What Happened to Reading Rainbow?
Reading Rainbow, the beloved children's educational television series, originally aired from 1983 to 2006, fostering a love of reading. After its cancellation due to funding shifts, host LeVar Burton launched a successful Kickstarter to revive it digitally. Following legal disputes over brand rights, the series has seen a new official revival in 2025 and 2026 with a new host, Mychal Threets, and an order for 24 new episodes by Sony Pictures Television.
Quick Answer
Reading Rainbow, after its original run on PBS from 1983 to 2006, faced cancellation due to funding changes and a shift in educational policy. LeVar Burton, the original host, successfully crowdfunded a digital revival, leading to the 'Skybrary' app. Following a legal separation from Burton's company, the brand was officially revived in October 2025 with new host Mychal Threets on YouTube's KidZuko. As of February 2026, Sony Pictures Television has ordered 24 new full-length episodes, ensuring the show's continued mission to encourage reading for a new generation.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline14 events
Original Series Premieres on PBS
Reading Rainbow, hosted by LeVar Burton, debuts on PBS, aiming to encourage children's love for reading through featured books and field trips.
Last Original Episode Airs
The final new episode of the original Reading Rainbow series is broadcast, primarily due to funding challenges and a shift in educational policy.
Reruns End on PBS
After 26 years, Reading Rainbow reruns cease airing on PBS, marking the end of its broadcast presence.
LeVar Burton Announces 'Reading Rainbow 2.0'
LeVar Burton tweets about plans to revive Reading Rainbow for a new generation, signaling the start of digital efforts.
RRKidz Licenses Reading Rainbow Brand
WNED, the owner of the Reading Rainbow brand, licenses rights to LeVar Burton's company, RRKidz, for digital distribution and development.
Reading Rainbow iPad App Launches
LeVar Burton and Mark Wolfe introduce the new Reading Rainbow iPad App at Apple's WWDC, bringing the show's concept to tablets.
Kickstarter Campaign Launched
LeVar Burton launches a Kickstarter to bring Reading Rainbow to every child, everywhere, raising over $1 million in less than 24 hours.
Skybrary by Reading Rainbow Launches
RRKidz launches Skybrary, a web-based subscription service offering digital books and video field trips, funded by the successful Kickstarter.
WNED and RRKidz Settle Lawsuit
After legal disputes over brand rights and usage, WNED and RRKidz settle out of court. RRKidz no longer licenses the Reading Rainbow brand and rebrands to LeVar Burton Kids.
Skybrary Acquired by Reading is Fundamental
The digital library service Skybrary, originally developed by RRKidz, is acquired by the non-profit organization Reading is Fundamental.
Reading Rainbow Live Premieres on Looped
An interactive special titled 'Reading Rainbow Live' premieres on the Looped platform, featuring new hosts dubbed 'The Rainbows'.
New 'Reading Rainbow' Series Launches with Mychal Threets
A new series of Reading Rainbow, hosted by librarian Mychal Threets, premieres on YouTube via Sony Pictures' KidZuko channel, marking an official brand revival.
Sony Orders 24 New Episodes
Following the successful short-form revival, Sony Pictures Television orders 24 new full-length episodes of Reading Rainbow with Mychal Threets as host.
LeVar Burton Book Tour for 'Take My Word for It'
LeVar Burton is scheduled for a book tour event to discuss his memoir 'Take My Word for It,' reflecting on his career, including his time with Reading Rainbow.
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🔍Deep Dive Analysis
Reading Rainbow, an iconic American educational children's television series, first premiered on PBS on July 11, 1983, with the mission to encourage a love of books and reading among children. Hosted by actor LeVar Burton, the show featured celebrity-narrated children's books and engaging on-location segments, earning over 250 awards, including a Peabody Award and 26 Emmy Awards, throughout its 23-year run.
The original production of Reading Rainbow concluded on November 10, 2006, with reruns continuing until August 28, 2009. The primary reasons for its cessation were financial challenges, particularly the high cost of licensing books for broadcast, and a significant shift in federal educational policy. The No Child Left Behind Act, enacted in 2002, redirected funding towards teaching the 'rudiments of reading' (phonics and spelling) rather than 'fostering a love of reading,' which was Reading Rainbow's core objective. This left little budget for programs like Reading Rainbow, which was perceived as a 'luxury' rather than a necessity under the new mandate.
In 2010, LeVar Burton announced plans for 'Reading Rainbow 2.0,' aiming to bring the beloved series into the digital age. His company, RRKidz, secured licensing rights from WNED (the PBS affiliate that owns the brand) in 2011, leading to the launch of the Reading Rainbow iPad App in 2012. In 2014, Burton initiated a highly successful Kickstarter campaign, raising over $5.4 million from more than 105,000 backers, far exceeding its $1 million goal. The funds were intended to expand the digital platform to more devices and make it accessible in classrooms, leading to the launch of the web-based 'Skybrary by Reading Rainbow' service in May 2015.
However, this revival was marred by legal disputes between WNED and RRKidz, which escalated in 2016 and 2017. WNED accused RRKidz of exceeding its licensing agreement, attempting to usurp brand ownership, and using the Reading Rainbow logo and catchphrases without authorization. The lawsuit also cited RRKidz's alleged negotiations with Netflix for a new series. The dispute was settled out of court in October 2017, resulting in RRKidz no longer licensing the Reading Rainbow brand. RRKidz subsequently rebranded as LeVar Burton Kids, and its services, including Skybrary, removed all mentions of Reading Rainbow. Skybrary was later acquired by Reading is Fundamental in March 2019.
Despite the separation from LeVar Burton's ventures, the Reading Rainbow brand continued its journey. WNED announced in November 2018 that it had begun research and development for a new program. In December 2021, a revival titled 'Reading Rainbow Live' was announced, premiering as an interactive special on Looped in March 2022. The most significant recent development occurred in October 2025, when a new series of 'Reading Rainbow' launched on YouTube via KidZuko, an online channel owned by Sony Pictures. This revival introduced Mychal Threets, a librarian and literacy advocate, as the new host. Following the success of this initial four-episode run, Sony Pictures Television and Buffalo Toronto Public Media (WNED's parent company) announced in February 2026 an order for 24 new full-length episodes, featuring new celebrity guests and books. LeVar Burton, meanwhile, continues his advocacy for literacy, with a book tour scheduled for November 2026 to discuss his life and career, including his time with Reading Rainbow.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Reading Rainbow made different choices?