred Rogers Productions was founded by Fred Rogers in 1971 as the non-profit producer of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood for PBS. In the years that followed, it created hundreds of episodes of this much-loved program and extended Fred’s values and approach to other efforts in promoting children’s social, emotional, and behavioral health while supporting parents, caregivers, teachers, and other professionals in their work with children. Fred Rogers Productions continues to build on Fred’s legacy in innovative ways through a wide variety of media and engages new generations of children and families with his timeless wisdom. The company’s highly rated children’s series, including Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Peg + Cat, Odd Squad, and Through the Woods, have earned 30 Emmy® Awards among other important honors. Newly launched in 2021 on PBS KIDS is Donkey Hodie, the innovative puppet series inspired by characters from Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood; and most recently Alma’s Way, an animated series created by Sonia Manzano, known to generations of children and adults as “Maria” on Sesame Street. For more information, visit www.fredrogers.org or follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. 

# # # 

Press contacts: 

Grand Communications (for Fred Rogers Productions) 

Alison Grand 

212-584-1133; Alison@grandcommunications.com Laura Liebeck 

845-440-7974; Laura@grandcommunications.com 

Posted on by Brooke Wehrle

Fred Rogers Productions, the award-winning children’s entertainment company behind Alma’s Way, is thrilled to share that the show has won two Imagen Awards. The series won Best Youth Programming, and Summer Rose Castillo was named Best Voice-Over Actor. See the full list of nominees and winners here. The Imagen Awards celebrate and encourage the inclusion of Latino talent, executives, and voices in all aspects of the creative process in entertainment media. Read more about their mission and work here.

Posted on by Mike Kozak

Pittsburgh, PA, October 2, 2019 – Fred Rogers Productions, the nonprofit children’s entertainment producer behind the Emmy Award-winning PBS KIDS series Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Odd Squad, and Peg + Cat, has named Christopher Arnold Chief Operating Officer (COO). In his new role, Arnold is responsible for the organization’s daily operations, helping to provide strong day-to-day leadership for the entire Fred Rogers Productions team. He reports directly to President and CEO Paul Siefken. Arnold is succeeding long-time company COO Kevin Morrison, who is retiring after an extensive and successful entertainment industry career.

“We are delighted to welcome Chris to our ‘Neighborhood,’” said Siefken. “He’s coming from a world-class game developer like Schell Games, and his valuable experiences and fresh perspective will help us to further strengthen our operations and lead to the company’s continued growth and success.”

“Enhancing the lives of children and their families with engaging, relatable, and educational content and experiences is at the heart of what Fred Rogers Productions does, and I am so pleased and proud to be part of this remarkable organization with such a laudable mission,” said Arnold. “I look forward to working alongside Paul and the rest of the talented team, who are committed to realizing this goal every day.”

As COO, Arnold oversees both internal and external operations for Fred Rogers Productions, including working in partnership with Siefken to implement the company’s strategic plan and facilitate processes and approaches to achieve it. He leads and manages the organization’s Legal & Business Affairs, Licensing & Merchandising, Finance, Technology, and Human Resources.

Prior to joining Fred Rogers Productions, Arnold was General Counsel and Vice President of Human Resources for Pittsburgh-based Schell Games, a full-service education and entertainment game development firm, where he was responsible for developing relationships with partners such as The Walt Disney Company, ILMxLAB, The LEGO Group, Yale University, Google, and Facebook. Previously, he served as Operations Counsel at Mylan, a leading generics and specialty pharmaceutical company; General Counsel and Director of Human Resources at Guru.com, a global talent marketplace; and Corporate Associate at Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney, one of the nation's leading law firms.

Arnold is a graduate of Allegheny College and earned his law degree from the University of Pittsburgh.

