How can children, disadvantaged as well as middle-class, be taught cognitive skills through the medium of television? This is the question Richard Polsky addresses in describing the planning and early development (1966-1968) of the Children's Television Workshop. An examination of the period prior to the public announcement of the project tells how the idea of a cognitively based series for 3- to 5-year-olds was developed, how the proposal was written, financing secured, technical advice obtained, and a staff hired. The author describes in detail the four indispensable ingredients for success which were identified: planning, talent, money, and timing. Extensive appendixes detail the funding and time chart for the project and provide a glossary and resource list. (WCM)