Content area
Full Text
The New York-based public broadcasting station, WNET 13, is counting on some youthful participation in its newest fund-raising venture: the Store of Knowledge, which features science and PBS-themed toys.
For kids and adults, actually. Barney shares shelf space with classical CDs and the Moosewood cookbook. There are videos of popular series such as "Masterpiece Theater" along with IQ-booster books and puzzles, games, and science kits.
The store opened at Garden State Plaza in late summer but celebrated its official launching last weekend. It is part of a chain owned by California-based Lakeshore Learning Materials and the venture capital firm Riordan, Lewis, and Haden.
The chain partners with PBS stations, which receive either a percentage of revenues or a fixed amount for their affiliations.
Each station works out an individual contract, said Jennifer Fischer, a Store of Knowledge spokeswoman. Store of Knowledge pays all start-up costs and runs the stores.
Tom Conway, the vice president and chief financial officer at Thirteen/WNET, said the partnership "provides not only a service to our members but also essentially extends our reach.
"Our relationship is that we have an ownership interest" in return for certain promotional activity, such as mentions of the chain in Thirteen's viewer guide, he added. Conway declined to disclose the percentage of equity.