“From a small spark kindled in America, a flame has arisen, not to be extinguished,” wrote Thomas Paine. Now Ken Burns’ much-anticipated film examines how the American Revolution ignited a movement for people around the world to imagine new and better futures for themselves, for their nations, and for humanity. It opened the door to advance civil liberties and human rights, and it asked questions that we are still trying to answer today.
“The American Revolution has always been surrounded by myth that keeps us from seeing the real picture,” says Ken Burns. “The story of the birth of this country is at once devastating and inspiring. It was a bloody civil war that divided families and communities, displaced native nations, both challenged and protected the institution of slavery, while also proclaiming the noblest aspirations of humankind.”
Viewers will be immersed in the beauty and diversity of the North American landscape. Cinematographers shot in every season over the course of several years, at nearly a hundred locations, within and beyond the original 13 colonies. This includes Colonial Williamsburg, Fort Ticonderoga, Valley Forge National Historical Park, the South Carolina backcountry, and overseas in London.
Told over six consecutive nights, the 12-hour documentary delves into the remarkable stories of the people who lived through the Revolution. Featuring the voices of a stellar cast of actors including Tom Hanks, Samuel L. Jackson, Laura Linney, and narrator Peter Coyote, the film brings to life the everyday concerns, hopes, fears, and failings of nearly 200 historic figures.
Like all of Ken Burns’ work, this production can only be experienced on PBS. “I have spent my entire professional life making films that are broadcast on PBS and stream on PBS services. I believe in its mission. I couldn’t have made my films anywhere else.” Public broadcasting offers the creative freedom to undertake the deep dives into complex subjects, meticulous research, and storytelling that define Burns’ work.
Watch beginning Sunday, November 16 through Friday, November 21 at 8:00 p.m. on WVPB.
A More Perfect Union
Inspiring Civic & Civil Conversations Across America
Accompanying The American Revolution, this one-hour special will follow the November 2025 premiere of Ken Burns’ new series. Taped at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, A More Perfect Union will examine the ways people think about America’s founding and how the ideas and values articulated 250 years ago remain relevant to conversations about governance today. Our aim is to inspire and unite Americans through a renewed civic conversation rooted in the founders’ original principles within the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the visionary American idea. Filmmaker Ken Burns, National Constitution Center President and CEO Jeffrey Rosen, and others will explore essential themes such as liberty, equality, democracy, separation of powers, and civil rights.
Watch Monday, November 24 at 9:00 p.m. on WVPB.
HoPE of the SeAsoN
CHRISTMAS WITH THE TABERNACLE CHOIR
It’s starting to sound a lot like Christmas on PBS! Join the world-renowned Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square along with Tony Awardwinner Ruthie Ann Miles and Hollywood veteran Dennis Haysbert in this unforgettable holiday spectacular, Hope of the Season. Packed with classic carols, holiday favorites, and an inspirational portrait of real life, this 90-minute concert features songs and stories of hope for audiences of all ages.
The 360-member chorus of men and women has performed at World’s Fairs and expositions, at inaugurations of U.S. presidents, and in acclaimed concert halls around the world. Now you can enjoy the healing power of music from the comfort of your home this holiday season on PBS.
Watch Monday, December 15 at 8:00 p.m. on WVPB.
A Note from Kathleen Brady
Dear WVPB Member,
As we get ready for the holiday season, I want to thank you for your extraordinary support. The contributions, calls, and letters from members of our WVPB family have been truly overwhelming in a great way. We’ve always been proudly member supported, and your steadfast participation strengthens our resolve to keep providing free and fabulous programs to everyone in our community.
Speaking of fabulous, I’ve been impatiently waiting for Ken Burns’ new film The American Revolution, which airs in a few short weeks. Do you remember where you were when The Civil War engrossed our entire nation? I’m sure The American Revolution will provoke the same level of conversation.
Yet it’s not the only program to look forward to. Don’t miss the final performances by Glenda Jackson and Michael Caine on MASTERPIECE’s The Great Escaper. Also,
Peabody Award-winning Craft in America — while not as well known as Antiques Roadshow and American Masters, yet nonetheless a riveting exploration of ingenuity and creativity throughout the nation — will present the yearlong documentary series Handwork 2026, premiering in December. You’ll find so much to watch on PBS that’s worth your time and attention, but you know that already. Simply watch what you love and know that your kindness and generosity make all our work possible.
View or print program schedules at: www.wvpublic.org
Kathleen Brady, CFRE Membership Manager and Sustaining Member since 2014
Starring dramatic royalty Michael Caine and Glenda Jackson in their final acting roles, The Great Escaper tells the true story of Bernard Jordan (Michael Caine), who made global headlines in the summer of 2014. He had staged a “great escape” from his nursing home to join fellow war veterans on a beach in Normandy to commemorate their fallen comrades at the D-Day Landing’s 70th anniversary.
Bernie’s adventure, spanning a mere 48 hours, also marked the culmination of his 60-year marriage to Rene (Glenda Jackson). It was a story that captured the imagination of the world as Bernie embodied the defiant can-do spirit of a generation that was fast disappearing. But this wasn’t the whole story. It was an inspirational but sanitized retelling of one man’s need to come to terms with the lasting trauma of war. Sure to become a MASTERPIECE favorite, this celebration of Bernie and Rene’s enduring love will inspire viewers while also teaching one more lesson from the Greatest Generation. Watch Sunday, November 23 at 9:00 p.m. on WVPB.
