KVIE and PBS announced today the release of PBS for iPad and soon to-be-released PBS App for the iPhone and iPod touch. Both apps make PBS video and KVIE scheduling information available anywhere, anytime. These efforts continue KVIE’s transformation into a multi-platform media leader serving Northern California through television, mobile, the Web, and other platforms, including classroom interactive whiteboards.

PBS is premiering the first episode of its multi-part series CIRCUS (www.pbs.org/circus) on PBS for iPad. The episode is available for streaming beginning today, in advance of the broadcast premiere on KVIE (ch. 6) on November 3 at 9pm.

These new apps build on successful initiatives that KVIE and PBS have rolled out over the last two years to advance public media content. These include the introduction of KVIE’s video player, featuring hours of full-length video of local productions and PBS’ most renowned, award-winning programs.

PBS KIDS currently has six iPad and iPhone apps for children (www.pbskids.org/mobile) on the App Store. In addition, PBS KIDS has introduced a subscription-based teaching tool for home and classroom (www.pbskidsplay.org), a suite of interactive whiteboard games (www.pbskids.org/whiteboard), and nearly 1,000 free, educational games (www.pbskids.org and www.pbskidsgo.org).

“The opportunity to share local KVIE content from Northern California with a national audience as part of a robust public media content strategy is unprecedented,” said David Lowe,KVIE President and General Manager. “Built on public media’s local-national model, this next generation of services delivers content in vital areas, such as local news, local arts, and children’s educational media to PBS.org’s 20 million monthly users and across mobile devices. KVIE is excited to be part of this movement with PBS to transform the way Americans access quality local stories that impact the country.”

PBS’ apps are free and deliver KVIE’s calendar and scheduling details, promotional highlights and full-length videos.

PBS for iPad is designed for viewing of full-length PBS programs, including Frontline, Nature, NOVA, Masterpiece, Antiques Roadshow, PBS Newshour, Need to Know, Secrets of the Dead, History Detectives, and Austin City Limits. PBS for iPad also features web-original productions such as Secret Life of Scientists from NOVA scienceNOW and FutureStates from Independent Lens.

The PBS App for the iPhone and iPod touch will help viewers stay connected with KVIE and will permit them to watch previews of the day’s program highlights, video shorts, and full-length video.

PBS for iPad is available today from the Apple App Store at www.itunes.com/appstore/. The PBS App for the iPhone and iPod touch will be available in early November.

Disclosure: Sheryl Brown is the Marketing Communications Manager KVIE Public Television