New PBS KIDS Series ALMA'S WAY Debuts October 4; Animated Series from Fred Rogers Productions Joining a New Daytime PBS SoCal Fall Schedule That Allows Viewers More Options To Watch Their Favorite PBS Programs on Weekday Afternoons
Press Contact for PBS SoCal
JP Shields
jpshields@pbssocal.org
Press Contact for PBS Kids
Lubna Abuulbah
labuulbah@pbs.org
Select programming will also be available to stream on PBS.org and the free PBS App. Members of PBS SoCal | KCET get extended access through PBS Passport.
Los Angeles, Calif. – Sept. 27, 2021 – PBS SoCal, the home of the entire PBS schedule and a crucial educational resource for the Southern California region, announced today that ALMA’S WAY, a new animated series from Fred Rogers Productions will premiere at 8:30 a.m. on Mon., Oct. 4, 2021 timed to a revamped daytime schedule that will allow Southern California viewers more options to watch some of their favorite PBS programs. With the addition of the new series ALMA’S WAY, the new daytime PBS KIDS schedule will run from 5 a.m. – 3 p.m. featuring beloved programs that will continue to include acclaimed animated series such as ARTHUR, MOLLY OF DENALI and DANIEL TIGER’S NEIGHBORHOOD and many more. From 3 p.m. – 5 p.m., the new PBS SoCal schedule for the fall will feature viewer favorites in order to offer more options to watch PBS programs like NOVA, MIDSOMER MURDERS, AMERICAN MASTERS and FINDING YOUR ROOTS. Viewers can stream their favorite PBS KIDS programs for free anytime on PBS KIDS and pbssocal.org.
The new animated PBS KIDS series ALMA’S WAY is created by Sonia Manzano, beloved by generations as “Maria” on SESAME STREET, and who broke new ground as one of the first Latino characters on national TV. Inspired by Manzano’s own childhood, ALMA’S WAY centers on 6-year-old Alma Rivera, a proud, confident Puerto Rican girl who lives in the Bronx with her family among a diverse group of close-knit friends and community members. Infused with Manzano’s humor and grounded in a social and emotional curriculum, the series will give children ages 4-6 the tools to find their own answers, express what they think and feel, and recognize and respect the unique perspective of others. “I am so excited to be working with PBS KIDS and Fred Rogers Productions to introduce Alma, a strong and positive Puerto Rican girl who will empower young viewers,” said Manzano. “Alma’s way is to think things through, and we hope the new series will show kids that their thought processes are valid and give them the confidence to think critically.”ALMA’S WAY is produced, written, and directed by a diverse team, and Latino voices are imbued throughout the series, both on screen and behind the scenes. The series is created by Lifetime Achievement Emmy®-winner Sonia Manzano and produced by Fred Rogers Productions. Ellen Doherty and Sonia Manzano are executive producers. Jorge Aguirre (Goldie & Bear) is head writer. The series is animated by Pipeline Studios (Elinor Wonders Why).ALMA’S WAY will debut on PBS stations across the country and begin streaming free on PBS KIDS October 4. Launching in tandem with the show, digital content for kids, parents and teachers will further the messages and goals of ALMA’S WAY. Series-inspired games will be available in English and Spanish onpbskids.org and on the freePBS KIDS Games App. Spanish and English language parent resources, including tips and hands-on activities to extend the learning at home, will be available on thePBS KIDS for Parents site, andPBS LearningMedia will offer tools for teachers, including video excerpts, games, teaching tips, and printable activities.
PBS SoCal will host a 15-minute Instagram Live conversation with ALMA’S WAY creator Sonia Manzano on Weds., Sept. 29 at noon PT where Manzano will talk about how families in Southern California and across the country can relate to and feel represented by Alma and her family. An extended version of the conversation will be published on pbssocal.org/education.
Join the conversation on social media using #AlmasWay and #pbssocal
About PBS Kids
PBS KIDS believes the world is full of possibilities, and so is every child. As the number one educational media brand for kids, PBS KIDS helps children ages 2-8 learn lessons that last a lifetime. Through television, digital media, and community-based programs, PBS KIDS wants children to see themselves uniquely reflected and celebrated in lovable, diverse characters who serve as positive role models, and to explore their feelings and discover new adventures along the way. Families can watch PBS KIDS anytime on the free PBS KIDS 24/7 channel and the PBS KIDS Video app, available on mobile and connected-TV devices, no subscription required. PBS KIDS’ large collection of mobile apps and pbskids.org provide accessible content, including digital games and streaming video to spark kids’ curiosity. PBS KIDS and local stations across the country support the entire ecosystem in which children learn and grow – including their teachers, parents, and community – providing resources to support children’s learning, anytime and anywhere. For more information, visit pbs.org/pressroom, or follow PBS KIDS on Twitter, Facebookand Instagram.
About Fred Rogers Productions
Fred Rogers Productions was founded by Fred Rogers in 1971 as the non-profit producer of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood for PBS. In the years that followed, it created hundreds of episodes of this much-loved program and extended Fred’s values and approach to other efforts in promoting children’s social, emotional, and behavioral health while supporting parents, caregivers, teachers, and other professionals in their work with children. Fred Rogers Productions continues to build on Fred’s legacy in innovative ways through a wide variety of media and engages new generations of children and families with his timeless wisdom. The company’s highly-rated children’s series, including Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Peg + Cat, Odd Squad, and Through the Woods, have earned 30 Emmy® Awards among other important honors. Newly launched in 2021 on PBS KIDS is Donkey Hodie, the innovative puppet series inspired by characters from Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood; and coming this fall is Alma’s Way, an animated series created by Sonia Manzano, known to generations of children and adults as “Maria” on Sesame Street. For more information, visit www.fredrogers.org or follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
About PBS SoCal
PBS SoCal is a donor-supported community institution that is a part of Public Media Group of Southern California, the flagship PBS station formed by the merger of PBS SoCal and KCETLink Media Group. PBS SoCal delivers content and experiences that inspire, inform and entertain – over the air, online, in the community and in the classroom. We offer the full slate of beloved PBS programs including MASTERPIECE, NOVA, PBS NewsHour, FRONTLINE, Independent Lens, a broad library of documentary films including works from Ken Burns; and educational PBS KIDS programs including Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood and Curious George. PBS programming is available to stream on the FREE PBS App on iOS and Android devices, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV, Samsung Smart TV, and Chromecast. PBS SoCal is also available to watch live on YouTube TV.
