Xploration Station

Xploration Station is an American syndicated programming block that is programmed by Steve Rotfeld Productions, distributed by Fox, and debuted on September 13, 2014. It airs weekends (typically on Saturday mornings), primarily on Fox-affiliated stations. Aimed towards teenagers, the block consists of four half-hour shows focusing on the STEM fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. All of the programs in the two-hour block are produced to meet federally mandated educational programming guidelines[1] (stations carrying the block continue to provide E/I-compliant programs acquired from the syndication market to comply with the full three-hour requirement defined by the Federal Communications Commission for television stations to devote to educational programming each week).

Xploration Station
NetworkSyndicated (primarily Fox stations)
LaunchedSeptember 13, 2014 (2014-09-13)
Country of originUnited States
FormatE/I programming block
Running time2 hours (2014-2016)
3 hours (2016-present)

Boat Rocker Rights owns the shows' international rights.

History

On December 17, 2013, Steve Rotfeld Productions announced that it would launch a two-hour syndicated block of live-action educational programs under the working title Xploration Nation, with Fox Television Stations and Tribune Broadcasting initially set to carry the block across their respective Fox owned-and-operated and affiliated stations. The block, aimed towards teenagers between 13 and 16 years of age, features programs focused on the STEM fields – such as marine biology, astronomy, and animal science.[1][2] Production on one of the four shows, Xploration Outer Space, began in April 2014.[3] The block, by then renamed Xploration Station, premiered on September 13, 2014.[4]

On Fox owned and operated stations, Xploration Station replaced Weekend Marketplace, a two-hour block of infomercials first introduced in January 2009 following the discontinuation of 4Kids TV due to conflicts between Fox and the block's programmer 4Kids Entertainment.[1][5][6]

On January 20, 2015, Fox Television Stations renewed the block for the group's Fox owned-and-operated stations through 2017.[7] The block was made available worldwide with the pick up of non-US distribution by Boat Rocker Rights in February 2016.[8][9]

One of the more notable holdouts for Xploration Station in its first two seasons was Fox's largest affiliate group, Sinclair Broadcast Group. In September 2016, when Sinclair began to carry Xploration Station on their Fox stations and two other Sinclair stations associated with a netlet under a five-year agreement with Steve Rotfeld Productions. While Rotfeld Productions added another hour, or two series, to the block.[10] Also with the third season starting September 10, 2016, Xploration Station returned 3 shows and adding 3 new shows.[11]


Programming

Current
  • Xploration Awesome Planet[2] (September 13, 2014–present): Hosted by Philippe Cousteau Jr., this series features a detailed look at earth science and geology.[12]
  • Xploration DIY Sci, also called DIY Sci, (September 10, 2016–present): A pop-science series featuring the host, Steve Spangler, creating experiments using everyday items.[13] AB Groupe carries the show in France.[14]
  • Xploration Earth 2050 (September 13, 2014–present): This series covers emerging technology. The first season of the series was hosted by Joe Penna.[15] Seasons 2, 3, and 4 are hosted by Chuck Pell,[13] with Season 4 (2018) winning a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Special Class Series, the first Emmy win for Xploration Station.
  • Xploration: Nature Knows Best (September 10, 2016–present): Marine biologist Danni Washington hosts this show about nature based technological advancements.[13] AB Groupe carries the show in France while AMC in Central and Eastern Europe does.[14]
  • Xploration Outer Space (September 13, 2014–present): This series focuses on various aspects of the space industry, including technology, the prospects of a human mission to Mars, and the growing space tourism industry. The program is hosted and produced by Emily Calandrelli, who was scouted by Steve Rotfeld from her YouTube productions for West Virginia University's engineering college.[3] The program was picked up by AB Groupe in France and AMC in Central and Eastern Europe in June 2017.[14]
  • Weird But True! (September 10, 2016–present): A co-production of Rotfeld Production and National Geographic Kids and is based on the magazine's most popular fun-facts feature and book series.[16]
  • Countdown to Apollo (2019): 8 episodes of 30 minutes length.[17]
  • Life 2.0 (August 12, 2020–present): This series covers how new technological advancements are going to impact humanity in the future, such as life extension and exploration to Mars. The show features Michio Kaku, David Andrew Sinclair, and Shara Evans.[18]

Former
  • Xploration Animal Science[2] (formerly Animal Science) (September 13, 2014 – 2016[13]) – This program was originally broadcast in syndication in 2012, and was retooled for broadcast as part of Xploration Station.[19][20]
  • FabLab, became part of the Xploration Station programming block in early 2016[21] as an apparent mid-season replacement for Animal Science.[13] The show has 4 hosts, 3 girls as it is focused toward female tween and teens.[21]

