Barney & Friends is an American
children's television series aimed at children from ages 1 to 8, created by
Sheryl Leach and produced by
HIT Entertainment. It premiered on
PBS Kids on April 6, 1992. The series features the title character Barney, a purple
anthropomorphic tyrannosaurus rex who conveys educational messages through songs and small dance routines with a friendly,
optimistic attitude. Production of new episodes ceased in 2009, although reruns of the series were still shown on several PBS stations in following years. From 2005 until 2015 reruns aired on
Sprout. A revival of the series is set for a 2017 launch.