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Draft:Ready Set Learn

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Ready Set Learn!
Network
LaunchedDecember 28, 1992; 31 years ago (1992-12-28)
ClosedOctober 8, 2010; 13 years ago (2010-10-08)
Country of originUnited States
OwnerDiscovery Communications
FormatWeekday morning children's program block
Running time
  • 6 hours (1992–2003, TLC; 2000s, Discovery Kids)
  • 3 hours (2003–2008, TLC)
Original language(s)English

Ready Set Learn! was an American 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 during the 2000s. It was the recipient of a CableACE Creator's Award during its run in the 1990s.

History

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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] 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 September 1996, the Discovery Channel launched a counterpart Sunday-morning block to Ready Set Learn! while preparation for the launch of the Discovery Kids Channel were underway.[8] By mid-2002, Ready Set Learn!—now under the purview of the Discovery Kids team—revamped the lineup with Animal Jam, The Save-Ums, and Ni Ni's Treehouse.[9] The block relaunched on February 24, 2003, with Paz the Penguin now hosting the interstitial segments; the 9:00 a.m. repeat moved to Discovery Kids.[10]

On September 26, 2008, Ready Set Learn! aired for the final time on TLC, with Bigfoot Presents: Meteor and the Mighty Monster Trucks and The Magic School Bus in its last hour.[11] From that point on, reruns of regular TLC programming took over its slot.[12] Its Discovery Kids version would evolve into HubBub upon that network's October 10, 2010 rebrand as The Hub.[13]

Reception

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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]."[14] During its original run, it received a CableACE Creators Award,[15] and was also honored by the National Education Association and the American Academy of Children's Entertainment.[9]

Merchandise

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A merchandising line for Ready Set Learn!, featuring coloring books, was actively considered during the early weeks of its launch.[1] The first VHS releases under the brand, three Professor Iris collections, were released in September 1993.[16]

Programming

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Programs are listed here by debut date, sorted by time slot where applicable.
Title Premiere date Notes
Bookmice December 28, 1992 [1]
Join In! December 28, 1992 [1]
Zoobilee Zoo December 28, 1992 [1]
Professor Iris December 28, 1992 [1]
The Magic Box December 28, 1992 [1]
Kitty Cats December 28, 1992 [1]
The Magic School Bus February 24, 2003 [10]
The Save-Ums February 24, 2003 [10]
Hi-5 February 24, 2003 [10]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Donlon, Brian (December 28, 1992). "Ready, Set, Learn! takes off". USA Today. p. 03D. Retrieved September 12, 2024 – via ProQuest.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ Sweetman, Keri (May 6, 1997). "Rory hopes for full house at NAC". Ottawa Citizen. p. B.10. Retrieved September 13, 2024 – via ProQuest.
  7. ^ "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.
  8. ^ Brown, Rich (September 2, 1996). "Discovery launches kids block". Broadcasting & Cable. Vol. 126, no. 37. p. 49. ISSN 1068-6827. Retrieved September 14, 2024 – via ProQuest.
  9. ^ a b "Discovery Kids teaming up with NBC for Saturday programming". Home Textiles Today. Cahners/Reed Elsevier: 26. May–June 2002. Retrieved September 14, 2024 – via ProQuest.
  10. ^ a b c d Heffley, Lynne (February 24, 2003). "Television & Radio — Television Reviews: Making a play for the young set; TLC and Discovery Kids Network launch a new block of lively shows for preschoolers". Los Angeles Times. p. E.16. Retrieved September 14, 2024 – via ProQuest.
  11. ^ "Diversions | Television: Friday Morning". Courier-Post. Camden, New Jersey. September 26, 2008. p. 30SC. Retrieved September 14, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "TV Listings: Weekend Daytime: September 29, 2008 – October 3, 2008". The Post-Star. Glens Falls, New York. September 28, 2008. p. B4. Retrieved September 14, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ Reynolds, Mike (October 4, 2010). "The Hub Gets Ready to Roll into Kids' Market". Multichannel News. Vol. 31, no. 37. p. 29. ISSN 0276-8593. Retrieved September 14, 2024 – via ProQuest.
  14. ^ Shoffer (January 29, 1993). "The Learning Channel offers kids TLC". Northwest Florida Daily News. p. 8E. Retrieved September 12, 2024 – via ProQuest.
  15. ^ "A cable network success story". Cablecaster. Vol. 9, no. 9. Don Mills, Ontario. November 1997. p. 12. Retrieved September 12, 2024 – via ProQuest.
  16. ^ Zad, Martie (September 12, 1993). "Spot Atop a Lot of Fall Videos for Youngsters". The Washington Post. p. Y05. Retrieved September 14, 2024 – via ProQuest.
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