PBS Lines Up New Programming Highlights, Pacts with YouTube

PBS has revealed some of the upcoming programming highlights launching in late 2019 and throughout 2020, in addition to securing carriage for its member stations on YouTube TV’s live and on-demand subscription service.

Launching later this year, YouTube TV will livestream all PBS member stations that choose to participate. It marks the first digital partnership of its kind for PBS.

Among the upcoming programming, PBS and WETA revealed Asian Americans, a new five-part documentary series currently in production and expected to broadcast in May 2020 on PBS. The series examines what the 2010 U.S. Census identifies as the fastest-growing racial/ethnic group in the United States.

PBS and American Experience announced W, a two-part biography on the life and presidency of George W. Bush. It is the newest production in the American Experience Peabody Award-winning collection The Presidents.

PBS and Thirteen revealed a new documentary about the EGOT-winning entertainer Rita Moreno slated to premiere in 2020. American Masters’ Rita Moreno: The Girl Who Decided to Go For It (working title) will include interviewees such as Norman Lear, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Gloria and Emilio Estefan and Morgan Freeman.

WTTW Chicago is working with PBS on Prehistoric Road Trip, a new three-part natural history series that combines science, culture and history and brings viewers along for an unforgettable expedition through hundreds of millions of years of history. It is slated for summer 2020.

Mammoth Screen’s World War II drama World on Fire, written by Peter Bowker (Eric and Ernie, Blackpool), has landed a U.S. deal with PBS Masterpiece. The 7×1-hour series stars Helen Hunt (As Good As It Gets, Mad About You), Sean Bean (Game of Thrones, Lord of the Rings) and Lesley Manville (Phantom Thread, Mum). Masterpiece will serve as U.S. co-production partner for the BBC One-commissioned project. Masterpiece Executive Producer Rebecca Eaton said, “World on Fire tells the deeply moving stories behind some of World War II’s major historical events. We’re honored to be teaming with Mammoth Screen and the BBC on this remarkable new series, which offers a perspective of the war that has not been seen before.”

A new season of Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood is coming to PBS Kids in the U.S. next summer, with 20 all-new episodes, including a half-hour special. Season five of the hit series will address key universal themes for preschoolers and their parents, including managing sibling rivalries, maintaining calm at mealtimes, missing loved ones, growing up, coping with accidents and more. In conjunction with the fifth season premiere, new digital content for kids, parents and teachers will launch in summer 2020. The animated series was created by co-executive producers Angela Santomero, chief creative officer at 9 Story Media Group, and Kevin Morrison, COO of Fred Rogers Productions, along with Vince Commisso, president and CEO of 9 Story Media Group.

“Research shows that Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood nurtures empathy and strengthens emotional recognition, important skills for preschoolers,” said Linda Simensky, VP of children’s programming at PBS. “This series is the ‘go-to’ resource for parents who are navigating life with their young ones, and we’re excited to provide even more effective strategies to help their kids learn and grow in season five.”