Every parent knows it can often be a challenge to keep kids entertained, but the iPad has become a godsend for both, with a steady supply of apps to amuse and educate our little ones. This week, PBS announced another free entry to their lineup with PBS KIDS Video for iPad.
PBS announced the release of the PBS KIDS Video for iPad app, which gives families free streaming access to more than 1,000 videos from top PBS KIDS and PBS KIDS GO! series including The Cat in the Hat, Super WHY!, Sesame Street and more. The tablet app follows several other PBS offerings in the App Store which have become a successful venture for the television network.
"We've been pleasantly surprised by the overwhelming response to our video apps for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad, which feature hundreds of hours of our prime-time content,” said Jason Seiken, Senior Vice President, Interactive, Product Development and Innovation, PBS. “They already have more than a million active users and we have seen that they also seem to be increasing television tune-in. We expect our new PBS KIDS Video for iPad App to be just as popular with kids."
PBS KIDS Video for iPad offers plenty of helpful features for adults as well, including access to local PBS TV station schedules, detailed information about each series (including their intended age and learning goals), handy links to related apps and TV series from the App Store and iTunes, the ability to mark shows as a favorite and even the ability to share videos via email, Facebook and Twitter.
The educational network notes that a recent CARAVAN survey shows that more than 70 percent of parents reported allowing their children to use their iPad, with an average of at least eight kid-specific apps on the device. More than 40 percent of those children play on the tablet at least once a day, and 90 percent of parents cited “educational value” as the most important criteria when shopping for a new app.
PBS KIDS Video for iPad is available now from the App Store; the free 2.8MB download requires iOS 3.2 or later.
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