Preschoolers Are Clicking Away

USA Today reviewed two PBS Kids interactive websites yesterday. These sites (PBS Play! and PBS Kids Island) are both designed to help todays preschoolers learn alongside some of their best friends: Curious George, SuperWhy and of course Elmo (just to name a few). Read the article.

You can access PBS Play! and PBS Kids Island through the new KLRN Kids Website--just click on the "games" tab at the top.

Below is a preview of PBS Play! for you. Enjoy.

Happy Friday!

DTV Power Increase

As of June 13, KLRN-DT will be moving from DT-8 to DT-9 and as a part of that process, the station has been granted a transmitter power increase. We will be also using the antenna that is mounted at the top of our tower instead of the current DTV antenna that is side-mounted and lower on the tower. Both the additional height and the additional power will improve signal coverage and stability. We believe that the change from Channel 8 to 9 will also eliminate the DTV interference we currently experience from the DT-8 channel in Corpus Christi. All good news for our viewers!

Making the transformation....

The photo above is what the KLRN studios look like this morning. Drills are going strong, paint buckets are appearing, and the schematics are being reviewed. All to make it look like...

THIS! Three weeks from today the studios will be buzzing with busy volunteers, ringing phones, and the words "Board Closed!" Yep, it is auction time and we are gearing up for the best 10 days of live television. Mark your calendars for June 3-12 starting at 6 p.m. nightly.

If you have yet to experience Blazing Gavels, welcome! Sit back and get ready to become obsessed with the I-wonder-what-is-coming-up-next syndrome. For you seasoned auction viewers and bidders, know that this year will be as exciting as ever. Tickets, furniture, travel packages, gift cards...the list goes on and on.

There is still time to become part of the action, though, so please contact us if you have questions.

Donate an item-- e-mail jcostello@klrn.org
Become a sponsor -- e-mail twright@klrn.org
Volunteer -- e-mail dsilva@klrn.org
Call and talk to someone about your questions: 210.270.9000 (or 800.627.8193)
Have an auction story to share? Please send it our way: stories@klrn.org

WATCH! BID! BUY! See you at the auction!

What's coming to KLRN TV?

Ever wonder what's coming to KLRN beyond what your TV's on-screen program guide will tell you?

Subscribe to KLRN's Previews Newsletter and we'll send you updates via email about every two weeks.

As an example, coming up in May, you can catch the second two installments of Masterpiece Mystery! with Kenneth Branagh as well as the winning 2009 Fresh Cut student film. That, and the always inspiring National Memorial Day Concert from Washington, DC.

And that's just a taste. Check out the most recent KLRN Previews for more highlights.

To sign-up to get KLRN Previews by email, visit http://www.klrn.org/signup/.

Exciting news from PBS Showcase

This week PBS is holding their annual meeting, PBS Showcase, in Baltimore, Maryland. PBS executives and producers have announced some exciting changes to the schedule coming down the pipeline. One such announcement is the addition of a new animated children’s series, “THE CAT IN THE HAT KNOWS A LOT ABOUT THAT!” which will premiere in Fall 2010. Martin Short will voice the Cat in the Hat and the series will feature his two helpers, Thing One and Thing Two. Children will follow 6-year-old Sally and Nick as the cat leads them through amazing discoveries of natural science. Program outreach will also feature an important element to all PBS Kids series—an interactive website with learning tools for children and resources for their parents. To read more about this new series, click on the following link: http://www.pbs.org/aboutpbs/news/20090511_pbskidscatinthehat.html.

Andrea.

Energy, Creativity, and Markers... Reading Rainbow!

During this year's Reading Rainbow contest, we were very lucky to read stories with characters like alligators, poodles in Paris, rainbow fruit, and the missing letter "m." Writers entertained us with stories about stamps who travel the world, a dog and cat who become friends, and a king who gives his daughter the world in her hands. This year we had an absolutely amazing response to our 15th Annual Young Writers and Illustrators Contest as we read 265 entries! Stories poured in from Bandera, Boerne, Bulverde, Cibolo, Converse, Devine, Elmendorf, Fair Oaks Ranch, Floresville, Gonzales, Harper, Helotes, Kirby, La Vernia, Lacosti, Leakey, Live Oak, Lytle, Mountain Home, New Braunfels, Pipe Creek, San Antonio, Schertz, Seguin, Somerset, Tarpley, and Universal City! Whew, that was a handful.

Over 450 people joined Mr. Steve and Miffy at our celebration on May 3rd in KLRN's Tobin Studio. The children arrived with smiles plastered on their faces and with amazing energy and excitement! Singing along, clapping, and grinning from ear to ear, children were involved in Mr. Steve's performance. One lucky second grader even strummed on Mr. Steve's guitar! Madison, KLRN's past national winner from 2001, joined us. She even read her winning entry with the families!

During the awards presentation, stunned and excited parents and winners popped up from the crowd when the entries appeared on the screen. Congratulations to all of the children who submitted a story and congratulations to the winners too! First place winners received a laptop donated by Mr. and Mrs. Vollmer, second place winners received a Leap Frog gift pack, and third place winners received a Reading Rainbow gift pack. Thank you to H-E-B and the Gladys Dalkovitz Fund for the generous support! Thank you to everyone who supported the contest and event. Thank you to Miffy for sharing warm hugs with the children too!

Check out our page on klrn.org/readingrainbow.

Looking forward to next year!