PBS Greenlights Wired Science Series

ARLINGTON, May 1: PBS has picked up the first season of the
new one-hour weekly series Wired Science,
produced by PBS affiliate KCET/Los Angeles in association with Wired
Magazine, for premiere on October 3 in
prime time.

Wired Science is a
10-week series that was the result of a PBS pilot initiative that was designed
to find the next new PBS science series with input from viewers. Three pilots
launched New Year's Day via streaming video online and as weekly broadcasts
beginning January 3. It was the first time PBS had introduced full specials
online in advance of the television broadcast. The science pilots and websites
were funded by a special grant co-managed by Corporation for Public
Broadcasting (CPB) and PBS. The initiative was inspired by the results of a CPB
prime-time research study that indicated strong viewer interest in PBS
science-related programming.

The series translates Wired's award-winning journalism, design and irreverent attitude into a
fast-paced television show that chronicles the scientific advances and
technologies that are transforming the world. The pilot explored the world of
meteorite hunters; traveled to Yellowstone National Park to harvest viruses
that may hold the key to a technology revolution; and went in search of "NEEMO,"
NASA's extreme underwater astronaut training program. The executive producer of
Wired Science will be David
Axelrod, Emmy-winner for the NOVA special Galileo's Battle for the
Heavens. Karen Hunte serves as the
executive producer for KCET. The executive in charge of production for KCET is
Mary Mazur. The executive producer for Wired Magazine is Melanie Cornwell.

The TV series will also have a strong online presence at
www.pbs.org/wiredscience, which will re-launch in the fall. The site will
feature streaming video of series stories, articles by Wired writers, opportunities for audience interaction and
comprehensive educational resources that extend the viewer's experience beyond
the television screen.

"We're looking forward to the launch of Wired
Science this fall and offering viewers the
high-quality science fare they tell us they want from PBS," said John F.
Wilson, the senior VP and chief TV programming executive of PBS. "Wired was selected, in part, based on a combination of
viewer feedback and audience research that PBS conducted as part of an
innovative science pilot initiative earlier this year. The positive feedback we
receive for Wired along with Wired
Magazine's editorial support, told us we
had the top contender."

Pbs050107