About Fred Rogers Productions 
Fred Rogers Productions was founded by Fred Rogers in 1971 as the non-profit producer of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood for PBS. In the years that followed, it not only created hundreds of episodes of this much-loved program, but also extended Fred’s values and approach to other efforts in promoting children’s social, emotional, and behavioral health  while supporting parents, caregivers, teachers, and other professionals in their work with children. Fred Rogers Productions continues to build on Fred’s legacy in innovative ways through a wide variety of media and engages new generations of children and families with his timeless wisdom. The company’s highly-rated, Emmy Award-winning children’s series include Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Peg + Cat, Odd Squad, and Through the Woods. For more information, visit www.fredrogers.org or follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

#  #  #

Press contacts:  
Grand Communications
Alison Grand
212-584-1133; Alison@grandcommunications.com

Laura Liebeck
845-440-7974; Laura@grandcommunications.com

 

More News

Get ready for a spooktacular October on PBS KIDS!

September 27, 2019

We've gathered all of our Fall and Halloween-themed programming on PBS KIDS this October

Meet Our Neighbors: Sonia Santarelli, Brown Bag Films

October 24, 2019

Get to know Sonia Santarelli, a producer at Brown Bag Films for Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood.
More News
Posted on by Brooke Wehrle

Beverly Hills, CA and Pittsburgh, PA, July 29, 2019 –From the Neighborhood of Make-Believe to neighborhoods across the U.S., a new season of DANIEL TIGER’S NEIGHBORHOOD, the top-rated, Emmy-winning PBS KIDS series from Fred Rogers Productions, will premiere next summer. Featuring 20 engaging episodes, including a half-hour special, Season 5 of the hit series will address key universal themes for preschoolers and their parents, including managing sibling rivalry, maintaining calm at mealtimes, missing loved ones, growing up, coping with accidents, and more through the show’s hallmark musical strategies. In addition, three of the series’ most popular strategies will be revisited through brand-new stories. Plus, Daniel will get to meet fun new neighbors who are sure to become viewer favorites, too.

“Research shows that DANIEL TIGER’S NEIGHBORHOOD nurtures empathy and strengthens emotional recognition, important skills for preschoolers,” said Linda Simensky, Vice President, Children’s Programming, PBS. “This series is the ‘go-to’ resource for parents who are navigating life with their young ones, and we’re excited to provide even more effective strategies to help their kids learn and grow in Season 5.”

“DANIEL TIGER’S NEIGHBORHOOD truly resonates with young children and their parents, and we’re thrilled to bring a brand-new season of the standout series to PBS KIDS,” said Paul Siefken, President and CEO, Fred Rogers Productions. “Season 5 will bring wonderful new friends to the Neighborhood, along with exciting new experiences for Daniel—and young viewers nationwide.”

In conjunction with the Season 5 premiere, new digital content for kids, parents, and teachers will launch in summer 2020.

Each episode of DANIEL TIGER’S NEIGHBORHOOD showcases two distinct stories starring 4-year-old Daniel Tiger and his friends, who invite viewers to join them on their adventures as they explore the colorful Neighborhood of Make-Believe. Irresistible musical strategies reinforce the unique theme of every show, so preschoolers and parents can sing along and incorporate them into their daily lives. The popular animated series was created by co-executive producers Angela Santomero, Chief Creative Officer at 9 Story Media Group, and Kevin Morrison, COO of Fred Rogers Productions, along with Vince Commisso, President & CEO, 9 Story Media Group.

The animated show has garnered a host of prestigious awards, including the 2019 Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Preschool Children’s Animated Series, the 2019 Parents’ Choice Gold Award for Television, and the 2018 Common Sense Media Seal of Approval and was nominated for Outstanding Achievement in Youth Programming by the Television Critics Association in 2019. Fans can watch DANIEL TIGER’S NEIGHBORHOOD on their local PBS station, the PBS KIDS 24/7 channel, and on digital on pbskids.org and the PBS KIDS Video app. SixDANIEL TIGER’S NEIGHBORHOOD apps for children and one for parents are available on the App Store, Amazon Appstore and Google Play. Games, activities, and more can be found on pbskids.org/daniel.

Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood is the #1 rated PBS KIDS program among kids 2-5, kids 2-8, and moms of young children*. It also continues to be one of the most streamed shows, averaging more than 51 million streams in May 2019**.

*Nielsen NPOWER L+7, 4/29/2019 - 5/26/2019, PBS Child Multi-weekly GAA%.
**Google Analytics, May ’19

About PBS KIDS

PBS KIDS, the number one educational media brand for kids, offers children ages 2-8 the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television, digital media and community-based programs. PBS KIDS and local stations across the country support the entire ecosystem in which children learn, including their teachers, parents and community. Provided by stations, the free PBS KIDS 24/7 channel and live stream is available to more than 95% of U.S. TV households. Kidscreen- and Webby Award-winning pbskids.org provides engaging interactive content, including digital games and streaming video. PBS KIDS offers mobile apps to help support young children’s learning, including the PBS KIDS Video app, which is available on a variety of mobile devices and on platforms such as Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV and Chromecast. PBS KIDS also offers parent and teacher resources to support children’s learning anytime and anywhere. For more information on PBS KIDS content and initiatives supporting school readiness and more, visit pbs.org/pressroom, or follow PBS KIDS on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

About Fred Rogers Productions

Fred Rogers Productions was founded by Fred Rogers in 1971 as the non-profit producer of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood for PBS. In the years that followed, it not only created hundreds of episodes of this much-loved program, but also extended Fred’s values and approach to other efforts in promoting children’s social, emotional, and behavioral health while supporting parents, caregivers, teachers, and other professionals in their work with children. Fred Rogers Productions continues to build on Fred’s legacy in innovative ways through a wide variety of media and engages new generations of children and families with his timeless wisdom. The company’s highly-rated, Emmy Award-winning children’s series include Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Peg + Cat, and Odd Squad, as well as Through the Woods. For more information, visit www.fredrogers.org or follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

About 9Story Media Group

9 Story Media Group is a leading creator, producer and distributor of kids and family focused intellectual property. Its award-winning animation studio, Brown Bag Films, is recognized around the world for best-in-class brands such as Doc McStuffins, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Octonauts, Wild Kratts, Peter Rabbit and The Magic School Bus: Rides Again. The company’s international distribution arm, 9 Story Distribution International based in Dublin, represents over 4,000 half-hours of animated and live-action programming, seen on some of the most respected international channels and platforms. Its in-house consumer products division, 9 Story Brands, builds international entertainment brands for kids, with expertise across creative, brand marketing, and licensing. With facilities in Toronto, Dublin, Manchester and New York, 9 Story Media Group employs over 800 creative and corporate staff. www.9story.com

# # #

Contacts:

Lubna Abuulbah, PBS KIDS; 703-739-8463; labuulbah@pbs.org
Alison Grand, Grand Communications; 212-584-1133; alison@grandcommunications.com

 

More News

Meet Our Neighbors: Shannon Case, Digital Producer at FRP

July 29, 2019

Get to know Shannon Case, one of the newest members of the Fred Rogers Productions team.

Back to School Resources with Daniel Tiger and Peg!

August 12, 2019

As Summer vacation nears its end, here are some resources to help your little ones ease their transition back to a school time routine.
More News
Posted on by Brooke Wehrle

New Stage Show Brings Musical, Math-Fueled Interactive Fun to Preschoolers Across the U.S.!