HANDWORK
A CRAFT IN AMERICA 250 SPECIAL
Much has changed since the birth of America, but the practice of making things by hand endures. Handwork 2026 celebrates the artisanship that built our nation and the role that handcrafted objects continue to play in shaping and reflecting America’s diverse cultural heritage. The four-part series from Peabody Award-winning Craft in America premieres in December. Beginning with segments EAST and WEST, each episode is told through the unique narratives of makers and reveals ancestral traditions and modern innovation.
EAST explores the meeting of history, culture, and contemporary craft in the Eastern
United States. These American stories, from a fabric flower factory, to a silversmith, to a potter, highlight the diverse expressions behind modern craft.
WEST takes inspiration from the landscape, history, and culture of the American West. Illuminating Southwest cowboy arts, Hawaiian indigenous practices, and Native American handwork, the artists show how traditional craft can be revived, reworked, and reinvented in the art of today.
Watch Friday, December 19 at 9:00 and 10:00 p.m. on WVPB.
NOVA
OPERATION SPACE STATION
JAGUAR BEACH
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their home. At the top of the food chain reigns the healthiest population of jaguars in Central America, thanks to a rewilding project that has brought the forest back to life. The diversity of life in the forest is rivaled only by the waters just offshore. Here legions of olive ridley sea turtles gather every month preparing to emerge from the ocean for an ancient mass nesting ritual called the arribada. This sets the scene for two unlikely creatures — the jaguar and the sea turtle — to meet.
Jaguar Beach is a first-of-its-kind film, rooted in an intimate jaguar family story. Using the latest camera technology, the filmmakers explore the complex lives of these mysterious and powerful cats as they navigate this unique environment. Find out how this apex predator may be the guardian of new generations of sea turtle hatchlings.
NOVA celebrates the 25th anniversary of continuous human presence in space aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Astronauts and Mission Control insiders will reveal the most terrifying moments on this remarkable orbiting laboratory. A marvel of engineering, the ISS is the size of a football field, and it circles around the earth at 17,000 mph. It’s designed to shield its astronauts from the most hostile environment humans have ever endured. Yet a single mistake could prove fatal.
Viewers will learn about the near disasters, such as meteor strikes, docking disasters, spacewalk horrors, potentially lethal showers of space junk, and the moment the entire ISS backflipped out of control. Don’t miss these fascinating tales of life and death at 1.3 million feet above our planet — and the human ingenuity and teamwork that each time saved the day on Operation Space Station
Watch Wednesday, November 12 at 8:00 p.m. on WVPB.
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Watch Wednesday November 5 at 9:00 p.m. on WVPB.
A SALUTE TO SERVICE 2025
A Veterans Day Celebration
Join us for a heartfelt Veterans Day celebration brimming with inspiring military stories and performances that honor heroes past and present. Featuring the United States Army Field Band and other artists, A Salute to Service is a beloved annual tradition that unites us in gratitude as we reflect on service, sacrifice, and the enduring spirit of America.
Watch Monday, November 10 at 9:00 p.m. on WVPB.
Your gift means more to us than you know
Public media had a tumultuous summer, and the changes will have repercussions that will be felt for years to come. As difficult as this time has been for the staff at WVPB, our members (that’s you!) and listeners and viewers gave us hope. You showed us the value you place on public radio and television. The importance you place on our educational outreach. The joy you feel for our entertaining programming. The trust you place in our local news stories, brought to you by local journalists. Your support has reinforced what we already know — WV Public Broadcasting is important for everyone throughout the state and region.
Thank you for your recent support. It is vital to us. And we are thankful and grateful for every gift, especially during the times when public media are headline news. But what about the quiet times? We still need you. Consider becoming a sustainer. Your ongoing monthly contributions provide a reliable source of income for WVPB. And by having your gift come from your bank account (through an electronic funds transfer, or EFT) or your debit or credit card, lower processing costs are incurred. More of your donation goes toward the programming you support.
As a sustainer, your membership automatically renews annually, so you never have to worry about remembering when your membership expires. For those who make ongoing monthly gifts of at least $5 and are using WVPB Passport, you won’t lose your access to the streaming benefit due to a lapsed account.
You can make a sustaining gift in the amount that best fits your budget, be that $5, $25, or $100 a month. Those monthly contributions add up to annual gifts of $60, $300, and $1200. That’s a wonderful support for WVPB in a way that works for you!
Join the more than half of our members who have decided to support WVPB as sustainers. Become a sustainer today. Easy for you.
Show your WVPB Love
Is WVPB a fixture on your radio? Do you watch WVPB several nights a week? You may be what we refer to as WVPB superfans. You may call yourself a WVPB nerd. And have we got something for you!
Our new long-sleeve T-shirt features our West Virginia Public Broadcasting nerd sticker artwork on the back and I ♥ WVPB logo on the front. For a gift of $150, or $12.50 monthly, you can share your WVPB love with everyone you meet. Visit wvpublic.org to make your gift and get your t-shirt today.
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The newest West Virginia Public Broadcasting Fiesta mug is available now! You can choose the iconic 10-ounce Ring-Handled Mug made in Newell, WV, featuring the classic blue and green WVPB logo on the newest color, Sky. Visit wvpublic.org to make your gift today.
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