U.S. Election Coverage Part of PBS’s 2016 Lineup

PASADENA: PBS has revealed a slew of new programs and initiatives launching this year, including PBS Election 2016, focused on the upcoming U.S. presidential elections.

PBS Election 2016 offers news, public affairs, documentary and corresponding digital programming. The comprehensive multiplatform initiative includes a partnership with NPR that will allow for both organizations to share news content. PBS Election 2016 features a combination of new and returning series, and specials that will follow the election trail from the primary debates to election night and more. Coverage will spotlight all major political events, including primaries, conventions and election night returns.

“In this election year, PBS promises viewers extensive, in-depth and thoughtful coverage across all platforms,” said Beth Hoppe, the chief programming executive and general manager of general audience programming for PBS. “Our roster of signature programs, specials and online offerings will deliver fully integrated news and analysis from multiple perspectives.”

Michael Oreskes, NPR’s senior VP of news and editorial director, added: “We have an anxious country seeking to pick a new president. There are few tasks more important this election year than giving the country the news coverage, information and conversation to help make sound choices. NPR and PBS share that mission of producing trusted, thoughtful public service journalism to inform the American public. Partnering with PBS and working with our member stations, we will provide a forum for a national conversation about politics that goes from the local grassroots perspective our on-the-ground reporters provide, to analysis and context.”

16 for ’16 is a tentatively titled new docuseries from OZY Media that highlights past U.S. presidential and vice presidential candidates who had memorable campaigns, including Sarah Palin and Gary Hart. The 16×30-minute show will air weekly in the months leading up to the U.S. presidential election in November.

“Every four years, we are introduced to a group of individuals with their own aspirations to leave a mark on the history of our country,” said Hoppe. “16 for ’16 (w.t.) revisits the most compelling stories from previous elections to demonstrate how every U.S. presidential election is a reflection, and an inflection, of those that came before it.”

Carlos Watson, the host of the series and founder of OZY.com, noted: “As a lifelong political junkie, I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to study these fascinating men and women who dare to say they have what it takes to be the leader of the free world. We hope people will walk away from this series feeling invigorated and engaged as we gear up for the 2016 election.”

PBS has teamed up with Time Inc. on A Year in Space, a two-part series featuring astronauts Scott and Mark Kelly. The production, adapted from Time’s original digital video series about Scott and his 12-month stay on the International Space Station (ISS), will air its first installment on March 2 at 8 p.m. The second half is slated for broadcast in 2017.

Hoppe noted: “A Year in Space is an incredible opportunity to immerse audiences into an exciting current event, nearly in real-time. However, it is also a compelling human drama exploring the potential tragedies or triumphs of exploration. It is as close to a feature film as any documentary can get.”

Ian Orefice, the senior executive producer of Time Inc. Video, stated: “The series represents one of Time Inc.’s most ambitious projects to date. It’s an example of the high-quality programming that we are producing across our brands that audiences can access on any platform. We are thrilled to be working with PBS on this monumental program and look forward to a collaborative partnership.”

“The production process on this project is truly exceptional, and the collaboration among partners to bring this story to life and to the airwaves within a day of Scott Kelly’s return is unparalleled,” added [producer Jonathan] Halperin. “This series offers one scenario for the potential future of human existence and begins to pose difficult questions about what that future might look like, such as will we be able to establish the human race on other worlds, will we want to, and what will we do with this world?”

PBS has also lined up Hamilton’s America, a feature-length documentary about Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Broadway musical Hamilton, which is based on the life of U.S. founding father Alexander Hamilton. The RadicalMedia-produced doc is due to debut on Great Performances in the fall as part of PBS’s Arts programming.

“PBS is thrilled to give viewers an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at this sensational—and sold out—Broadway musical,” said Hoppe. “With this level of access to Lin-Manuel Miranda and his team, PBS continues to live up to our mission of giving viewers a backstage pass and a front row seat to the arts.”

“Since we presented In the Heights: Chasing Broadway Dreams in 2009, we’ve been taken by Lin-Manuel’s unique talents and we’re honored to collaborate with him again on Hamilton’s America,” noted David Horn, executive producer of Great Performances. “The film will offer audiences a fascinating point of view as we witness first-hand Lin’s inspiration and creative process, as well as the lasting impact of Alexander Hamilton on our society today.”

“On behalf of the entire Hamilton cast and creative team, many of whom are In the Heights alumni, we are overjoyed to be returning to PBS in partnership with RadicalMedia with this project,” added Miranda, the doc’s creator, writer and star. “We invited filmmaker Alex Horwitz into ‘the room where it happened’ a few years ago, and he’s captured parts of this journey no one has seen. We can’t wait to share it, thanks to PBS.”

PBS and National Geographic Channels International have commissioned the six-part science series Genius by Stephen Hawking, produced by Bigger Bang and presented and narrated by the titular theoretical physicist. The program will air on PBS in the U.S. this year and internationally on Nat Geo.

“Do you need to be a genius to answer the big questions?” said Hawking. “I’m very pleased to be back on the air for PBS and National Geographic International with Genius—a project that furthers my lifelong aim to bring science to the public. It’s a fun show that tries to find out if ordinary people are smart enough to think like the greatest minds who ever lived. Being an optimist, I think they will.”

“With its premise of proving that ‘ordinary’ people can grasp how history’s greatest scientific discoveries came about, Genius is directly aligned with what we hope to achieve through all of our programming—inspiring audiences to explore the world around them,” stated Hoppe.

“The series puts complex scientific concepts into easily digestible layman’s terms,” remarked Hamish Mykura, the executive VP of programming and development for National Geographic Channel. “The experiments are spectacular and illustrate some of the most important ideas from some of the greatest minds in history in highly engaging ways. My hope is that Stephen Hawking and this series encourage more minds around the globe to engage with the scientific challenges of tomorrow.”

“Good television is about great storytelling,” added Iain Riddick and Ben Bowie, founders of Bigger Bang, “and science is a source for some of the most awe-inspiring, imaginative stories ever conceived. We’re delighted to work with Prof. Hawking again, and also to have such strong and authentic partners on board with PBS and National Geographic Channels International. Genius will be uniquely thought-provoking entertainment, revisiting some of history’s notable scientific breakthroughs through the eyes of everyday people, and we are thrilled to bring the series to television audiences around the world in 2016.”

In addition, PBS will be highlighting the African-American experience through a wide variety of content on PBS member stations, online through the PBS Black Culture Connection and via a series of community conversations about African-American history and culture.

“PBS is focused on expanding upon topics related to race, class and the African-American experience,” said Hoppe. “In December, Ken Burns and Professor Gates launched a national conversation series on race, called American Fault Line: Race and the American Ideal. Ken Burns and Professor Gates will take the conversation to SXSW in Austin on March 12th, Washington, D.C. on March 14th and the Brooklyn Academy of Music on March 16th. We will add to these conversations through education and engagement, as well as civil discourse and discussion in collaboration with PBS member stations.”