Education has always been a key aim of public service television. Promoting literacy in children was the aim of "Sesame Street," the first preschool educational TV program for children, launched in November 1969. The "Sesame Street" approach has been adopted and adapted by other educational children's TV programs in the United States and throughout the world.
The Children's Television Act of 1990 requires TV broadcasters to provide at least 3 hours of public service informational and educational programs each week. As a dedicated public service broadcaster, the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) exceeds this minimum quota each week. The broadcaster's PBS KIDS division says it is committed to "providing the highest-quality programming and learning environment for children."
The U.S. Department of Education and PBS jointly launched the "Ready to Learn Service" in the 1995. This partnership created additional educational programming for broadcast on PBS affiliates across the United States, exposing children to more educational television shows. Research shows that programs funded by "Ready to Learn" help young children with number and letter recognition, in addition to developing oral vocabulary, according to the Education.com website.
Public service television has brought other benefits to children. Many educational TV programs also encourage children to adopt positive social behaviors. Watching appropriate programs can help children develop sharing, cooperation and good manners, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.