History Creator / PBSKidsSprout

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[[caption-width-right:280:"A lot happens when you Sprout!"]]

'''PBS Kids Sprout''' is a cable/satellite network that is a subnetwork of PBSKids. Originally launched as a Video on Demand service, Sprout replaced the 24/7 PBS Kids network in 2005. PBS Kids Sprout airs repeats of a number of programs seen on PBS Kids, as well as serving as the sole U.S. broadcaster for a number of programs. It is a partnership of SesameWorkshop, Apax Partners, PBS and [=NBCUniversal=]. It was also at one time owned in part by HITEntertainment, prior to Mattel's purchase of the company.

Sprout is known for its themed blocks of programming. Since its creation, it has had a regular feature in "The Sunny Side Up Show," a morning block with live hosts and the channel's kazoo-voiced puppet mascot Chica the chicken (who received her own series, ''The Chica Show'', in 2012) that even airs original content on holidays such as Christmas. It also regularly airs "The Good Night Show," a block of programming themed around getting children for bed. The program was originally hosted by Melanie Martinez, prior to Sprout's learning that she had appeared in a parody public service announcement for an online service titled "TechnicalVirgin." Following a brief series of guest stints, including Noel [=MacNeal=] (Bear of ''Series/BearInTheBigBlueHouse''), the program found a new regular host in Michele Lepe, known on the program as "Nina"; she interacts with another puppet character, Star (who looks like his name).

Sprout has also recently become known for acquiring properties once made famous on other networks and building programming blocks around them. Following their acquisition of ''TheWiggles'', originally seen on Playhouse Disney in the U.S., they created a block of programming called "The Wiggly Waffle Show." More recently, their acquisition of ''LazyTown'', once seen on NickJr, has led to the creation of "The Super Sproutlet Show" block.

Sprout maintains an [[http://www.sproutonline.com official website]] where much of their content can be viewed, and also continues their Video-on-Demand service, which features programs available in Spanish (including some no longer aired in English on Sprout) and from time-to-time other programming that has never actually aired on the main Sprout network. They have also sponsored a number of public service initiatives, such as "The Great Sprout Tuck-In" and "Kindness Counts", and each year on Christmas Eve and early Christmas morning air a "[[UsefulNotes/ChristmasInAmerica snooze-a-thon]]," which depicts the characters from their various programs sleeping, in order to encourage children that they, too, should be asleep. This has been made available on-demand, and [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7s7cvQK63A officially, for free, online.]] All programming on Sprout is rated TV-Y.

Notably, unlike most U.S. networks of this type (i.e. Nick Jr., Disney Junior), Sprout actually airs advertising in-between programs. They have a stated policy of only airing ads targeted at children's parents, rather than children themselves, though some have argued that not all of the advertising they air actually seems to fit with this policy. (Ads for ''WesternAnimation/TheLorax'' aired after [=NBCUniversal=] gained ownership of the channel, as have ads for ''Franchise/{{Barbie}} Mariposa & The Fairy Princess'', distributed by Universal.)

In July 2012, Sprout kicked {{Qubo}} to the curb and took over programming NBC and Telemundo's Saturday morning blocks, under the names NBC Kids and [=MiTelemundo=] respectively.

!The following programs are broadcast exclusively on Sprout in the United States:
[[index]]
* ''WesternAnimation/ChloesCloset''
* ''Driver Dan's Story Train''
* ''WesternAnimation/FiremanSam''
* ''The Good Night Show''
* ''WesternAnimation/JustinTime'' (Also airs on NBC Kids, U.S. only, airs on [[Creator/DisneyChannel Disney Junior]] in Canada and possibly other non-U.S. markets)
* ''Kipper''
* ''LazyTown'' (Also airs on NBC Kids)
* ''Noodle and Doodle'' (Also airs on NBC Kids)
* ''Jim Henson's [[ThePajanimals Pajanimals]]'' (Also airs on NBC Kids)
* ''Monkey See, Monkey Do''
* ''Nina's Little Fables''
* ''Olive the Ostrich''
* ''64 Zoo Lane'' [[/index]](Once seen on Creator/NickJr)[[index]]
* ''The Sunny Side Up Show''
* ''[[Series/SesameStreet Play With Me Sesame]]'' (Spinoff that repackages Muppet segments from ''Sesame Street'' with newly-filmed material with some of the "classic" characters)
* ''Poppy Cat'' (Also airs on NBC Kids)
* ''Music/TheWiggles'' (Also airs on NBC Kids)
* ''Wibbly Pig''
* ''The Chica Show'' (Also airs on NBC Kids)

!The following programs currently airing on Sprout are also still seen on some PBS stations
* ''WesternAnimation/AngelinaBallerina: The Next Steps''
* ''Series/BarneyAndFriends''
* ''Literature/TheBerenstainBears''
* ''WesternAnimation/BobTheBuilder''
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Caillou}}''
* ''[[WesternAnimation/{{Dirtgirlworld}} dirtgirlworld]]''
* ''WesternAnimation/MamaMirabellesHomeMovies'' (available on demand)
* ''Sesame Street'' (Airing on virtually all PBS stations. Sprout airs decades-old repeats.)
* ''WesternAnimation/SidTheScienceKid''
* ''WesternAnimation/SuperWhy''
* ''[[WesternAnimation/ThomasTheTankEngine Thomas & Friends]]''

!The following programs no longer air on Sprout but were previously seen on either the channel or on demand
* ''Angelina Ballerina'' (the original series)
* ''Big Sister, Little Brother''
* ''Brambly Hedge''
* ''WesternAnimation/DragonTales''
* ''George Shrinks'' (remains available on demand in Spanish)
* ''James the Cat''
* ''WesternAnimation/LittlePeople''
* ''Panwapa''
* ''Percy the Park Keeper''
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Pingu}}''
* ''Rubadubbers''

!These programs air on [=MiTelemundo=] and Sprout (Spanish for the former):
* ''WesternAnimation/JayJayTheJetPlane'' (previously offered in English on the U.S. Sprout)
* ''Dudley the Dragon''
* ''Series/WimziesHouse''
* ''Raggs Kids Club Band''
* ''[=LazyTown=]''
* ''Noodle and Doodle''
[[/index]]
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* ''Jay Jay the Jet Plane'' (previously offered in English on the U.S. Sprout)

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* ''dirtgirlworld''

* ''Chloe's Closet''