New Preschool Animated Series Space Racers Announces New U.S. Clearances for Spring 2014 Launch

OWINGS MILLS, Md., Feb. 25, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Maryland Public Television (MPT), the presenting station for the new, original half-hour preschool series Space Racers, shared recent reports that over 50% of U.S. markets have expressed interest in airing Space Racers, with another 20% considering the series starting on or after May 2, 2014.  These percentages include most of the top 40 television markets in the country. Available through MPT for launch on International Space Day, the 26-episode series features stunning computer-generated imagery, real space sounds and images along with exciting story lines that teach exploration, investigation, observation, and how to work together as a team.

Though the U.S. national premiere will take place on May 2, 2014, the world premiere of Space Racers took place in New Zealand on TVNZ Kidzone24 on Saturday, February 15^th.  Space Racers' international distributor CAKE has signed commitments to air the show from broadcasters in France, Russia, Norway, Sweden, Finland, New Zealand, Israel, Taiwan, and parts of Africa.  Deals are pending with other major territories, including Canada, Germany, Ireland, Poland, and the Middle East. Dubbing the show into foreign languages is underway for the territories already sold.

The world-class creative team for Space Racers includes:  Director Mark Risley (Rugrats and The Wild Thornberrys) and Head Writer Allan Neuwirth (Martha Speaks, Between the Lions, Cyberchase and Arthur).  Series creators also partnered with scientists at NASA, who helped develop a balanced curriculum and reviewed every script to create highly engaging and scientifically accurate lessons. The collaboration with NASA has continued throughout production, with recent live-action interstitial segments filmed at the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, MD.   Space Racers Kid Reporter, 11-year-old Maya McGuire, interviewed NASA Astronauts Leland Melvin and Piers Sellers as well as NASA Scientist Thomas Wagner on the topics of Earth, the Moon, and our Solar System.  Other interstitials have been created at the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum in Washington, DC and the Maryland Science Center in Baltimore, MD.   

On-going promotions will include Space Racers program segments airing nationally in rotation on NASA TV, as well as a variety of locations in the NASA Museum Alliance – which includes museums, science centers, planetariums, NASA Visitor Centers, Challenger Centers, observatory and park visitor centers and other similar organizations.  

"Space Racers was created out of a desire to develop an exciting and entertaining concept that inspires children to learn more about science and space," says Richard Schweiger, Space Racers Creator and Executive Producer.  "We are very fortunate to have NASA as our educational partner and Maryland Public Television working with us to distribute the show on public television here in the United States."

"The response from public television stations have been out of this world," adds MPT Chief Content Officer Steven Schupak. "Space Racers offers an excellent opportunity for our station partners to stimulate interest in STEM learning, at a very early age, that will help inspire our next generation of scientists and engineers!"

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.pbs.org/about/faq/station-finder/station.

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. 

SOURCE Maryland Public Television