Ok,
so…
Here it is…
As of October 1, 2008 Signing Time is no longer on public television anywhere in the country.
I think that statement just needed to hang out there in the world for a minute.
So did that one.
We have been flooded with phone calls and emails from you, our Signing Time Families. The stations have called us too, because many of them do not want to lose our show, they know the difference it is making for their viewers and it is a pretty darn popular show.
So, the question you all have is, “Why?”
If the fans love it and the stations love it, why would we pull it? I don’t know how to answer that without total honesty, a little squirming and dispelling some myths.
But, I believe that the truth will set you free, so here is the truth, squirming and all.
Children’s Television 101:
1. We do not get paid to be on television.
2. We are not paid to make the shows. We pay to produce these shows.
3. To maintain a fresh and successful program we need to produce new shows on a regular basis. Ideally a new season each year. That’s approximately a 1.5 million dollar commitment annually.
4. When I say “we” I mean my sister, Emilie and I.
5. We had hoped to find a corporate sponsor or foundation who understands what we are doing and believes in our mission and would partner with us. To date we have not found that partner. (Yes we have gone after grants as well)
6. A children’s show on public TV cannot advertise a product nor can we direct viewers to an internet site where our products can be purchased. As parents, that is one of the things we love about public television.
Many viewers have no idea that there are DVDs, Music CDs, flash cards, t-shirts and books available to purchase. We could not direct them to www.signingtime.com (where we sell our products) we could only send them to www.signingtimekids.com (where we do not sell our products)
7. We do sell enough Signing Time products to maintain our staff of 8 people, fulfill orders, keep the lights on, etc. We do not sell enough product to fund 13 new episodes annually.
___________________________________________________________________________________
Here’s the bottom line, for the past three years, Emilie and I gave Signing Time to viewers for free on public television. We made that choice because we felt that doing so would have an incredible impact on families across the country. We hoped it would get into homes and in front of children who needed it. We believe in communication for ALL children of ALL abilities. That is what we care about. We also believed that through this national exposure we would find a sponsor.
The truth is that there is no way for two sisters to continue pulling this off without a partnership… or by robbing a bank and sorry guys and girls I am not going to rob a bank. At this point it would be financially irresponsible for us to commit to another year and even worse to consider bank robbing, I mean how would you explain THAT to your kids?
I still believe a like-minded organization or corporation will partner with us in our efforts and that Signing Time will be back on TV. I know the difference we are making in the world and how important that difference is. You know it too or you wouldn’t be reading this.
Now what?
1. Well if you saw Signing Time on public TV, you can sit down and write a note to your station and thank them for airing us. Share with them the difference that it made in your life. See, unlike the shows in the PBS Kids Block that MUST air in a specific order at a certain time, your station was not forced to air Signing Time, it was a choice they made, to share us with you. Over 70% of the public television stations chose to air us! Not too shabby for a couple of sisters in Utah.
2. Make a request to your local libraries, early intervention programs, lending libraries, schools and other organizations to add the Signing Time Library to their offerings.
3. Purchase Signing Time products and tell others who miss seeing us on TV that EVERYTHING (Music CDs, flash cards, t-shirts, board books, of course EVERY single DVD) is available on www.signingtime.com
4. Keep telling your friends, family members and complete strangers the benefits of signing with children and how Signing Time has helped this parenting revolution.
5. As far as a sponsor, think about the people you know and the people they know. The right fit is out there. It is just a matter of finding them and them finding us. You may be the one who makes that connection. We need strong leads, not just a bunch of great ideas. If you feel that you or someone you personally know can make a difference, please have them get in touch with us.
I know there is strength in numbers. Let’s all put our thinking caps on! I can’t wait to announce that Signing Time is back and better than ever!
Thank YOU!
Honestly, the partnership we have had is a partnership with you, our Signing Time customers. Each time you purchase our products, you are letting us know that you appreciate what we are doing and that you want more.
From my family to yours, thank you for your incredible, continuing partnership!
~Rachel, Aaron, Leah and Lucy Coleman
Wow, wow … we just found out. We had been waiting for the new shows, Vincent even submitted a tape! While he is a hearing child, the program he has been involved in (a program for helping special needs children integrate and be prepared for life by surrounding them with “normal” kids and exceptional teachers and education) since he was 6 months old has taught sign. His teachers always thought “Racheal, Alex and Leah” were family members because he talked about you so much. We have always atributed his advanced communication skills with Now that he is 3yrs old he has moved onto a preschool where sign is not taught. The few Signing Times we had on an old DVR are now gone and was looking at purchasing some of the videos because he asks to watch it all the time. I looked on iTunes and only found the songs, no videos. So I went to your website and found this.