New York, NY, September 5, 2018 – Families nationwide will be totally freaking out when

Peg + Cat heads to the stage for the FIRST TIME EVER! “Peg + Cat LIVE!: The Big Dog Problem,” an exciting new musical production from Fred Rogers Productions, the Brad Simon Organization, and Bay Area Children’s Theatre, will bring all the toe-tapping musical, math-themed fun from the multiple Emmy-winning PBS KIDS series to fans throughout the U.S. beginning February 2019. With an original story written by series co-creators Jennifer Oxley (Little Bill, The Wonder Pets!) and Billy Aronson (Rent, Postcards from Buster), the stage show promises a totally awesome time for young “problem solvers” as they embark on an interactive adventure with their favorite characters from the series, including Peg, Cat, Ramone, Big Dog, Pig, Mermaid, and more, to solve a REALLY BIG problem. Tickets are now available for pre-order. For additional information and a complete list of tour dates and ticket links, visit https://pegpluscatlive.com.

“We’re delighted to work with the Brad Simon Organization and Bay Area Children’s Theatre to bring Peg + Cat to life on stage for the very first time,” said Paul Siefken, President and CEO, Fred Rogers Productions. “With this new live production, preschoolers and their families will get to engage with their favorite characters and stories from the popular series in a whole new way, while honing their early math skills all along the way.”

“We are thrilled to offer this entertaining and educational production from the Bay Area Children’s Theatre and Fred Rogers Productions to performing arts centers and their audiences,” said Brad Simon, President of the Brad Simon Organization. “The creative team has developed a theatrical experience that is sure to engage thousands of Peg + Cat fans.”

In Peg + Cat LIVE!: The Big Dog Problem, based on the popular episode, Peg’s mom asks Peg and Cat to mail some really important letters. But on their way, they come face-to-face with a REALLY BIG PROBLEM – a really big dog! They’ll need math – bar graphs, size comparison, position words, fair sharing, and a whole lot of counting, plus some help from one another and the audience to solve it! The vibrant full-scale production features larger-than-life puppets, light-up math facts that pop up all over the stage, and fan-favorite songs from the series, enhanced for the live stage experience!

Following select performances of Peg + Cat LIVE!: The Big Dog Problem, Purdue University will be conducting a first-of-its-kind nationwide study that will test the basic math skills pre-reading children learn after attending the live show. To help make the study possible, Dr. Amanda Mayes, Manager of Education in Purdue Convocations, will be collaborating with Dr. Laura Bofferding and Dr. Signe Kastberg in the math education department at Purdue University as well as the Brad Simon Organization, Bay Area Children’s Theatre, and Fred Rogers Productions.

Peg + Cat, now in its fifth year on PBS KIDS, has earned six Daytime Emmy® Awards, including for “Outstanding Preschool Children’s Animated Program,” “Outstanding Writing in a Preschool Animated Program,” and “Outstanding Music Direction and Composition.”

The hit series follows the adorable, spirited Peg and her loyal sidekick Cat, as they embark on a host of hilarious, musical adventures, learning foundational math concepts along the way. Each episode features engaging stories in which Peg and Cat encounter a problem that requires them to use math and problem-solving skills to move the story forward. The series provides young viewers with new ways to experience math and highlights its importance in a variety of everyday situations.

Peg + Cat is co-created and executive produced by Jennifer Oxley and Billy Aronson of 100 Chickens Productions and produced by Fred Rogers Productions for PBS KIDS. Kevin Morrison of Fred Rogers Productions and Vince Commisso of production partner 9 Story Media Group also serve as executive producers.

Peg + Cat LIVE! – Tour Dates (Additional dates to be announced soon.):

About PBS KIDS

PBS KIDS, the number one educational media brand for kids, offers children ages 2-8 the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television, digital media and community-based programs. PBS KIDS and local stations across the country support the entire ecosystem in which children learn, including their teachers, parents and community. Provided by stations, the free PBS KIDS 24/7 channel and live stream is available to more than 95% of U.S. TV households. Kidscreen- and Webby Award-winning pbskids.org provides engaging interactive content, including digital games and streaming video. PBS KIDS offers mobile apps to help support young children’s learning, including the PBS KIDS Video app, which is available on a variety of mobile devices and on platforms such as Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV and Chromecast. PBS KIDS also offers parent and teacher resources to support children’s learning anytime and anywhere. For more information on PBS KIDS content and initiatives supporting school readiness and more, visit pbs.org/pressroom, or follow PBS KIDS on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

