Xploration Station

Xploration Station is an American syndicated programming block that is programmed by Steve Rotfeld Productions, and debuted on September 13, 2014. It airs weekends (typically on Saturday mornings), primarily on Fox-affiliated stations. Aimed towards teenagers, the block consists of four half-hour shows focusing on the STEM fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. All of the programs in the two-hour block were produced to meet federally mandated educational programming guidelines (stations carrying the block continue to provide E/I-compliant programs acquired from the syndication market to comply with the full three-hour requirement defined by the Federal Communications Commission for television stations to devote to educational programming each week). The block was moved to Sunday mornings on The CW and MyNetworkTV affiliates and independent stations, when Fox Broadcasting Company airs the new children's television block, Fox Toons.

Programming

 * Xploration Outer Space (September 13, 2014–present) – This series focuses on various aspects of the space industry, including technology, the prospects of a manned mission to Mars, and the growing space tourism industry. The program is hosted and produced by Emily Calandrelli, who was scouted by Steve Rotfeld from her YouTube productions for West Virginia University's engineering college.
 * Xploration Earth 2050 (September 13, 2014–present) – This series covers emerging technology. The series is hosted by Joe Penna, better known as YouTube user MysteryGuitarMan.
 * Xploration Animal Science (formerly Animal Science) (September 13, 2014–present) – This program was originally broadcast in syndication in 2012, and was retooled for broadcast as part of Xploration Station.
 * Xploration Awesome Planet (September 13, 2014–present) – Hosted by Philippe Cousteau, Jr., this series features a detailed look at earth science and geology.

Availability
Although intended for distribution to Fox stations, the block experiences similar carriage issues as Weekend Marketplace (which Fox continues to offer to affiliates that decline carriage of Xploration Station) and Fox's predecessor children's program blocks. In markets where a Fox affiliate declined the block to purchase E/I programming via syndication (or in markets served by a Fox station owned and/or operated by Sinclair Broadcast Group where the block is not contracted to currently be carried), the block is carried instead on a CW or MyNetworkTV affiliate, or an independent station – even if (due to existing program distribution contracts) it already carries E/I-compliant programming that meets the full three-hour requirement.

Reception
Animal Science was nominated in 2014 for a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Children's Series.