Some ideas:
• Noggin would be excellent, as many have said. We watch a bit and its alcking in the signing department although the program The Upsidedown Show has a word on most episodes(yes, only one word!)
• Put the videos on iTunes as well, there is very few signing videos there now.
• Maybe a partnership with someone in the communications field so there is a tie in. AT&T, Sprint, Verizon, T-Mobile, Nokia, SonyEricsson, Motorola, Apple, GoDaddy.com, RosettaStone to name a few.
• The Riverside School for the Deaf is local here and maybe they have some ideas as well as including the videis n their library.
• I will do everything I can through the ties I have.
Don’t give up something will come up, it always does.
Peace and hope for more shows on TV where ever they may be.
Hi, i started my grand baby signing about 3 months with milk we called it baba milk and eat, of course she didn’t do it that young but by 1 to 1/2 she was signing over 50 signs, i have every child’s video i could afford. When i noticed it on net flix i was thrilled, Adriana is 4 know and i will say she did loose some interest but she would still put in her dvd’s, she was thrilled to watch Alex and Lei, She just asked to watch Rachael and i went to put it on, it was gone, i told her i still try to find it. I am so disapointed and so is she, i can’t afford to buy the set and she was so happy to watch signing time
We just found out that the show is no longer on. We too have been waiting for new episodes and were very disappointed to find out that Signing Time won’t be back on TV. We understand why, but still think it stinks. Thank you for helping my son communicate at an early age–he is now 3 and still signs. He is helping his twin infant brothers learn as well.
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I hate that the show is off air. My step daughter isn’t deaf, but atustic. Her school sent home your Leah’s farm video hoping she would learn to sign to help us understand her better. In the end all five of our children and ourselves fell in love with your videos. I’ve even got my cousins and their children hooked. They think it’s amazing that my three year old can sign farm animals and rooms in the house. I’ve talked to a few local libraries and hopefuly they’ll be adding your collections soon. Until your back on air good luck and thank you!!
I am so sorry to hear Signing Time will no longer be on tv…it actually bring tears to my eyes. Singing Time was such a huge part of my family’s lives. Our pediatrition wanted to put my son into speach therepy because he wasn’t talking as much as his twin sister, but after watching a few episodes of Signing Time, he bagan to repeat the words he would hear on the show. I credit Signing Time for teaching my kids the alphabet at such an early age, my kids were able to recognize the complete alphabet in sign and in writing befoer they turned 2. My kids LOVE the songs!! i can’t tell you how many times I’ve sung Leah’s farm or the colors of the rainbow. I’ve even had dreams with the songs playing in the backround!
We raved so much about Signing Time to our family and friends, that many of them have started teaching thier kids sign language.
Thank you for your honesty about why you are no longer on tv. As much as we will all miss you, I would hate to turn on the news to find you and your sister were arrested for a bank robbery to pay for the show. Thank you so much for sharing your family with us. You have no idea how much we’re going to miss you.
Take care, good luck and thank you!!!
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Aww! That sucks! I loved signing time! 🙁 It made such a diffrence in my family’s life.
P.S. Will you still be writing your blog? (plz say yes!)
Speaking for Derick,
“This Show made a big change in my son. He had no intrest in TV until he could see the show as well as read and feel the sounds.
Derick has a chance to be more. And with the support of the Masses mabye he and other Special needs children can grow in a world that will understand what they are trying to say!”
“This is such BS. This show has helped Derick in so many ways. He is now talking in 2-3 word phrases. Along with SIGNING single words for what he wants.”
Quotes from our Facebook Pages.
This sucks that you are not on the air any more. To see my sons face when your show comes on just lite up his world. Please have faith that things will turn around and you WILL be back on the air helping so many. Thank you for all that you have done for my son.
Ryan
Rachel,
Thank you for making such a wonderful show. The part I am not clear on is why you could not just repeatedly show the older shows on TV and make new ones to sell. Wouldn’t this be the best of both worlds, or did the networks not want to keep airing old shows… which would not make any sense since that’s what they do with many other kids shows. We would love to see you back on tv and have bought some dvd’s but can’t afford the whole collection.
