BOSTON, March 9, 2023 – The second season of The Arthur Podcast will premiere on March 16, bringing six brand new episodes of the adventures of Arthur, his sister DW, and his friends Buster and Francine. The second season was announced at SXSW EDU, with a trailer streaming on PBS KIDS, the PBS KIDS YouTube channel, and The Arthur YouTube channel.
“I am delighted to announce the second season of The Arthur Podcast and thrilled by the reception for Season One,” said Carol Greenwald, Senior Executive Producer, GBH Kids. “I look forward to sharing more adventures from Arthur, DW, and their friends and hope audiences continue to resonate with these stories about growing up and learning how to navigate their world.”
Season Two will feature six brand-new episodes, dropping weekly on Thursdays. The season will begin with “Arthur’s Pet Business,” where Arthur has to prove he's responsible enough to take care of a puppy. For Earth Day, the podcast will feature “Speak Up, Francine!,” where a polluted creek in Elwood City inspires Francine to get the word out about the importance of taking care of the environment.
“We are excited for a new season of the Arthur podcast where kids and families can connect with their favorite characters in new ways,” said Sara DeWitt, Senior Vice President and General Manager, PBS KIDS. “These Arthur episodes continue to build on the PBS KIDS mission of meeting kids where they are with fun and engaging experiences.”
Today’s announcement was made at SXSW EDU during a panel - “Arthur”: Imagining the Series for a New Medium. The panel featured members of the production team at GBH Kids, Gen-Z Media, and distribution partner PRX, describing how the team adapted the iconic television series into a podcast.
“We're honored to be a small part of the continuing success of this beloved classic.” said Ben Strouse, CEO of Gen-Z Media.
Season One of “The Arthur Podcast” premiered on October 6. To date, it has nearly 560,000 downloads and over 5.1 million streams on PBS KIDS platforms. Produced by GBH KIDS and Gen-Z Media, “The Arthur Podcast'' leverages a library of stories and beloved characters that spans 25 years, retelling iconic stories from episodes of the television series in this new audio format. Listeners can submit responses to “Arthur’s Inbox” on the PBS KIDS for Parents website for potential inclusion in future episodes.
The Arthur Podcast It is available for free on the PBS KIDS Video app, the PBS KIDS YouTube Channel, The Arthur YouTube channel, pbskids.org, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and all major podcast listening platforms.
About ARTHUR
ARTHUR, based on the best-selling books by Marc Brown, is television’s longest- running children’s animated series. For 25 seasons, ARTHUR has remained one of the most popular and beloved weekday children’s series on PBS. Easily recognized by its timeless and joyful theme song, the iconic, award winning PBS Kids series has touched audiences around the world with its heartfelt and humorous stories about family, friends, and the challenges of growing up. ARTHUR is produced by GBH Boston. Funding for ARTHUR is provided by public television viewers. Corporate funding is provided by ABCmouse.com and IKEA Retail U.S. For more information, visit pbskids.org/Arthur and follow ARTHUR on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok.
About PBS KIDS
PBS KIDS believes the world is full of possibilities, and so is every child. As the number one educational media brand for kids, PBS KIDS helps children ages 2-8 learn lessons that last a lifetime. Through television, digital media, and community-based programs, PBS KIDS wants children to see themselves uniquely reflected and celebrated in lovable, diverse characters who serve as positive role models, and to explore their feelings and discover new adventures along the way. Families can watch PBS KIDS anytime on the free PBS KIDS 24/7 channel and the PBS KIDS Video app, available on mobile and connected-TV devices, no subscription required. PBS KIDS’ large collection of mobile apps and pbskids.org provide accessible content, including digital games and streaming video to spark kids’ curiosity. PBS KIDS and local stations across the country support the entire ecosystem in which children learn and grow – including their teachers, parents, and community – providing resources to support children’s learning, anytime and anywhere. For more information, visit pbs.org/pressroom, or follow PBS KIDS on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
About GBH Kids
GBH Kids is one of the top producers for public media, creating educational content for kids, parents, caregivers and teachers, including iconic PBS Kids programs such as the award-winning Arthur and Molly of Denali, digital series such as Scribbles and Ink, games, apps and podcasts. GBH Kids, based in Boston, also works closely with PBS LearningMedia, providing digital curricula for more than 2 million teachers across all 50 states. GBH Kids is committed to equity and access to educational media and the healthy development of all children. As the inventor of closed captioning and audio description, GBH is dedicated to making media accessible and inclusive. Find more information at gbh.org/kids
About Gen-Z Media
With its podcasts downloaded millions of times each month by fans of all ages, Gen-Z Media (www.gzmshows.com) creates innovative and original podcast programming that is as relatable as it is surprising, filled with twists, turns, humor, and heart. Among more than two dozen shows and hundreds of hours of free programming for its all-ages family audience, notable podcasts include “Six Minutes,” the most downloaded family audio drama in history; “Tomorrow,” the all-ages sequel to the iconic “Annie” stage play; and the Peabody Award winning classic “Mars Patel.” GZM shows have won nearly all of the major podcasting awards that stand for great quality programming, including the Peabody Award, Best Kids & Family Podcast from the Academy of Podcasters, Parent’s Choice Gold Award, and iTunes Best of the Year, plus notable nominations from the Ambie and Webby awards for Best Kids & Family Podcast of the Year 2022. GZM Shows have also been widely adopted by more than 10,000 middle grade classrooms across the U.S. and Canada as a means of increasing student engagement with diverse ELA curriculum.
