After five years at PBS, Alice Cahn is getting set to print a new acronym on her business cards. The former director of children’s programming at the American public broadcaster is moving to CTW this month, as group president, television, film and video.

In her new role, she will oversee all the creative development and production for television, audio and home video, as well as future film projects for CTW. Cahn will also be joining CTW’s operating business team where she will report to Gary Knell, executive VP, operations for the Children’s Television Workshop. CTW has been a major contributor of children’s programming to PBS over the years, and Cahn says that familiarity with the quality of CTW productions is one reason why she decided to make the move.

‘I’ve had an enormously wonderful experience at PBS, and now I’d ready to take on a new challenge,’ she says. ‘I’m fortunate to be going to Children’s Television Workshop, a leader in the world of quality programming for kids.’

She also hopes the new position will give her a chance to learn about the industry from a different perspective.’For five years, I have been at the broadcasting end of the business, and now I will be one of the suppliers,’ she says. ‘That challenge is something I’m looking forward to because I will be able to see the process from the very beginning until it reaches the television.’

During her years at PBS, Cahn developed the strategic planning for popular kids programs such as Arthur, Teletubbies, Magic School Bus, Kratts’ Creatures, Barney and Shining Time Station. She is known in industry circles for her enthusiasm and dedication to providing top quality kids programming, something she plans to continue to achieve at CTW.

‘My motto has been to create programming that I’d be proud to have my children watch,’ she says. ‘I know that I will be able to do that at CTW.’

After five years at PBS, Cahn says the past year was quite memorable.

‘Working on the launch of Teletubbies was a highlight for me at PBS,’ she says. ‘Especially since it fell in the same year that CTW is celebrating 30 years of quality children’s programming. It’s been a pretty good year for the children’s broadcasting industry.