CBS Weekend (stylized as CBS WKND and previously known as CBS Dream Team)[2] is an American children's programming block programmed by Hearst Media Production Group (formerly Litton Entertainment) which airs Saturday mornings on CBS under a time-lease agreement.
 | |
| Network | |
|---|---|
| Launched | September 28, 2013 |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Formerly known as | CBS Dream Team (2013–23) |
| Format | Weekend morning educational program block |
| Running time | 3 hours |
| Original language(s) | English |
| Programmed by Hearst Media Production Group | |
The block features six half-hours of live-action documentary and lifestyle series aimed at adolescents aged 10–19, all of which are designed to comply with educational programming requirements defined by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) under the Children's Television Act.[3]
History
On July 24, 2013, CBS announced that it had entered into a programming agreement with Litton Entertainment to launch a new weekend morning block featuring live-action lifestyle, wildlife, and documentary series aimed tweens/teens aged 10–18.[3] It was the second block programming agreement Litton had made after launching Weekend Adventure for ABC stations in fall two years later. Unlike the ABC deal which in technicality gave the time back to the affiliates to syndicate Litton's programming, the CBS deal for Litton was a traditional time brokerage agreement where CBS retained control over the time given to Litton.
CBS' decision to restructure the block away from the traditional fare of animated and live-action scripted series – which it had been airing at the time of the deal as part of Cookie Jar TV (which had aired on the network in various forms since 2006), a block produced by the Canada-based Cookie Jar Group (now WildBrain), was done in part to comply to secure educational content and advertising regulations in the Children's Television Act.
The CBS Dream Team launched on September 28, 2013. Its initial lineup consisted mainly of newer series, though Recipe Rehab switched from Weekend Adventure to Dream Team for its third season.[4] The American Forces Network carries programming from the block for military children overseas.[1] All of the block's programming features Descriptive Video Service for the visually impaired on the second audio program channel. The block was originally subtitled with the additional wording of "...It's Epic" until the tagline was quietly removed at the start of its 2020-21 season.
On October 7, 2023, the block was rebranded as CBS Weekend, stylized as "CBS WKND" ("WKND" being a disemvoweled abbreviation of "weekend"), bringing the block in line with the current CBS corporate identity, plus renewed for at least the 2023–24 season.[2]
Programming
Although programs featured on CBS WKND are designed to meet federally mandated educational programming guidelines,[5] some CBS stations may carry syndicated educational programs to provide supplementary E/I content. Some programs aired within the block may be deferred to Sunday morning slots, or (in the case of affiliates in the western United States), Saturday afternoons due to breaking news, severe weather coverage, or regional and CBS Sports commitments for coverage of both college football and college basketball, alongside select PGA golf events. Some stations may air the entirety of the block on tape delay to accommodate local weekend morning newscasts, CBS Saturday Morning or other local programming.
Current
| Program | Premiere date | Replaced | Notes | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lucky Dog | September 28, 2013 | Cookie Jar TV programming | Originally hosted by Brandon McMillan. Series would air twice on select stations Longest-running series on the block and the flagship series Eighth season is hosted by dog trainers Eric and Rashi Wiese starting January 2, 2021. Rebroadcasts of seasons 8-9 are now airing in place of All In as of January 7, 2023. Season 11 labeled as Lucky Dog: Reunions The series also aired on Dabl on Sundays until 2024. | [6][7] |
| Recipe Rehab | Cookie Jar TV programming Did I Mention Invention? | Cooking competition series centering on healthy alternatives to family recipes, hosted by Evette Rios and previously aired on Litton's Weekend Adventure First run ended September 26, 2015; reruns returned on October 7, 2023. | [6][8] | |
| The Henry Ford's Innovation Nation | September 27, 2014 | Jamie's 15 Minute Meals | Profiles of inventors and their efforts to create their inventions, hosted by Mo Rocca | [9] |
| Hope In the Wild | September 29, 2018 | Dr. Chris: Pet Vet (rebroadcast) | ||
| Tails of Valor | January 5, 2019 | Pet Vet: Dream Team Lucky Dog (rebroadcast) | Hosted by Kel Mitchell First run ended September 21, 2019; reruns returned on October 7, 2023. | |
| Mission Unstoppable | September 28, 2019 | The Inspectors | Former child actress Miranda Cosgrove hosts profiles of female inventors in science including Kellyn LaCour-Conant | [10][11] |
Former
| Program | Premiere date | End date | Replaced | Replaced by | Notes | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jamie's 15-Minute Meals | September 28, 2013 | September 20, 2014 | Cookie Jar TV programming | Innovation Nation | Cooking series, hosted by Jamie Oliver Originally aired on Channel 4 in the UK | [6] |
| Game Changers with Kevin Frazier | September 24, 2016 | Profiles of the accomplishments of athletes in and outside their sports | [6][12] | |||
| Dr. Chris: Pet Vet | May 25, 2019 | Pet Vet Dream Team (nationally) Hope in the Wild (rebroadcasts) | Documentary series, hosted by Dr. Chris Brown Originally aired on Australia's CBS-owned network, Network Ten, under the title of Bondi Vet | [6] | ||
| All In with Laila Ali | September 24, 2022 | Lucky Dog (rebroadcasts) | Profile series Ended, but still aired for reruns for two years until October 2022 Removed in the 2015–2016 season for five years; When re-aired in 2020, it was placed in the timeslot of Best Friends Furever. | |||
| Chicken Soup for the Soul's Hidden Heroes | October 3, 2015 | June 24, 2017 | Recipe Rehab | A hidden camera series centering on people doing good deeds; hosted by Brooke Burke-Charvet The series also aired on Buzzr every Saturdays. Storrs Media and Telco Productions distribute the Buzzr version of the show. | [13] | |
| The Inspectors | September 21, 2019 | All In | Mission Unstoppable | Drama series centering on Preston Wainwright (played by Bret Green), a paralyzed teenager who helps his postal inspector mother (played by Jessica Lundy) solve crimes First scripted program | ||
| Pet Vet Dream Team | April 7, 2018 | September 24, 2022 | Dr. Chris Pet Vet (nationally) | Did I Mention Invention? | Replaced national runs of Dr Chris: Pet Vet on June 1, 2019 Timeslot replaced with All In, replaced by Did I Mention Invention? | |
| Best Friends Furever | September 28, 2019 | September 26, 2020 | Tails of Valor | All In | [10] | |
| Did I Mention Invention? | October 1, 2022 | September 30, 2023 | Pet Vet Dream Team | Tails of Valor (rebroadcasts) | Profiles of inventors and their efforts to create their inventions, hosted by Alie Ward Originally aired on The CW and The CW Plus |