About Fred Rogers Productions

The company was founded by Fred Rogers in 1971 as the non-profit producer of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood for PBS. In the years that followed, it not only created hundreds of episodes of this much-loved program, but also extended Fred’s values and approach to other efforts in promoting children’s social, emotional, and behavioral health and supporting parents, caregivers, teachers, and other professionals in their work with children. Fred Rogers Productions continues to build on Fred’s legacy in innovative ways through a wide variety of media and engages new generations of children and families with his timeless wisdom. The company’s highly-rated, award-winning children’s series include Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Peg + Cat, Odd Squad, and Through the Woods. For more information, visit www.fredrogers.org or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

About the Brad Simon Organization

The Brad Simon Organization is the leading North American booking agency specializing in live branded entertainment for family audiences. Current and past tour highlights include: Peg + Cat Live!, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood Live!, Wild Kratts Live!, The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show, Odd Squad Live!, Dinosaur Train Live!, Sid The Science Kid Live!, Erth’s Dinosaur Zoo Live!, Erth’s Prehistoric Aquarium Adventure, Clifford The Big Red Dog Live!, Scholastic’s The Magic School Bus Live!, John Tartaglia’s “ImaginOcean”, Berenstain Bears Live, The Magic Tree House: The Musical, and Mad Science Presents: “CSI LIVE!” and “Star Trek Live!”. www.bsoinc.com

About Bay Area Children’s Theatre

Established in 2004, Bay Area Children’s Theatre (BACT) is the largest company devoted to Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA) in California and one of the three leading TYA companies on the West Coast. BACT serves more than 115,000 children and adults in the San Francisco Bay Area each year with productions that are inspired by children’s literature and specially designed to engage young audiences; a theatre education program in 15 communities; and an outreach program for schools that coordinates artist residencies with student matinees of BACT’s main stage shows. BACT commissions and develops new work to expand the TYA canon—28 new plays to date—and it sends a show on tour each year to reach young audiences throughout the nation—most recently, its award-winning original production of Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site the Musical. A 501(c)(3) non-profit, BACT aims to inspire young audiences with imaginative productions, introduce children of all backgrounds to the excitement of live theatre, and create an engaging, entertaining, and educational environment in which children and their families can explore and enjoy the arts.

# # #

Press contact:
Alison Grand, Grand Communications (for Fred Rogers Productions, Peg + Cat)
212.584.1133, alison@grandcommunications.com

More News

Dream Big Pittsburgh: Heroes

November 7, 2018

There is no more genuine source of dreams and shared possibilities in our community than our children.

Meet Our Neighbors: Meeka Stuart, Director of Through The Woods

November 29, 2018

Get to know Meeka Stuart, Director of Through The Woods, our newest Emmy-winning show, available exclusively on Curious World.
More News
Posted on by Brooke Wehrle

Pittsburgh, PA, May 7, 2018 – It’s a beautiful new day in the Neighborhood! The Fred Rogers Company, the celebrated children’s entertainment company founded by children’s TV pioneer Fred Rogers nearly five decades ago and now home to multiple award-winning series loved by children and families around the world, has rebranded to Fred Rogers Productions. The change is designed to better reflect the company’s expanding catalog of programs, which today encompasses top-rated multiplatform PBS KIDS series such as Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Peg + Cat, and Odd Squad as well as popular apps, games, and more. Along with the new name is a refreshed logo featuring an image of Daniel Tiger to more clearly connect the company with its signature property. The rebrand was done in partnership with The Possibility Shop and SJI Associates.

“The name change helps position us for continued growth in all areas of children’s entertainment production, while reflecting the company’s deep roots in social-emotional learning and our iconic namesake,” said Paul Siefken, President and CEO of Fred Rogers Productions. “We remain committed to inspiring a lifetime of learning in children and to earning the trust of their parents and caregivers every day.”

