Draft:Ready Set Learn
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| Network |
|
|---|---|
| Launched | December 28, 1992 |
| Closed | October 8, 2010 |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Owner | Discovery Communications |
| Format | Weekday morning children's program block |
| Running time |
|
| Original language(s) | English |
Ready Set Learn! was a U.S. preschool television block broadcast from late 1992 until 2010 across the TLC and Discovery Kids networks, both owned by Discovery Communications. TLC ran the block from December 28, 1992 to September 26, 2008, with Discovery Kids following suit from October 7, 1996 to October 8, 2010.
History
[edit]The TLC network's foray into preschool television,[1] Ready Set Learn! was first mentioned as early as August 1992.[2] The first two programs announced for the block were The Magic Box, a New Zealand import, and a rerun package of Zoobilee Zoo;[2] a third, TVOntario's Bookmice, joined their docket the following month.[3] Greg Moyer, Discovery Communications' senior vice-president of programming, expressed hope that a full-fledged channel would spin off from it.[3]
According to TLC employee John Ford, the block was inspired by a Carnegie Foundation report which stated that 35% of U.S. children began their education unprepared.[4] Assisted by director of programming Mike Quattrone (who had previously undertaken similar endeavors at PBS),[4] Ford selected the shows on the strengths of their educational value along with their visual vibrancy.[1] Finding it "extremely well-produced", he also bet on Kitty Cats—another property chosen for the lineup—as the block's breakout series.[1]
Ready Set Learn! debuted on December 28, 1992,[3] with Join In! and Professor Iris as its other two series.[5] A competitor to the PBS lineup,[2] its three-hour schedule aired twice on weekdays, first at 6:00 a.m. and again at 9:00 a.m.—a slot that Ford viewed as "a safe haven".[1] TLC chose to air it commercial-free because doing otherwise would detract from its purpose.[4] As such, Discovery used the format as a loss leader for expansion of the network's carriage, which stood at 18 million homes at the time.[1] According to the Associated Press, TLC invested $10 million in the block's initial development (excluding tentative fees from underwriting).[4] A merchandising line for Ready, featuring coloring books, was actively considered;[1] original programming was also planned.[2]
In its early years, Ready Set Learn! was hosted by Rory Zuckerman (billed as simply "Rory").[2][6] A resident of Bethesda, Maryland (where TLC's parent company Discovery was based), Rory set out to teach children language skills through her music, as well as to "welcome the children into the world of The Learning Channel and also the parents, care-givers and other viewers" as hostess.[5] The block would become the home of her own two shows, Rory and Me and Rory's Place, which were seen by one million combined viewers per month in 1996.[7]
 |
In 1996, Discovery Kids began to air the block's series on its schedule upon its launch as one of the first digital cable networks.
On February 24, 2003, Ready Set Learn! introduced Paz the Penguin, who was seen in the block's official logo. The block aired for the last time on TLC on September 26, 2008, and it was replaced with reruns of regular TLC programming three days later.
On October 10, 2010, Discovery Kids was rebranded as The Hub (now Discovery Family) as a joint venture with toy maker Hasbro, and the Ready Set Learn! block was rebranded with new series as HubBub the following day; it lasted until 2011.
