{"id":340687,"date":"2017-05-12T00:15:26","date_gmt":"2017-05-11T16:15:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/techcrunch.com\/?p=1488485"},"modified":"2017-05-12T00:15:26","modified_gmt":"2017-05-11T16:15:26","slug":"twitch-taps-into-nostalgia-with-plans-to-stream-mister-rogers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/people.utm.my\/asmawisham\/twitch-taps-into-nostalgia-with-plans-to-stream-mister-rogers\/","title":{"rendered":"Twitch taps into nostalgia with plans to stream \u201cMister Rogers\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Twitch is now going to stream PBS\u2019s\u00a0\u201cMister Rogers\u2019 Neighborhood.\u201d Yes, the classic kids\u2019 show is being made available to the mostly adult users of the Amazon-owned video game streaming site. Why? Well, a\u00a0couple of reasons. For starters, Twitch already has a deal with PBS Distribution<\/a> which has allowed it to stream a number of classic TV programs, including \u201cBob Ross\u2019 The Joy of Painting,\u201d \u201cJulia Child\u2019s The French Chef,\u201d and \u201cCosmos: A Personal Voyage.\u201d Plus,\u00a0the company is trying to expand into other verticals beyond gaming, and this helps to continue that mission.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s a bit of kitschy feel to running a \u201cMister Rogers\u201d marathon, however. While obviously today\u2019s audience is a sucker for blasts from the past \u2013 just look at all the reboots and the revivals of favorite TV shows, for instance \u2013 the other PBS shows Twitch has\u00a0aired were at least aimed<\/em> at grown-ups.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s not to take away from \u201cMister Rogers\u201d legacy or appeal \u2013 Fred Rogers broke ground in children\u2019s television, and endeared himself to millions in the process. He helped\u00a0kids learn to process their feelings, even when difficult; he didn\u2019t shy away from topics other kids\u2019 shows avoided, like death or\u00a0divorce; and he guided kids\u00a0to listen to their inner voices in order to make\u00a0the right choices. (I don\u2019t know, maybe Twitch thinks gamers could use a refresher course on good behavior?)<\/p>\n

But Twitch defends itself from the accusation that\u2019s it\u2019s just milking \u201cMister Rogers’\u201d iconic appeal for a few more eyeballs.<\/p>\n

\u201cMister Rogers not only brings a different type of show into the mix, but it is coming at a time when the importance of PBS is very topical,\u201d Jane Weedon, Director of Business Development at Twitch, tells TechCrunch, referencing the Trump administration\u2019s desire to cut federal funds to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile all of this retro content taps into the appeal of nostalgic programming, the other connecting threads are that these hosts are highly relatable and traffic in optimism,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

Weedon adds\u00a0that \u201cMister Rogers\u201d is a great fit for Twitch as he talks to the audience in a personal way \u2013 much like Twitch\u2019s own video creators do.<\/p>\n

Ehhh, it\u2019s still a stretch.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s be honest: this is straight-up nostalgia play made possible that Twitch already has a deal with\u00a0PBS Distribution. (It won\u2019t detail the deal\u2019s\u00a0terms, but Twitch\u00a0was likely looking for other classic content to feed into its site.)<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

In addition to the \u201cMister Rogers\u201d marathon that begins May 15th and runs through June 3rd, Twitch will use the opportunity to fundraise for PBS, allowing viewers to donate to support their local stations.\u00a0When the marathon wraps, Twitch will continue to air weekly subsets of the content for the next 12 months, then repeat the marathon at a later date, Weedon says.<\/p>\n

Of course, there will also be Mister Rogers\u2019 emotes available, too, which will be available to anyone who subscribes to the channel<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Besides the PBS content, Twitch has made a number of expansions beyond gaming in recent months in order to court YouTube creators and viewers over to its site instead. It launched a section on its site for creative content<\/a> \u2013 like arts & crafts, music, painting, and more. It also created a way for gamers to organize around shared interests,<\/a> including those outside gaming; and it began catering to vloggers with the launch of \u201cIRL.<\/a>\u201d<\/p>\n

Most recently, Twitch\u2019s in-house production studio announced a new live show called FreshStock,<\/a> which celebrates sneaker culture. That seems like a better fit for this audience \u2013 but hey, enjoy reliving your childhood, too.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\"\" Twitch is now going to stream PBS’s\u00a0“Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.” Yes, the classic kids’ show is being made available to the mostly adult users of the Amazon-owned video game streaming site. Why? Well, a\u00a0couple of reasons. For starters, Twitch already has a deal with PBS Distribution which has allowed it to stream a number of classic TV programs, including… Read More<\/a><\/p>\n

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