New Animated Series Space Racers Launches Nationwide with Technical Consulting from NASA
Maryland Public Television (MPT), the presenting station for Space Racers™, is pleased to announce the official launch of this new, educational animated series with technical consulting from NASA. Early reports indicate a majority of public television stations have expressed interest in airing Space Racers in the coming months. Public television stations in the top markets that will be airing Space Racers starting in May include: Los Angeles (KCET, KVCR), Dallas(KERA), Washington D.C./Baltimore (MPT), Houston (Houston Public Media, TV 8), Detroit (WTVS, Detroit Public TV), Seattle (KCTS 9), Miami (WRLN Channel 17), Denver (Rocky Mountain PBS), Orlando (WEFS-TV),Pittsburgh (WQED), Salt Lake City (KUED), West Palm Beach (WXEL PBS For the Palm Beaches),Charlotte/South Carolina (ETV), Alabama (APT), Norfolk (WHRO), Arkansas (AETN), New Orleans (WLAE),Providence (WSBE) and many more. If your state is not included, contact your local public television station to find out when it will air in your area.
The official Space Racers™ website, www.SpaceRacers.org, created by WNET in conjunction with Siite, recently launched and includes out-of-this-world features like videos, space games and tools for little scientists to explore the solar system. An exclusive section for parents and educators encompasses family activities and lesson plans based on an early-childhood STEM curriculum. Educational materials created specifically for use in local classrooms will be available on the site.
Science Museums and NASA Visitor Centers around the country will host screening events to celebrate the premiere and support the series launch locally. The Maryland Science Center, a partner in the series’ live educational interstitials, hosted an exclusive screening of the series in early April. Children were treated to a first hand-account of the show’s development from the Executive Producer and heard from NASA scientists about their involvement in the creation of Space Racers™. Several launch events are being held in partnership with NASA including the Space Center Houston on May 4, The California Science Center in Los Angeles onMay 29 and the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, AL on June 1. Other upcoming events include aMay 3 screening at the Clark Planetarium in Salt Lake City, a May 8 screening at the Smithsonian’s National Air & Space Museum in Washington D.C., and a May 10 screening at the Wings Over the Rockies Museum in Denver.
The Virginia Air & Space Center is collaborating with the Space Racers™ team to develop an interactive space exploration exhibit for their preschool-aged visitors. The audience will experience the science behind space exploration including living, working and playing in space. The branded Space Racers-themed exhibit debuts in summer 2014 and will include the Space Racers characters and showcase video content from the show.
“We are thrilled and delighted at the reception of Space Racers. The station’s reactions have been phenomenal and we are really excited about the pick-up of the show thus far,” says Richard SchweigerExecutive Producer and Creator of Space Racers™. “Working on a Space Racers Museum exhibit with the Virginia Air & Space Center is exactly what we could hope for in terms of marrying our characters to science and space education. And nothing is more pleasing then seeing the response of the children attending our events when they see Eagle, Hawk, Robyn and the rest of the Space Racers crew for the very first time. We are pleased to be giving our fans this special treat.”
“Maryland Public Television is very pleased with the overwhelming response we are receiving from public television stations around the country,” adds MPT Chief Content Officer Steven Schupak. “When we first spoke with Richard and the Space Racers team three years ago, we knew this series was something special. We are also very pleased to work on the live-action interstitials with Richard and his creative animation team.”
Viewers that would enjoy seeing this series in their area are encouraged to contact their local Public Television Station to express interest in Space Racers™. Public TV stations can be located through the online station finder at this web link: http://www.aptonline.org/aptweb.nsf/vViewers/Index-Stations+Near+You
About Space Race, LLC
Founded in 2010 Space Race, LLC is based in New York specializing in children’s programming and educational entertainment. Space Race, LLC aims to provide high-quality kids content for television, websites, gaming activities, and educational curricula.
About MPT
Launched in 1969 and headquartered in Owings Mills, MD, Maryland Public Television is a nonprofit, state-licensed public television network and member of the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). MPT’s six transmitters cover Maryland plus portions of contiguous states and the District of Columbia. Frequent winner of regional Emmy® awards, MPT creates local, regional, and national television shows. Beyond broadcast, MPT’s commitment to professional educators, parents, caregivers, and learners of all ages is manifest in its year-round instructional events and super-website Thinkport which garners in excess of 1.4 million visits annually.
