Ryan Seacrest Foundation Opens Broadcast Studio at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center

Hospital launches WKID 33, a closed-circuit channel to entertain and educate hospital patients

Monday, November 04, 2013

Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, in partnership with the Ryan Seacrest Foundation (RSF), is opening a new state-of-the-art, 1,000 sq. ft. multimedia broadcast studio, named Seacrest Studios, inside the medical center in November. A special invite only ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place at the hospital on November 18th and will feature appearances by Ryan Seacrest and other special guests.

Seacrest Studios at Cincinnati Children’s will operate under the station handle WKID 33. The closed-circuit television and radio station will broadcast entertainment programming throughout the hospital, which will also allow patients who are unable to leave their rooms the opportunity to virtually interact with what is happening in the studio.

“We’re so excited to be opening our sixth broadcast media center, and proud to be part of the Cincinnati Children’s community,” said Seacrest. “The staff and the children here are a constant source of inspiration and courage, and we hope that Seacrest Studios will serve as a creative outlet and healing opportunity for the patients and their families during their stay.”

Michael Fisher, Cincinnati Children’s president and CEO, says that the studio is right in line with the medical center’s mission. “Providing our patients and families with the best possible hospital experience is an important part of our mission. And the addition of the Seacrest Studio is another step forward in these efforts,” he explains. “We are so grateful to the Ryan Seacrest Foundation for making this broadcast media center a reality and for giving our patients an opportunity to just be kids while they are here – it’s so important for positive outcomes.”

The studio is part of an entertainment initiative that radio and television host and producer Ryan Seacrest and his family developed through their Foundation to help patients explore the creative realms of radio, television and new media. Cincinnati Children’s patients will be involved in the on-air activities, giving them a chance to express their creativity through media.

The studio is located in the main concourse of the hospital, directly across from the cafeteria. It is encased in glass so that passersby will be able to see what is happening and they will be able to come inside the studio to participate in the station’s activities. Programming will include game shows, celebrity interviews and performances, and a variety of other kid-friendly shows.

The Ryan Seacrest Foundation has opened five other Seacrest Studios across the country along with the help of their founding sponsors, the E! Entertainment and The Coca-Cola Company. They are located at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Children’s Hospital of Orange County, Levine Children’s Hospital in Charlotte and Children’s Medical Center in Dallas.

About The Ryan Seacrest Foundation

The Ryan Seacrest Foundation (RSF) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) dedicated to inspiring today’s youth through entertainment and education-focused initiatives. RSF’s first initiative is to build broadcast media centers—Seacrest Studios—within pediatric hospitals for patients to explore the creative realms of radio, television and new media. Founded in 2009, RSF currently has Seacrest Studios at hospitals in Atlanta, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Dallas, Orange County, Calif. and Philadelphia. The foundation has plans to expand throughout the nation, and is currently working with hospitals to launch in Boston and Nashville in 2014. For more information, visit www.ryanseacrestfoundation.org.

About Cincinnati Children’s

Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center ranks third in the nation among all Honor Roll hospitals in U.S.News and World Report’s 2013 Best Children’s Hospitals ranking. It is ranked #1 for cancer and in the top 10 for nine of 10 pediatric specialties. Cincinnati Children’s is one of the top three recipients of pediatric research grants from the National Institutes of Health, and a research and teaching affiliate of the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. The medical center is internationally recognized for improving child health and transforming delivery of care through fully integrated, globally recognized research, education and innovation. Additional information can be found at www.cincinnatichildrens.org. Connect on the Cincinnati Children’s blog, via Facebook and on Twitter.