Iowa Public Television will Celebrate its IPTV KIDS Channel Launch with Statewide Pajama Parties!

Families may join the fun at four Iowa locations or by hosting their own pajama party.  Johnston, Iowa -  Iowa Public Television will host family pajama parties across Iowa on Friday, December 1, 2017 to coincide with the launch of IPTV KIDS .2, a new channel devoted entirely to children's programming. The parties will begin at 6:30 p.m. and include screenings of "PBS KIDS Family Night" programs.  WHO:  Fans of PBS KIDS and IPTV KIDS  WHEN:  Friday, December 1, 2017 -  Doors open at 6 p.m. Events begin at 6:30 p.m.  WHERE:  IPTV Studios in Johnston Attendees will visit the IPTV KIDS Clubhouse and take photos with and receive hugs and high fives from Clifford the Big Red Dog.  Family Museum in Bettendorf Attendees will meet and greet Dan Wardell, host of IPTV KIDS Clubhouse. Mason City Public Library Attendees will meet and greet, Abby Brown, co-host of IPTV KIDS Clubhouse.  Carroll Public Library Attendees will meet, take photos with and receive hugs and high fives from Clifford the Big Red Dog. Families are encouraged to attend wearing pajamas and slippers. A "bedtime" snack of milk and cookies will be served. Attendees will also receive a keepsake memento to take home. The event concludes at 8 p.m. Visit Iptv.org/events or call 800.728.2828 to register for free tickets. Families who can't make it to an IPTV Pajama Party are encouraged to host a party of their own, complete with social media engagement where they can share photos and a downloadable party planning kit, which will be available at Iptv.org/families. Iowa Public Television is a trusted provider of educational media for Iowa children. IPTV KIDS .2, a new program channel in high definition, will launch on December 1. IPTV KIDS will feature children's favorite PBS KIDS shows as well as IPTV KIDS Clubhouse, available via broadcast and live streaming on digital platforms. The free program service will feature educational programming and ensures that high-quality content is available to all Iowa children and caregivers on a platform and at a time that works for them, including primetime, weekends and other out-of-school times when they are most likely to tune in. "We are excited to bring a whole new channel of programming to our young viewers," said Molly Phillips, Executive Director and General Manager at IPTV.  "Our kids' channel will provide the same trusted educational programming we are known for, with a new schedule that offers families more options and allows kids to watch and learn anytime and anywhere, either on IPTV.2 or over our 24/7 live stream at Iptv.org. It is really something to celebrate."  IPTV KIDS .2 will debut "PBS KIDS Family Night," weekly family viewing events featuring movie specials or themed programming every Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. CST, and repeating on Saturday and Sunday evenings. "Family Night" will kick off on December 1 with four half-hour programs based on books by British children's author Julia Donaldson, including The Gruffalo, The Gruffalo's Child, Stick Man and Room on the Broom. Future family night features will include world premiere movie events. A full list is available on PBS PressRoom. Cornerstone support for the establishment of the new IPTV KIDS .2 channel and IPTV's 24/7 PBS KIDS live stream has been provided by:  Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines Carol Lea and John Cotton W.K. Kellogg Foundation Lohse Family Foundation Fund O'Halloran Family Foundation Fund Learn more at Iptv.org. For more information about Iowa Public Television, please contact Susan Ramsey at 515-725-9703 or Susan.Ramsey@iptv.org. - 30 - Iowa Public Television is Iowa's only statewide television network. IPTV's mission to educate, inform, enrich and inspire Iowans guides its quality, noncommercial programming that tells Iowa's stories like no one else can. Three statewide, public channels offer programs of lasting value to Iowans, regardless of where they live or what they can afford: IPTV (.1), IPTV LEARNS (.2) and IPTV WORLD (.3) on Channel 11, Des Moines; Channel 12, Iowa City; Channel 21, Fort Dodge; Channel 24, Mason City; Channel 27, Sioux City; Channel 32, Waterloo; Channel 32, Council Bluffs; Channel 36, Davenport; Channel 36, Red Oak. More information can be found at Iptv.org.