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WQED Pittsburgh Officially Christens Fred Rogers Studio, Gives Public Final Chance to Tour 'Mister Rogers' Neighborhood'

PITTSBURGH, Nov. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- It has been more than four decades since the late Fred Rogers began producing his ground-breaking children's television program, "Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood." Since then, the show has entertained and educated millions of children across the country and around the world. On Friday, November 6, WQED-TV in Pittsburgh paid tribute to Rogers and his legacy by christening studio A -- the home of "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" throughout its original run (1969-2001) -- as the new Fred Rogers Studio.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20091106/NE07115LOGO )

To mark the occasion, WQED-TV reassembled the original "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood of Make-Believe" set, placed it in studio A as it appeared during the show's production, and held a preview event on Friday, November 6. On hand for the christening were: Deborah L. Acklin, chief operating officer of WQED; David Miles, president and CEO of the Children's Institute of Pittsburgh, which served as the primary sponsor for the studio tour event; Bill Isler, CEO of Family Communications, Inc., the production company founded by Fred Rogers; employees of both Family Communications, Inc., and WQED-TV; and other special guests from throughout the Pittsburgh community.

"Fred Rogers left an indelible mark on television and children's programming, and at WQED, he was like a father figure," said Acklin. "His name is now attached to the studio that served as the home for his pioneering children's television program. In this way, his legacy will live on."

As part of the celebration, WQED-TV (4802 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213) will host public tours of the Fred Rogers Studio and "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" on Saturday, November 7 and Sunday, November 8 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET. This will be the final opportunity for the public to tour the set in its original studio set-up.

For complete weekend event details, go to www.wqed.org/neighborhood-of-make-believe.

ABOUT WQED PITTSBURGH

WQED Pittsburgh, honored with the 2007 and 2006 Mid-Atlantic Emmy® Award for Station Excellence, was founded in 1954 as the nation's first community-supported broadcaster. The people of WQED create, produce and distribute quality programs, products and services to engage, inform, educate and entertain the public in Pittsburgh and around the world. WQED Pittsburgh is one of the first broadcasters in the country to have high-definition studio and field production capabilities. It is the parent company of WQED-TV (PBS); WQED: The Neighborhood Channel; WQED: The Create Channel; WQEX-TV (A ShopNBC affiliate); Classical WQED-FM 89.3/Pittsburgh; Classical WQEJ-FM 89.7/Johnstown; WQED Interactive; and The WQED Education Department. For more information, please visit www.wqed.com.

ABOUT FAMILY COMMUNICATIONS, INC.

Family Communications, Inc., was founded in 1971 by Fred Rogers to Produce "Mister Roger's Neighborhood." Today, the company works in a variety of media to promote the social, emotional and intellectual development of children, encourage open and honest communication with and about children, strengthen relationships among children and adults, and support parents and other caregivers as well as teachers and other professionals.

ABOUT THE CHILDREN'S INSTITUTE

Established in 1902, The Children's Institute is an independent, nonprofit, licensed organization in Pittsburgh dedicated to promoting the well-being of children, young people and their families and to providing services that meet their special needs. The unique comprehensive approach of The Children's Institute -- hospital, school, adoption service -- sets the organization apart from others in western Pennsylvania. In fiscal year 2008, The Children's Institute served more than 6,500 children and their families and provided approximately $4.5 million in uncompensated care.

    Contact: Rosemary Martinelli
             412-622-6433
             rmartinelli@wqed.org

             Jeff Donaldson
             412-642-7700
             pr@wqed.org

SOURCE WQED Pittsburgh