PBS announced new programming initiatives for 2016 at the TCA Winter Press Tour:
- PBS has entered into a strategic partnership with NPR to share news content between the two organizations as part of its PBS Election 2016 news, public affairs, documentary and digital programming surrounding the year’s politics. PBS and NPR team up to integrate content on PBS.org (beginning in February) and on the Politics section of NPR.org.
- PBS announced 16 for ’16 (working title), a 16-week documentary series that spotlights unforgettable presidential and vice-presidential candidates whose campaigns weren’t successful but earned them a significant place in the history books. Subjects include Gary Hart, Jesse Jackson, Howard Dean, Elizabeth Dole, Michael Dukakis, Geraldine Ferraro, Mitt Romney, Al Gore, Ted Kennedy, Ralph Nader, Sarah Palin and Ross Perot.
- Two-part series A Year in Space, adapted from Time’s original digital video series following astronaut Scott Kelly and his 12-month stay on the International Space Station. Kelly is scheduled to return to Earth on March 2, and PBS will air the first part of A Year in Space on March 2 at 8pm ET (check local listings). Part 2 will air in 2017.
- PBS will air Hamilton’s America, a feature film documentary providing intimate access to Lin-Manuel Miranda in the two years leading opening of the hit Broadway musical Hamilton, based on the life of U.S. Founding Father Alexander Hamilton. It will air as an installment of Great Performances in fall 2016.
- Prof. Stephen Hawking presents and narrates six-part science series Genius By Stephen Hawking. In each episode, ordinary people are challenged to think like the greatest scientific minds to help solve some of humanity’s enduring problems. Genius airs in the U.S. on PBS later in 2016.
Also coming up on PBS:
- Black History Month programs including Independent Lens: The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution (Feb. 16), Independent Lens: A Ballerina’s Tale (Feb. 8), B.B. King: American Masters (Feb. 12), Fats Domino: American Masters (Feb. 26) and Independent Lens: Wilhelmina’s War (Feb. 29).
- Independent Lens: Peace Officer (May 9) about the militarization of police forces.
- Independent Lens: The Armor of Light (May 10) about Christianity’s relationship to gun culture
- Jackie Robinson (pictured at top) documentary by Ken Burns about the life and legacy of the man who broke baseball’s color barrier in 1947
- Masterpiece: Grantchester Season 2 premieres March 27
- Masterpiece: Churchill’s Secret drama about Winston Churchill’s recovery from a stroke in 1953. Premieres fall 2016.
- Frontline: The Fantasy Sports Gamble (Feb. 9) investigating online sports gambling and the rise of daily fantasy sports
- Independent Lens: An Honest Liar (March 28) on James “The Amazing” Randi
- New PBS Kids animated series Ready Jet Go! with a focus on science, technology and astronomy (Feb. 15)
And some highlights from Twitter:
See photos from the @IndependentLens' "An Honest Liar" panel feat. James "The Amazing" Randi & @BillNye. #TCA16 pic.twitter.com/6fnNHn783M
— PBS PressRoom (@PBSPressRoom) January 19, 2016
"Be careful what you believe in. Be careful what you're told, even by a trusted documentarian." – Director Tyler Measom #TCA16 #IndieLens
— PBS PressRoom (@PBSPressRoom) January 19, 2016
One year #PBS is going to give us a day with BOTH Bill Nye and Bill Nighy. Only Nye today. #TCA16
— Daniel Fienberg (@TheFienPrint) January 19, 2016
If you are susceptible to accepting the paranormal, you are less likely to accept scientific fact says @BillNye #TCA16 @anHonestLiarDoc
— Channel Guide (@ChannelGuide) January 19, 2016
He kind of looks like me. @PBS #TCA16 pic.twitter.com/lYzQPHj39L
— Ken Burns (@KenBurns) January 19, 2016
They should’ve just shown us John Oliver’s Honest Daily Fantasy Commercial: https://t.co/45sinq3xlN #TCA16 #FantasySportsGamble
— Ryan Berenz (@ChannelGuideRAB) January 19, 2016
Aww, @masterpiecepbs is saying farewell to not only #DowntonPBS, but also #Wallander and #MrSelfridge #TCA16 @pbs
— The TCA (@OfficialTCA) January 18, 2016
.@PBS to air behind the scenes documentary of @HamiltonMusical: https://t.co/3ook0W3Iyj pic.twitter.com/8D1VhUocsQ
— Yahoo TV (@YahooTV) January 18, 2016
Pictures from the #JackieRobinsonPBS panel are in w/ Rachel Robinson & Ken Burns #TCA16 @PBS pic.twitter.com/zMdvnKeon4
— The TCA (@OfficialTCA) January 18, 2016
"Without a doubt, the most important person in the history of baseball is Jackie Robinson." @kenburns #JackieRobinsonPBS #TCA16
— PBS PressRoom (@PBSPressRoom) January 18, 2016
Why "prob last?" 😉 ^^ “@ChannelGuideRAB: Ah, yes. The TCA shout out to @L_MarysEyebrows. Probably the last #TCA16 pic.twitter.com/egS2to9MaS”
— Lady Mary's Eyebrows (@L_MarysEyebrows) January 18, 2016
Photo: (Jackie Robinson) Credit: Courtesy of Hulton Archive/Getty Images