PBS and PBS Distribution have tapped Vancouver, Canada’s BroadbandTV (BBTV) to manage fan-uploaded YouTube content inspired by its PBS KIDS series.
BroadbandTV uses a service called VISO NOVI to detect, track and measure fan activity associated with the brand’s premium content to alert the IP owner and give them control over the content being posted. The collaboration will see BBTV manage fan-uploaded content on YouTube for PBS documentary shows NOVA, FRONTLINE and Nature as well.
Kids content currently available on the PBS KIDS YouTube channel has garnered more than 420,00 subscribers and includes content about popular series Daniel Tiger’s Neighbourhood (pictured), Wild Kratts and Odd Squad.
PBS joins a growing roster of major media companies that use BBTV including the NBA, Viacom, Sony Pictures, Univision, Warner Bros., Turner and FremantleMedia. The YouTube digital entertainment company has experience managing kids content, having purchased India-based kids content producer and publisher YoBoHo in 2015. The acquisition also included HooplaKidz, a prominent kids and family YouTube channel that was previously one of the largest preschool and K-12 networks on the site, along with 27 other channels owned and operated by YoBoHo.
The company also recently expanded into eight new countries—Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, South Korea, Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Egypt—to bring its coverage up to seven languages in 23 countries.