Reception
[edit]Upon its launch, Peggy Charren of Action for Children's Television approved of Ready Set Learn!'s commercial-free nature.[4] A reporter for the Northwest Florida Daily News wrote, "From what I've seen, they're doing a pretty good job [at making television a teacher]."[8] During its original run, it received a CableACE Creators Award.[9]
Programming
[edit] | This section needs additional citations for verification. (September 2024) |
| Program | Premiere date | Finale date | Moved to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Animal Jam | February 24, 2003 | 2006 | |
| Balamory | September 23, 2005 | December 23, 2007 | |
| The Berenstain Bears | September 28, 1998 | January 8, 1999 | |
| The Big Garage | September 29, 1997 | July 17, 2001 | |
| Bigfoot Presents: Meteor and the Mighty Monster Trucks | September 25, 2006 | October 8, 2010 | |
| Bindi the Jungle Girl[10] | February 25, 2008 | June 27, 2008 | |
| Bingo and Molly | September 29, 1997 | June 29, 2002 | |
| Bookmice | December 28, 1992 | June 27, 1997 | |
| Brum | February 24, 2003 | December 23, 2006 | |
| Chicken Minute | September 25, 1995 | August 1998 | |
| Hi-5 | February 24, 2003 | October 8, 2010 | |
| Hip Hop Harry | September 26, 2006 | October 8, 2010 | |
| Jay Jay the Jet Plane | November 2, 1998 | June 1, 2001 | PBS Kids (June 2001 – November 2005) |
| Join In! | December 28, 1992 | June 24, 1995 | |
| Kitty Cats | December 28, 1992 | May 29, 1998 | |
| Little Star | September 25, 1995 | July 1998 | |
| The Magic Box | December 28, 1992 | May 27, 1996 | |
| The Magic School Bus | February 24, 2003 | February 26, 2010 | Qubo (disestablished in 2021) |
| Nini's Treehouse | September 25, 2000 | February 21, 2003 | |
| Pappyland | September 30, 1996 | February 21, 2003 | |
| The Paz Show | February 24, 2003 | October 8, 2010 | |
| Peep and the Big Wide World | April 12, 2004 | October 8, 2010 | PBS PBS Kids (January 2018 - December 2021) |
| Professor Iris | December 28, 1992 | April 26, 1997 | |
| Rainbow Fish | February 24, 2003 | September 1, 2006 | |
| Ready Set Learn Short Stuff | December 28, 1992 | February 21, 2003 | |
| Rory and Me | September 26, 1994 | October 27, 1997 | |
| Rory's Place | 1996 | December 15, 1999 | |
| Salty's Lighthouse | October 3, 1997 | February 21, 2003 | |
| The Save-Ums! | February 24, 2003 | April 13, 2007 | |
| Shirl's Neighborhood | September 25, 1995 | March 15, 1998 | |
| Skinnamarink TV | October 27, 1997 | February 21, 2003 | |
| The Swamp Critters of Lost Lagoon | September 29, 1997 | December 16, 1999 | |
| Timothy Goes to School | August 23, 2004 | September 25, 2006 | |
| ToddWorld | November 8, 2004 | June 12, 2008 | Qubo (disestablished in 2021) |
| Wilbur | April 16, 2007 | October 8, 2010 | |
| Wisdom of the Gnomes | November 5, 1996 | March 15, 1998 | |
| The World of David the Gnome | September 30, 1996 | April 26, 1998 | |
| Zoobilee Zoo | December 28, 1992 | May 27, 1996 |
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f Donlon, Brian (December 28, 1992). "Ready, Set, Learn! takes off". USA Today. p. 03D. Retrieved September 12, 2024 – via ProQuest.
- ^ a b c d e "Learning Channel Plans Ad-Free Kids' Shows". Orlando Sentinel. New York Daily News. August 23, 1992. p. F2. Retrieved September 13, 2024 – via ProQuest.
- ^ a b c Donlon, Brian (September 10, 1992). "On cable, more education joins the 'toons and goods". USA Today. p. 03D. Retrieved September 12, 2024 – via ProQuest.
- ^ a b c d e Elber, Lynn (January 1, 1993). "No-Ads Programming for Kids on Cable". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Associated Press. p. 09G. Retrieved September 12, 2024 – via ProQuest.
- ^ a b Zad, Martie (December 27, 1992). "Ready, Set, Learn! Rory Steers Learning Channel's 30-Hour Pre-School Show". The Washington Post. p. Y04. Retrieved September 12, 2024 – via ProQuest.
- ^ Sweetman, Keri (May 6, 1997). "Rory hopes for full house at NAC". Ottawa Citizen. p. B.10. Retrieved September 13, 2024 – via ProQuest.
- ^ "Children Feel Right at Home in 'Rory's Place' (TV Host Rory Zuckerman)". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. May 15, 1996. p. B-3. Retrieved September 13, 2024 – via ProQuest.
- ^ Shoffer (January 29, 1993). "The Learning Channel offers kids TLC". Northwest Florida Daily News. p. 8E. Retrieved September 12, 2024 – via ProQuest.
- ^ "A cable network success story". Cablecaster. Vol. 9, no. 9. Don Mills, Ontario. November 1997. p. 12. Retrieved September 12, 2024 – via ProQuest.
- ^ "Archived copy". tlc.discovery.com:80. Archived from the original on June 30, 2008. Retrieved February 22, 2022.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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