FEDERAL WAY, Wash. — This is the big week for the creditunion-sponsored BizKid$ TV show on public broadcasting to get itsfirst airing across the country with a whopping 279 stations in 43states, or 81% of the potential market, signed up.

It was unclear over the weekend which stations actuallybroadcast the show on financial literacy Sunday but the rollout inindividual markets will continue during the month with staffers atthe National Credit Union Foundation and Washington Credit UnionLeague, the two key financial backers of the project, gratified PBSparticipation is going far better than expected.

State leagues along with credit unions from Seattle to Buffalohave been encouraging their members to watch the 26-part series ofshows while downloading and customizing BizKid$ brochures, posters,postcards and statement stuffers. In many locales, credit unionswill able to tagline each broadcast with “brought to you by thecredit unions of ___” under agreements with local PBS stations.

Credit unions along with leagues and their foundations haveraised more than $2.6 million so far to sponsor the first 13episodes, which are also being produced in coordination with JuniorAchievement Worldwide.

Produced in high definition by the Emmy Award-winning creatorsof Bill Nye the Science Guy, BizKid$ “is a fun, fast-paced seriesdesigned to entertain, engage, and elevate kids' knowledge aboutmoney,” said the league.