WNED’s READING RAINBOW RECEIVES FOUR EMMY AWARDS
Wins “Outstanding Children’s Series” Emmy for the Ninth Time

Buffalo, New York– WNED announced that READING RAINBOW, the critically acclaimed and perennially popular children’s television series hosted by LeVar Burton on PBS, was awarded its ninth Emmy for Outstanding Children’s Series. The award was made during the 32 nd Annual Daytime Emmy Creative Arts Awards Ceremony held in New York and Los Angeles, Friday, May 14, 2005.

The category for which LeVar Burton is nominated, Outstanding Performer in a Children’s Series, will be broadcast on Friday night, May 20 on ABC-TV.

READING RAINBOW is a production of WNED-TV , Buffalo and GPN/Nebraska ETV Network, and is produced by On Screen Entertainment of New York City.

“Winning the Outstanding Children’s Series Emmy is always a thrill. And because after 22 years of being on-air READING RAINBOW continues to be loved by children and parents, I know we aren’t the only ones celebrating,” expressed the series founder and executive producer Twila Liggett, Ph.D.

READING RAINBOW also won three Emmys for: Outstanding Writing in a Children’s Series, Outstanding Achievement in Single Camera Editing, and Outstanding Achievement in Single Camera Photography. These recent wins bring the series’ total Emmy Award count to 24.

“I am so proud of the creative team and am grateful for the recognition of this important series. Of all the projects I’ve been associated with throughout the years, I’m most proud of my work with READING RAINBOW,” said LeVar Burton, co-executive producer and series host.

READING RAINBOW ranks among the longest running, most-watched and best-loved kids’ shows in the history of public television. Designed to inspire children’s imaginations and love of reading, the series is a fast-paced, daily half-hour, magazine style series encouraging a love of reading in children, and building lasting connections between children and books.

" READING RAINBOW is a Buffalo treasure that keeps bringing home the gold,” said Donald K. Boswell, President and CEO of WNED. “It was rewarding to win another Emmy this year. Reading Rainbow’s ability to educate children about important issues and ideas--all in a sensitive, creative and moving way--is exactly what makes the series so special and enduring!"

“The production of these five shows was made possible by the generous underwriting of The Children’s Place, who responded to LeVar’s 2003 Emmy acceptance when he laid out the struggle READING RAINBOW had in finding funding,” explained Twila Liggett. “Without The Children’s Place and PBS, these episodes would not have been made, and we are very thankful for their support.”

Funding for the series is provided by public television viewers and the Children’s Place Retail Stores, Inc ., which is a leading specialty retailer of children’s merchandise. The Company designs, contracts to manufacture and sells high-quality, value-priced merchandise under the proprietary “The Children’s Place” and licensed “Disney Store” brand names.  

Visit READING RAINBOW on the web – www.pbskids.org/readingrainbow offers a wealth of series related activities for children and information for parents, www.readingrainbow.org has a wide variety of educational resources for each episode in the series.

Through WNED-TV, ThinkBright TV, Classical 94.5/WNED-FM and WNED-AM 970 The Information Station, the member-supported Western New York Public Broadcasting Association provides high quality programming and services that enlighten, inspire, entertain and educate our communities.