Reception

Animal Science was nominated in 2014 for a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Children's Series.[22][23]

At the 45th Daytime Emmy Awards, Xploration Earth 2050 won the award for Outstanding Special Class Series.[24] At the 46th Daytime Emmy Awards, Weird but True! won the award for Outstanding Education or Informational Series.[25]

References
  1. Paige Albiniak (December 17, 2013). "Fox Stations Add SRP's Two-Hour STEM Block". Broadcasting & Cable. NewBay Media. Retrieved June 29, 2014.
  2. Amanda Kondolojy (December 18, 2013). "Steve Rotfield Clears New Science and Technology Two Hour E/I Block With FOX Station Group". TV by the Numbers. Zap2It (Tribune Digital Ventures. Archived from the original on December 22, 2013. Retrieved June 29, 2014.
  3. "WVU's Calandrelli to Host, Co-Produce TV Show on Fox". West Virginia University. July 24, 2014. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  4. Kelly Gifford (September 13, 2014). "Emily Calandrelli's new frontier". The Boston Globe. Boston Globe Media Partners, LLC. Retrieved October 3, 2014.
  5. "Fox Ends Saturday-Morning Cartoons". The New York Times. The New York Times Company. November 24, 2008. Archived from the original on April 3, 2015. Retrieved January 11, 2009.
  6. Michael Schneider (November 23, 2008). "Longform ads replace kid fare on Fox". Variety. Reed Business Information. Retrieved December 29, 2008.
  7. "Fox O&Os Renew 'Xploration Station'". TVNewsCheck. NewsCheck Media. January 20, 2015. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
  8. Brzoznowski, Kristin (February 24, 2016). "Fox's Syndicated Science Block Xploration Station to Go Global". TV Real. WSN, Inc. Retrieved September 10, 2016.
  9. Dickens, Andrew (February 25, 2016). "Science shows board Boat Rocker". C21 Media. Retrieved September 10, 2016.
  10. Paige Albiniak (March 17, 2015). "Sinclair to Partner With SRP for 'Xploration Station' Starting Fall 2016". Broadcasting & Cable. NewBay Media. Retrieved March 18, 2015.
  11. "Steve Rotfeld Productions Expands 'Xploration Station' Weekend TV Block to 3 hours for 2016-17" (Press release). Philadelphia: Steve Rotfeld Productions. PRWEB. August 31, 2016. Retrieved September 10, 2016.
  12. Todd Longwell (July 30, 2014). "YouTube star Joe Penna boards Fox science show". Realscreen. Brunico Communications. Retrieved August 13, 2014.
  13. "Extra: Lionsgate inks Anderson, C4 builds "Flat Pack" doc". Realscreen. Brunico Communications Ltd. February 12, 2016. Retrieved September 10, 2016.
  14. Middleton, Richard (June 8, 2017). "AB, AMC prepare for Xploration". C21media. Retrieved June 25, 2019.
  15. "MysteryGuitarMan is the latest YouTube star to get his own TV show". The Daily Dot. Retrieved August 13, 2014.
  16. Alessi, Sara (September 9, 2016). "Nat Geo Kids' Weird But True! Lands TV & Radio Shows". TV Kids. World Screen. Retrieved September 10, 2016.
  17. Anderson, By (June 20, 2019). "Three Apollo 11 docs head to U.S. networks | Realscreens". realscreen.com. Retrieved June 21, 2019.
  18. "Xploration Station: Science for everyone | STEM Education Videos". www.xplorationstation.com. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
  19. "2014-2015 Xploration Animal Science - Season I- Press-Program Information Kit — Extreme Reach Syndication". Pathfire.com. Retrieved August 8, 2014.
  20. "Xploration Station - Steve Rotfeld Productions". Steve Rotfeld Productions. Archived from the original on September 7, 2015. Retrieved August 8, 2014.
  21. "Mayim Bialik And Teen Celebrity Supporters Announce FabLab, The First Science Television Series Aimed At 'Tween And Teen Girls, From The Producers Of The Teen Choice Awards" (Press release). LOS ANGELES. PRNewswire. March 3, 2016. Retrieved March 8, 2016.
  22. "Montco TV producers up for daytime Emmys". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia Media Network. June 20, 2014. Retrieved August 13, 2014.
  23. "Daytime Emmy Awards 2014: Complete list of winners and nominees". Los Angeles Times. Tribune Publishing. May 1, 2014. Retrieved August 13, 2014.
  24. Tatu, Christina. "Lower Macungie man wins Emmy for science show". themorningcall.com. Retrieved June 6, 2018.
  25. Hill, Libby (May 6, 2019). "Complete List of Daytime Emmy and Daytime Emmy Creative Arts Awards Winners". IndieWire. Retrieved December 4, 2019.
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