Sesame Workshop President Gary Knell describes plans to create a PBS-branded digital cable service for preschoolers as a “renewed marriage vow” for PBS and the famed producer of Sesame Street, partners over three decades in teaching young kids about letters and numbers and getting along. It’s a four-way marriage, however, and the two for-profit partners are cable giant Comcast and Hit Entertainment, the London-based owner of Barney, Bob the Builder, Thomas the Tank Engine and other kid brands. The deal gives public TV stations on-screen credit — “brought to you by your local public TV station” — and access to future shows from Sesame and Hit, but it associates public TV with a new digital channel that carries ads during program breaks and that’s available only to cable subscribers who pay extra for digital-tier service.

BBC Radio disc jockey John Peel, champion of many cutting edge rock acts that went on to notoriety and influence, died at age 65. He was “perhaps the only British D.J. known by name to American rock fans,” writes the New York Times. For all his influence, Peel was surprisingly accessible, reports the Washington Post: “[B]asically, if you wrote him, he’d send you a postcard back, often with his phone number, sometimes ‘signed’ with a rubber stamp that read ‘John Peel, The World’s Most Boring Man.’

Roadside sensors are now providing radio ratings for passing drivers in Washington, Los Angeles, Seattle, New Jersey, and Charlotte, N.C., the Washington Post reported [registration required]. The provider, Phoenix-based MobilTrak, derives listener data from tuning and sells results to retailers near the same roads, to billboard companies [earlier NYT article], as well as to radio stations.

“How can we reach kids who don’t watch PBS without dumbing down to them?” WGBH tries a reality show for teenagers.

The Boston Globe profiles Zalmai Yawar, an Afghan who has worked as an interpreter for NPR and other U.S. news outlets. “Reporters kill over two things: a great driver and a great interpreter,” says NPR’s Jacki Lyden. “Zalmai was one of my best interpreters ever.”

The Minneapolis Star-Tribune profiles Minnesota Public Radio and its president, Bill Kling. (Reg. req.)

Tucker Carlson is apparently spoiling for a rematch with The Daily Show‘s Jon Stewart after Friday’s much-publicized live spat on CNN’s Crossfire. The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that the bow tied commentator has invited the fake newsman to appear on this Friday’s Unfiltered on PBS. “I have a low opinion of the things Jon said, but I’d like to give him a chance to explain it in an environment where he can talk,” Carlson said. No word from Stewart. Comedy Central execs, who said the network has received 12 times the usual amount of e-mail this week as a result of the face-off, doubt Stewart will accept the offer.

CPB has awarded more than $9 million to 133 public radio stations to help them convert to digital broadcasting.

If you missed the Stewart/Carlson bout on Crossfire, Slate‘s Surfergirl links to a video clip of the exchange.

Community leaders in West Palm Beach have coalesced to develop a take-over bid for WXEL, reports the Sun-Sentinel.

PBS and Sesame Workshop share a 30 percent stake in the new digital children’s channel announced today with Comcast and Hit Entertainment, according to the Guardian. The Times reports on why Rob Lawes, the Hit Entertainment chief who forged the partnership, is now leaving the company. Current reported this spring on negotiations to create the channel.

At least half a dozen pubcasters will proceed to the Nov. 3 FCC auction of FM construction permits. The agency has released a list of the broadcasters and their minimum bids (PDF), the CPs they’re pursuing (PDF) and other info.

The Washington Post‘s Lisa de Moraes reports from ringside on the Crossfire slap-down. Part One: Comedy Central’s Jon Stewart and PBS’s Tucker Carlson call each other colorful names you’ll only hear on cable TV. Part Two: Robert Novak and James Carville call Stewart “uninformed” and worse on Monday’s Crossfire, and Stewart retorts from The Daily Show.

The Chicago Tribune‘s Steve Johnson reviews Bob Edwards’ new show on XM and also sizes up the changes to Morning Edition since Edwards left. (Reg. req.)

Patrick Goldstein of the L.A. Times says Bill Moyers, who leaves his PBS show at the end of December, “has used Now as a razor-sharp scythe for laying bare issues rarely scrutinized by his media peers.” Moyers is quoted about the new PBS talk shows hosted by conservatives: “In my 33 years at public broadcasting, it’s the first time I’ve seen shows that were clearly created for ideological reasons.” (Open only to registered seven-day Times subscribers or Calendar Live subscribers.)