One of the most trusted names in children’s media, the company has a sterling reputation as a producer of children’s educational and entertaining media. Beginning with Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, its first original series since the iconic Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, which revolutionized television as an early learning tool, the company’s mission continues to be reaching young children, families and educators in innovative, effective ways by harnessing the power of media. Building on its 50-year history of success with exceptional programming for every platform, the company and its programs have earned numerous prestigious awards and honors, including 23 Daytime Emmys, multiple Parents’ Choice Gold Awards, a host of Common Sense Media Awards, and, most recently, an Institutional Peabody Award, among other accolades.

In March 2018 alone, the company’s programs reached more than 7 million kids ages 2-8 and garnered more than 50 million views through streaming video. Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, a top PBS KIDS show among preschoolers and moms, accounts for nearly 500 million video streams per year, and its mobile apps have been downloaded more than 2 million times.

Stats for the company’s other hit shows are also impressive: Peg + Cat, the animated math and problem-solving series, racks up an average of 145 million video streams per year*; and Odd Squad, the live-action problem-solving PBS KIDS series, averages over 27 million streams digitally** per month.

Source: * Google Analytics 01/14 – 12/17, **Google Analytics 01/15 – 03/18

More News

Four Honors from the Parents’ Choice Foundation

February 12, 2018

All four of The Fred Rogers' Company's current productions -- Odd Squad, Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood, Peg + Cat, and Through the Woods -- have been awarded by the Parents' Choice Foundation with their prestigious Gold Award.

Tragedy in Squirrel Hill

October 29, 2018

Everyone at Fred Rogers Productions is devastated by the tragedy at Tree of Life synagogue in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood that Fred Rogers called home for many years.
More News
Posted on by Brooke Wehrle

Paul Siefken has been named President and CEO of The Fred Rogers Company, effective January 1, 2017. Currently Vice President of Broadcast & Digital Media, Siefken succeeds longtime company President and CEO Bill Isler. Isler, who worked with founder and legendary children’s media icon Fred Rogers, is retiring from the company.

“Paul is the perfect leader to take The Fred Rogers Company to the next important phase in its exciting evolution,” said Isler. “I’ve been fortunate to have had the chance to work closely with Paul for a number of years now, and I know that the company and its mission benefits greatly from his creativity, integrity, and vision. I am confident The Fred Rogers Company will continue to thrive under his capable leadership in the years ahead.”

“It is truly an honor and a privilege to succeed Bill Isler as President and CEO of The Fred Rogers Company,” said Siefken. “We have an amazing team in place, and I’m excited to work with them to uphold the legacy of innovation, creativity, and trust that The Fred Rogers Company represents for the next generation of children and parents.”

Since joining The Fred Rogers Company in 2013, Siefken has been steering the company’s broadcast content, managing the digital production pipelines for its three standout series, and working with their respective production partners. He also has spearheaded initiatives that have taken all three award-winning series into communities around the country, working with public television stations, museums, science centers, libraries, volunteer organizations, and early childhood groups to provide meaningful content that supports the aims and priorities of the respective institutions.

As President and CEO, Siefken will look to further develop the company’s existing and new partnerships to ensure that it continues to present the very best in educational children’s media on broadcast and digital platforms, and beyond.

Before joining The Fred Rogers Company, Siefken spent nearly ten years at PBS, most recently as Director of Children’s Programming. Prior to that, he managed sponsored promotions and media relations as well as produced interactive content for Cartoon Network. Siefken graduated from Duke University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English with a Teaching Certificate from the Program in Education.

 

More News

The Fred Rogers Company Wins Six Emmy Awards

April 29, 2016

The Fred Rogers Company is honored to have won six Emmy Awards this year.

The Fred Rogers Company’s First Mobile Series Now Available

February 7, 2017

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and The Fred Rogers Company have partnered to launch an original short-form video series for kids and families.
More News