TOP 10 IN 2010 - TVO Announces Accomplishments for the Year

TORONTO, Dec. 20 /CNW/ - TVO is ending the year on a high note by announcing its Top 10 achievements of 2010. These accomplishments contribute to TVO's core priorities of preparing kids for success in school, helping parents to be their child's first and best teacher and building a more engaged citizenry.

"TVO continues to reach new audiences in more ways than ever before - on TV, online and in the community," said CEO Lisa de Wilde. "Guided by our educational mandate, we're proud to help build a society that promotes learning and active citizenship."

Here's TVO's Top Ten for 2010 (in chronological order):

1. TVO became the first Canadian broadcaster to launch an early-learning iPhone app - Melvin's Marvellous Words. This app is a fun and interactive literacy game parents can trust.
   
   
2. CEO Lisa de Wilde launched a new philanthropic campaign for TVO called GO PUBLIC in a speech to The Economic Club of Canada. GO PUBLIC is designed to build a movement of people who support strong public educational media for Ontario.
   
   
3. The Agenda with Steve Paikin: On the Road visited London, Brockville and Timmins in 2010. A powerful combination of social media, face-to-face idea exchange and live TV the tour has helped thousands of Ontarians participate in public discourse. In 2011 it heads to Ottawa, Hamilton, Niagara Falls and Sudbury to find out what issues Ontarians think should form the debate for the upcoming provincial election.
   
   
4. In June TVO was thrilled to be the media partner when Professor Stephen Hawking, the world's most famous living scientist, delivered an exclusive presentation at Canada's Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics. The special televised event was part of TVO's on-going commitment to promoting science, math and technology literacy in Ontario.
   
   
5. TVO announced exciting new partnerships with RIM and Rogers On Demand. In an exclusive arrangement with RIM, TVOKids launched four new BlackBerry® video podcast channels focusing on the hard‐to‐teach subjects of math and science. TVO also launched on Rogers On Demand.
   
   
6. TVO turned 40. TVO kicked off its 40^th anniversary year in September. A number of special initiatives were announced, including the upcoming launch of TVO's digital Public Archive (February, 2011).
   
   
7. TVO's YouTube channel reached 1 million video streams. It offers people a unique way to connect with content like Saturday Night at the Movies, Allan Gregg in Conversation, Search Engine, The Agenda with Steve Paikin and TVOParents.
   
   
8. TVO brought home two special awards at the Geminis: Polka Dot Door, TVO's groundbreaking TV series which ran from 1971-1993, was honoured with the 2010 MasterWorks Award. Broke., produced in association with TVO, was awarded the Donald Brittain Award for Best Social/Political Documentary.
   
   
9. The TVO-Sinking Ship Entertainment co-production Dino Dan won the Shaw Rocket Prize for Best Children's, Youth or Family Program in Canada. And to support TVO's GO PUBLIC fundraising campaign, Sinking Ship Entertainment donated $25,000 of the prize to TVO.
   
   
10. TVO's popular lecture series Big Ideas opened and closed the year with podcasts at the top of the iTunes Higher Education chart. In November Big Ideas held its customary #1 position in the Higher Education category on iTunes Canada. Of the top 10 Higher Education podcasts, Big Ideas filled nine spots. It was also the #1 rated podcast in the broader Education category.  And it was the # 18 podcast on the list of ALL iTunes podcasts.

About TVO

TVO is Ontario's public educational media organization and a trusted source of interactive educational content that informs, inspires and stimulates curiosity and thought. Celebrating 40 years in 2010, TVO's vision is to empower people to be engaged citizens of Ontario through educational media. TVO is funded primarily by the Province of Ontario and supported by thousands of donors. For more information, please visit tvo.org.

Where to Find TVO

On air: Cable channel 2 (may vary in some areas), Rogers TVO HD channel 580 Bell TV channel 265 Star Choice channel 353

Websites: tvo.org tvokids.com tvoparents.com ilc.org

Online: Yahoo! YouTube Rogers On Demand Rogers On Demand Online iTunes

Connect: Facebook Twitter

Media contact:
Lesley Slack
TVO, Corporate Relations
Phone: [phone] x 2281
[email protected]