PBS Kids

PBS Kids (previously known as PTV Park, or simply PTV) is an American digital broadcast and online television network, as well as a programming block on PBS.

The channel has existed twice: 6th September 1999 to 15th September 2005, and 16th January 2017 and onward.

The programming block began airing Thomas & Friends in the form of Shining Time Station in 1989 until its cancellation. Following a deal with HiT Entertainment, Thomas & Friends later returned to PBS Kids on 5th September 2004 airing on Sundays. While the show was originally only on Sundays, the show was moved to air weekdays on the PBS Kids Go block on some stations in 2012. The show had its PBS prints updated on 8th June 2013 to accommodate a few changes made to the block. In October 2013, the show was moved to a daily schedule on all stations instead of only on Sundays, the show also got a page on the PBS Kids website around this time. Starting in December 2017, Mattel announced they would revoke PBS' broadcasting rights to air Thomas & Friends, resulting in most PBS stations dropping the show after 31st December 2017, though a few are known to air it until 10th January 2018, when PBS' rights were entirely lost. The Thomas & Friends page on the PBS Kids website was also removed shortly after broadcasting rights were lost, with Journey Beyond Sodor being the the last special to air on PBS before the discontinuation of the show on PBS Kids. Around the time the rights to show Thomas on PBS ended, Nickelodeon and Nick Jr. aired the show in the US for a limited time in December 2017 and full time from 12th March 2018 until 30th December 2019, when Nickelodeon lost the rights to air the series, Pinkalicious & Peterrific replaces it on February 19, 2018. Since Nickelodeon lost the rights to air the show, the original series no longer airs in the US, though a reboot, Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go! does air on Cartoon Network/Cartoonito in the US since 13th September 2021.

Productions

Season 6 (2005; uncompleted)
Season 7 (2004-2005; uncompleted)
Season 8 (2004)
Season 9 (2005)
Season 10 (2006)
Season 11 (2007-2008)
Season 12 (2008)
Hero of the Rails (2009)
The Great Discovery (2010)
Misty Island Rescue (2010)
Season 13 (2010)
Season 14 (2010-2011)
Day of the Diesels (2011)
Season 15 (2011)
Season 16 (2012)
Blue Mountain Mystery (2012)
King of the Railway (2013)
Season 17 (2013-2014)
Tale of the Brave (2014)
Season 18 (2014-2016)
The Adventure Begins (2015)
Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure (2015)
Season 19 (2015-2016; uncompleted)
The Great Race (2016)
Season 20 (2016-2017; uncompleted)
Journey Beyond Sodor (2017)

Funding Credits

Season 8

Amtrak

Season 9

Amtrak
Learning Curve

Season 12

Lego Duplo

Season 14

Kids Spinbrush

Season 16

Kids Spinbrush
Hard Rock Hotel

Season 17

Hard Rock Hotel

Airings

2009

(13th September 2009) - Hero of the Rails

2010

(6th June 2010) - The Great Discovery
(29th August 2010) - Misty Island Rescue
(5th September 2010) - Creaky Cranky / Double Trouble
(12th September 2010) - Tickled Pink / Slippy Sodor
(19th September 2010) - Play Time / The Early Bird
(26th September 2010) - Thomas and the Pigs / The Lion of Sodor
(3rd October 2010) - Time for a Story / Percy's Parcel
(10th October 2010) - Steamy Sodor / The Biggest Present of All
(17th October 2010) - Splish, Splash, Splosh! / Snow Tracks
(24th October 2010) - A Blooming Mess / Henry's Good Deeds
(31st October 2010) - Thomas and the Runaway Kite / Buzzy Bees
(7th November 2010) - Toby's New Whistle / Hiro Helps Out
(14th November 2010) - Thomas' Tall Friend / James in the Dark
(21st November 2010) - Charlie and Eddie / Toby and the Whistling Woods
(28th November 2010) - Henry's Health and Safety / Henry's Magic Box
(5th December 2010) - Diesel's Special Delivery / Pingy Pongy Pick Up
(12th December 2010) - Being Percy / Victor Says Yes
(19th December 2010) - Thomas' Crazy Day / Thomas and the Snowman Party
(26th December 2010) - Thomas and Scruff / Jumping Jobi Wood!

