Children's programs cited for improving TV quality

Action for Children's Television presented its Eighth Annual Achievement Awards Tuesday to broadcasters who have made significant contributions toward improving children's television, Monitor correspondent Randy Shipp reports. Among the award winners were Warner Amex Satellite Entertainment Corporation for "Nickelodeon," a cable television service of daily uninterrupted programming for children; WBZ-TV in Boston for "Get Off Your Block," a weekly series providing intelligent and imaginative exploration of the local scene; WPLG-TV in Miami for "Arthur and Company," acknowledging its 10th year of giving gentle pleasures for very young audiences; CBS for "30 Minutes" and ABC for its "After School" and "Weekend" specials. The McDonald's Corporation also won a special award for its support of the PBS series "Once Upon a Classic."

ACT is considering national syndication of the local programs, ACT president Peggy Charren said.