Rebecca
I am so sorry that Signing Time will no longer be on but I do understand. I TIVO’d several of your episodes and my daughter loves them. I actually can’t get her to watch anything else. I tried to put on Sesame St. the other day (I thought she might be getting sick of watching the same few episodes over and over) but she wanted no parts of it. She asked for Signing Time. Her verbal vocabulary has flourished since she began signing. I recommend Signing Time to everyone I know with children. It was so good to find an educational show like yours and it will be greatly missed.
I miss your show so much. Have you found any sponsors yet? What about Washington? Have you found a way to get your word to the President?? He believes in education… I think your message and way of teaching would do wonders for the public school system. I do keep praying my son and I will turn on the TV and find you there soon!
This is aweful! I teach children with Autism and I LOVE signing time and many of them did too!! I am planning on buy the Signing Time Educators edition! It give my students a way of communicating! I sat and watched it on the weekends and Im 23 years old! I keep hoping it will reappear on my TV!
WOW Now I get it! Thanks for letting us know the truth. I’m sad because I wouldn’t purchase it as my kids are getting to old for it but my daughter LOVED watching it on TV it was her favorite show! And she was 4! She did sign as a baby but now does only for fun.
I can’t believe you guys were doing that for free!! That is amamzing!! Thank you for sharing what you did, and I really hope you get a sponsor. We stopped watching for awhile because my son was getting too old for it, but I had another baby, and went to find your show, and it was gone….I was very disappointed!! I completely understand why you had to pull it, thank you for keeping it on as long as you did. You are wonderful!!
Hi! My 17 month old daughter just LOVES your videos! She calls them her “Show”! We have been renting them from the library, but they are on our Christmas wishlist. Have you ever thought of going on the show “Shark Tank” to see if you could get a corporate sponsor in order to go back on TV? It may be an avenue worth exploring since you are so successful and your DVDs are SO beneficial. We have been doing sign with our daughter since she was 4 months, with dismay from my parents, but now that they have seen her signing since 10 months they think it is awesome!
I just found your web site by mistake. and oh my I just love it. I have a 1 year old daughter and she takes up all my time. and all i want to do is to teach her all i can. i taught her a few signs and she picked it up. and I am buying some DvD’s. And I just wanted to say’s thanks for all your hard work. May God bless you and your family.
My 4 yr loved this show. She went back to daycare when she was one and has remembered things she saw 3 yrs ago on t.v. I will miss them show alot and hope everything works out and we see you guys again.
Hold tight… new info coming soon 😀
I hope it was good news. 🙂
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The first time I heard Rachel singing while the kids were watching a Nick Jr show I was astonished & thrilled. I hold out hope that Nickelodeon will pick up the entire show! Fingers crossed that you find the partner you need to keep this fantastic program going!
We just discovered your show on Netflix. We love it! When we watch it as a family, we learn so much! We don’t have anyone deaf in the family, but we like sign language as a viable second language. We used baby sign with my daughter when she was little, and she really caught on to it. I wanted to find a group or some way to continue the education with her, but never did. Wish I would have found Signing Time earlier!
This is exactly the kind of show we look for, and I really wish it was back on. Isn’t this the kind of show PBS should be producing?!!
Bill Gates sponsors Education. This show is amazing. My son is almost two years old and when I noticed that this show was on Netflix, he absolutly loves this show! He likes to jump to the Hopkins Hop. 🙂 I know it’s been a while since you first aired, but if you are interested in still doing the show, I would attempt to get gates involved. Your show is exceptionally good for children. I personally want to become an ASL Interpreter. But with your show, I just want to say thank you!
Sincerely,
The mother of a Fan 🙂
I have stumbled upon your Signing Time show on PBS. I am a hearing person who was a Sign Language student for about 3 years at Riverside Community College and CSUN. A year after graduating from CSUN I was able to obtain my dream job at CSDR – working as a residential counselor for 15 years and 11 years working as a T.A. I taught my hearing daughter ASL which she loved learning and I attribute to her overall learning as a student. I was recently asked to tutor a hearing family who has a hearing child that was injured and has lost their hearing ability. I am researching how best serve the needs of this family as they learn ASL. I suspect I will be using your what I can find on Netflix – which I see is only the 1st season.
While Netflix refers to it as Season 1, since it is the first clips of Signing Time aired there, it is actually OUR Season 2 and only about 20% of what we really offer. Visit www.signingtime.com to see what we have and the flow of the episodes will make much more sense than what you find on Netflix. I do believe our contract with Netflix has just expired (or is about to) you can get us digitally on www.signingtime.com/ondemand ~Rachel
Hello there…..We Love your show Signing Time with Alex and Leah!!!! My son is now 4 years old and when he was 2 years old we found out he has Austium and he could not speak at all. And , he has been learning sign language and has been talking and signing for a year now. He loves your show and has to watch it everyday and many of them over and over again! Great show!!!