2011

(2nd January 2011) - O the Indignity / Pop Goes Thomas
(9th January 2011) - Thomas in Charge / Jitters and Japes
(16th January 2011) - Merry Misty Island / Merry Winter Wish
(21st August 2011) - Day of the Diesels
(2nd October 2011) - Gordon and Ferdinand / Toby and Bash
(9th October 2011) - Percy's New Friends / Emily and Dash
(16th October 2011) - James to the Rescue / Happy Hiro
(23rd October 2011) - Henry's Happy Coal / Edward the Hero
(30th October 2011) - Let it Snow / Percy the Snowman
(6th November 2011) - Stop that Bus! / Spencer the Grand
(13th November 2011) - Big Belle / Stuck on You
(20th November 2011) - Wonky Whistle / Up, Up and Away!
(27th November 2011) - Surprise, Surprise / Tree Trouble
(4th December 2011) - Kevin the Steamie / Fiery Flynn

2012

(1st April 2012) - Race to the Rescue / Bust My Buffers!
(8th April 2012) - Ol' Wheezy Wobbles / Thomas and the Sounds of Sodor
(15th April 2012) - Thomas and the Garbage Train / Sodor Surprise Day
(22nd April 2012) - Thomas Toots the Crows / Muddy Matters
(29th April 2012) - Percy and the Calliope / Happy Birthday Sir!
(6th May 2012) - Percy and the Monster of Brendam / Flash Bang Wallop!
(13th May 2012) - Emily's Winter Party Special / Salty's Surprise
(20th May 2012) - Welcome Stafford / Don't Bother Victor!
(16th September 2012) - Blue Mountain Mystery
(23rd September 2012) - The Christmas Tree Express / Ho Ho Snowman
(30th September 2012) - Express Coming Through / Whiff's Wish

2013

(15th September 2013) - King of the Railway
(7th October 2013) - The Lost Puff / Steamie Stafford
(8th October 2013) - Too Many Fire Engines / Gordon Runs Dry
(9th October 2013) - Scruff's Makeover / Wayward Winston
(10th October 2013) - Kevin's Cranky Friend / Henry's Hero
(11th October 2013) - Calm Down Caitlin / Luke's New Friend
(22nd October 2013) - The Phantom Express / Percy's Lucky Day
(9th December 2013) - The Missing Christmas Decorations / Santa's Little Engine
(10th December 2013) - No Snow for Thomas / The Frozen Turntable

2014

(17th March 2014) - The Thomas Way / The Switch
(18th March 2014) - Bill or Ben? / Not Now, Charlie!
(3rd November 2014) - Tale of the Brave
(4th November 2014) - Flatbeds of Fear / Disappearing Diesels
(5th November 2014) - Away From the Sea / Gone Fishing
(6th November 2014) - The Afternoon Tea Express / The Smelly Kipper
(7th November 2014) - No More Mr. Nice Engine / Thomas' Shortcut
(17th December 2014) - Duncan the Humbug / The Perfect Gift
(18th December 2014) - Last Train for Christmas / Long Lost Friend

2015

(9th March 2015) - Marion and the Pipe / Missing Gator
(10th March 2015) - Duncan and the Grumpy Passenger / Spencer's VIP
(11th May 2015) - The Adventure Begins
(12th May 2015) - Old Reliable Edward / Not So Slow Coaches
(13th May 2015) - Toad's Adventure / Duck and the Slip Coaches
(14th May 2015) - Thomas the Quarry Engine / Duck in the Water
(15th May 2015) - Signals Crossed / Thomas and the Emergency Cable
(18th May 2015) - No Steam Without Coal / Toad's Bright Idea
(12th October 2015) - Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure
(13th October 2015) - Who's Geoffrey? / The Truth About Toby
(14th October 2015) - Lost Property / Henry Spots Trouble

2016

(9th May 2016) - Timothy and the Rainbow Car / Samson Sent for Scrap
(10th May 2016) - Marion and the Dinosaurs / Millie and the Volcano
(11th May 2016) - Emily Saves the World / Samson at Your Service
(12th May 2016) - Toad and the Whale / Very Important Sheep
(13th May 2016) - Salty All at Sea / Den and Dart
(17th October 2016) - The Great Race
(18th October 2016) - Slow Stephen / Two Wheels Good
(19th October 2016) - Reds vs. Blues / Best Engine Ever
(20th October 2016) - The Little Engine Who Raced Ahead / Philip to the Rescue
(21st October 2016) - Sidney Sings / Diesel and the Ducklings
(12th December 2016) - A Cranky Christmas / Snow Place Like Home
(13th December 2016) - Helping Hiro / The Beast of Sodor
(14th December 2016) - Diesel's Ghostly Christmas
(15th December 2016) - Letters to Santa / Love Me Tender
(16th December 2016) - The Railcar and the Coaches / Saving Time

2017

(17th November 2017) - Journey Beyond Sodor / Mucking About

Trivia

When Series 6 was aired on PBS Kids, it was edited to fit in with the later episodes of the show, including new music and narration. These versions have never been released again.
The KCET PBS stations usually aired Shining Time Station Monday Through Thursday at 11:30 AM in the mid 90's
Most PBS stations in the 2000's aired Thomas and Friends at 6:00 AM

Gallery

Logos

To-do: add the Dot version of the logo as well as production logos seen after Thomas & Friends.

Funding Screen

Advertisements and Promos

PBS Kids Thomas & Friends Promo (2005)

PBS Kids Promo- Thomas & Friends (2013 KQED+)

PBS Kids Promo Thomas And Friends To The Rescue Week March 17