WVIZ Launches Daily Educational Programming For Ohio Kids

CLEVELAND — Northeast Ohio's largest public media group, ideastream, is changing its daytime broadcast schedule to help families affected by school closures. The company is also sharing online programs for families stuck at home during the new coronavirus, COVID-19, outbreak.

The stations broadcast schedule will be tailored to children, ages 3 to 8, from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and children 9 and older from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. These at home learning programs, which ideastream is calling ideaKids, can be viewed over-the-air on channel 25.1, through local cable and satellite providers and on YouTube TV starting Monday, March 30, 2020.

“Hundreds of thousands of Northeast Ohio families already welcome ideastream’s proven, high-quality educational programs into their homes,” said Kevin E. Martin, ideastream President and CEO. “With these adjustments to our broadcast schedule and expansion of our existing teaching materials, we can quickly fill an important need for families at a very important time in our country’s history.”

Besides the daily TV programming, ideaKids will also send out a daily e-newsletter with tools and exercises for kids ages 3 to 8. Daily programming will be interrupted at 2 p.m. for press conferences from Gov. Mike DeWine.

The Stocker Foundation awarded ideastream a $25,000 grant to increase its programming for students during this period of home-based learning. WVIZ, ideastream, worked on the content schedule with WBGU in Bowling Green, WCET in Cincinnati, ThinkTV in Dayton, WGTE in Toledo, WOSU in Columbus, WOUB in Athens and PBS Western Reserve in Kent.

More details on the station's programming schedule can be found on the ideastream website.

“In this unprecedented time, Ohio’s educators, parents and caregivers are doing their best to keep learning going for students in the midst of the coronavirus crisis. I am humbled and grateful that all eight of Ohio’s public broadcasting stations have stepped up as major partners committed to delivering high-quality, grade-appropriate learning to students, complementing the amazing effort being made by Ohio’s schools and districts,” said Ohio Superintendent of Public Instruction Paolo DeMaria. “This ‘At Home Learning Initiative’ crosses the digital divide and provides yet another tool in the toolbox, ensuring learning doesn’t stop just because school buildings are closed.”