Hope you will be making some new ones! I know the kids are grown up now and older but we have older children and they love signing with their little brother. He would love to see the big kids signing in the show! Thanks and you guys are wonderful!
All these years… we are watching Signing Time on Netflix. We love it… thanks for all you did. My three year old liked it as an infant and still does!!! 🙂 God Bless!!!
My son is turning 3 later this month (march, 2016). His sitter stumbled upon a single Baby Signing Time DVD a couple years ago, and ever since, my son cannot soak in enough signing time! He watches the clips on youtube kids app, and watches a couple DVDs the sitter now has. He wants more. For his birthday he actually asked for signing time movies. Thank you SOOO much for the efforts (and more) that you all put in to these shows….they are WONDERFUL! They are high quality, catchy, and enjoyable to watch. We love to sing the hat, coat, socks & shoes song 🙂 I was surfing the web today to see if I could find the videos on dish, etc. when I stumbled across this page. Just know that you are still making a difference!
I should add that he requests to watch it for his bedtime activity regularly as well 🙂
My daughter loves Signing Time. We first found Signing Time on Netflix. I’m very sad that it’s no longer available there. Before it ended, I began buying season 1 from your website and have the first 4-5 episodes, thinking I could alternate with what was on Netflix. Well, it may take a few years, but we’re planning on completing the collection. My daughter’s most favorite is Signing Time Christmas. She still asks to watch it everyday since we purchased it in December ’15 and she turned 2 in February of this year. She has Glory! memorized. It melts my heart to have her know the true story of Christmas at such a young age. She knows her colors, numbers, shapes, and alphabet, as well as the different sports and fruits from “Rainbow Salad”. I attribute this to Signing Time. Not that I haven’t worked with her, but literally Rachel, the child hangs on every word you say. We also know all about the potty, but we are choosing to ignore our body when it’s time to go potty. Lol hopefully that will come soon.
This is probably too little too late, but have you thought about applying to go on Shark Tank? You would be an especially interesting story, with an existing fan base, so I would think it would be worth a shot.
Best wishes, and thank you for all you have done for my daughter!
I loved watching your show daily on PBS here in Tulsa, Okla. I would like to be an Interpreter someday. I began taking ASL in 2004 @ Tulsa Community College, I did nor get to complete the course. I completed Sign language 1 and Sign language 2. I was paying my own tuition @ the time, but I had to retire from both of my jobs due to unforeseen circumstances , I currently do not have the funds to complete my schooling at this time. I am an avid fan of Signing Time and I share what signs I can remember and teach people what I know because they seem to love when I sign: “nice to meet you,” “Thank you,” “you’re welcome,” “same ,” etc…I am praying a Sponsor or two will invest in Signing Time, it will be well worth their time and money.
Wow I had no idea that it wasn’t showing anymore. My son is 3 and he enjoyed watching and learning from u and all the kids. I understand about money situation. I’m a single parent. I get child support and help from the state with food and health insurance and it isn’t much but I do my best with what I can. I hope to be working again but it will take time cause of a health problem I had gotten after having my son. I wish I could purchase ur DVDs but at this time it is a struggle. I hope u and ur sister get a sponsor or two that would be as loving and caring as the two of u to get Signing Time back cause there is so many children and there family that is in a more difficult situation then I am in and I hope they will get the opportunity to see that powerful and magic experience that Signing Time brought into this home. Best of luck and a prayer for this to happen again.
Sincerely,
Crystal Nauert & my son Dominic Nauert
I am a therapist. While obtaining my graduate degree I ran a daycare and my children loved watching your show. I would love to see it come back to the children of the world. My own son suffered from speach difficulties as a toddler and your show eliminated the frustration tantrums because he was finally able to communicate his basic needs. Just an idea, but.. have you ever thought about a podcast show. You can get sponsors or advertise to get funded. You can get ad money by doing a youtube version of the same great show. My son is 12 and no longer has a need to sign as he finally started speaking. But, would or have you looked into those options?
Hello I’m trying to buy the dvds for my son (To make it apart of our homeschool curriculum) I went to the Amazon link and it says that you guys don’t make them anymore is this true? I would love to buys the dvds please get back to me I have also messaged the the sign time contract for help.