July 2026 - WETA Magazine

Festivities air July 3 & 4

Tune in or stream

AAmerican Songs, Anthems & Hymns on Choral Showcase

Sunday, July 5 at 9 p.m.

merica 250: A Classical Portrait on Choral Showcase celebrates the nation’s 250th birthday with American songs, anthems, and hymns on July 5 with The Washington Men’s Camerata, Gloria Dei Cantores, The Dale Warland Singers, and The King’s Singers. Then, the program explores the cost of freedom on July 12 with Letters from Gettysburg by Avner Dorman, and Clear Voices in the Dark by Skylark, combining Civil War songs with Francis Poulenc’s Figure Humaine. On July 19, Choral Showcase presents a communal celebration of the transformative power of Black women in a powerful new work by Nkeiru Okoye: When the Caged Bird Sings. And on July 26, the program theme is Old American Songs — with works by Aaron Copland and Roy Harris.

Verdi’s Aida on Opera Matinee

Saturday, July 25 at 1 p.m.

This month, WETA Classical’s Opera Matinee presents Giuseppe Verdi’s Aida, the emotionally charged tragedy of forbidden love between Aida, an Ethiopian princess enslaved in Egypt, and Ramadès, an Egyptian military captain. The July 25 performance, led by conductor Michele Mariotti, is recorded from the Paris Opera and stars Saioa Hernández as Aida and (above) Eve-Maud Hubeaux as Amneris and Piotr Beczała as Radamès. Also on Opera Matinee this month is Beethoven’s Fidelio, airing July 4, from the Vienna State Opera. Beethoven’s only opera follows a risky mission by Leonore to rescue her husband from false imprisonment, disguised as a young man named Fidelio. Franz Welser-Möst conducts, with Malin Byström in the title role.

Find Classical Concerts Via ClassicalScore.org

Visit the WETA Classical blog for concert offerings

Visit WETA Classical’s blog “Classical Score” for weekly recommendations on classical music concerts in and around Greater Washington this summer; from the Chesapeake to the Appalachians, classical music is at play in the great outdoors all season long. From Gianandrea Noseda and the National Symphony Orchestra performing Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 and Puccini’s Tosca at Wolf Trap, to acclaimed chamber ensembles such as the Pacifica Quartet (and the Garth Newel Piano Quartet, above) at Garth Newel Music Center, to the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra performing at Boordy Vineyards, you can enjoy classical music out in nature and under the stars. Visit classicalscore.org each Wednesday for listings of the next week’s performances.

Celebrating Independence Day

Marking the 250th anniversary of America’s founding, WETA presents special Independence Day weekend programming on July 3-4, broadcasting and streaming festive celebrations in the region.

A Capitol Fourth: 250th Weekend Celebration

Friday, July 3 at 8:30 p.m. on WETA PBS; stream on WETA+

Start the historic 250th celebration of the nation’s founding one night early with the annual A Capitol Fourth concert, this year broadcasting live and streaming July 3 from the grounds of the U.S. Capitol. The 46-year holiday tradition kicks off this historic Independence Day weekend’s festivities, featuring all-star musical and patriotic performances by pop, country, R&B, Broadway, classical and gospel artists along with the National Symphony Orchestra under the direction of pops conductor Jack Everly. Joining this year’s observance of America’s birthday is country music icon Trace Adkins, who will perform his new uplifting anthem “American Made.” In honor of the nation’s 250th birthday, the concert finale will feature a spectacular live fireworks show over George Washington’s Mount Vernon this year — the biggest fireworks display ever at the iconic home of America’s first president. The program repeats at 10 p.m. on July 3 & 4.

A Capitol Fourth: 250th Weekend Celebration is made possible by grants from The Boeing Company, the National Park Service, and the Department of the Army. Air travel is provided by American Airlines.

America–Made in Virginia: 250 Years Together

Saturday, July 4 at 8 p.m. on WETA PBS; stream on WETA+

On July 4, a special two-hour program celebrates the nation’s Semiquincentennial with a star-filled tribute set in the revolutionary capital of Colonial Williamsburg’s Historic Area. The special show blends live performance, music, history, and visual spectacle in a national event that honors the past and engages the present. Highlights from the live event include musical performances by American artists, including recording artist Michael Feinstein; opera bass-baritone Ryan Speedo Green; vocalists Kelli O’Hara and Adrienne Warren; and iconic singer-songwriter Judy Collins. The program also features narration actor Richard Thomas and a special greeting from filmmaker Ken Burns. Additional segments include a dramatic presentation of excerpts from the Declaration of Independence; and performances by the Colonial Williamsburg Fifes & Drums, the Virginia Chorale, and others. The finale will feature a spectacular fireworks display accompanied by American classics recorded by the United States Air Force Heritage of America Band. The program repeats July 5 at 1 p.m.

America–Made in Virginia: 250 Years Together is made possible by Virginia’s American Revolution 250 Commission (VA250) and the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation in association with PBS.

WETA Celebrates America

WETA’s celebration of America’s 250th birthday continues in July with more special curated content spotlighting our journey as a nation. Tune in to WETA PBS, WETA Metro, WETA World and WETA Classical for themed programming that includes the offerings below.

WETA explores America’s stories

• NOVA: Revolutionary War Weapons — Wednesday, July 1 at 9 p.m. on WETA PBS & WETA Metro. How did America’s ragtag colonial army defeat the most powerful army in the world? Discover the key military technologies that helped propel colonial forces to victory over the British.

• American Experience: JFK — Fridays, July 10 & 17, 9-11 p.m. on WETA PBS & WETA Metro. A two-part, four-hour biography by filmmaker Susan Bellows offers an assessment of President John F. Kennedy: the man, his accomplishments and his unfulfilled promise. The film features interviews with members of the Kennedy family and historians. Oliver Platt narrates.

• The War That Made America — Saturdays, July 11 & 18, 8 p.m. (WETA World only) A fourpart docudrama series chronicles the French and Indian War (1754–1763), which set forces in motion that would culminate in the American Revolution. The film highlights the military importance and strategic diplomacy of Native Americans in the conflict between the English and French.

• Courtmaker: John Marshall and the Forging of America’s Supreme Court — Thursday, July 23 at 9 p.m. (WETA Metro only). Journalist Richard Brookhiser spotlights America’s fourth Chief Justice, who built the Supreme Court into the third pillar of American government. Interviews with scholars, judges and Supreme Court justices shed light on American democracy’s foundational legal philosophies.

WETA Classical showcases American music

Find details on pages 20-21 for special themed WETA Classical programming.

• America 250: A Classical Portrait — A weekly series airing Wednesdays at 2 p.m. on WETA Virtuoso continues, featuring on-air host James Jacobs exploring the story of classical music in America.

• Choral Showcase — WETA Classical’s Sunday 9 p.m. program spotlights American choral works.

at 250

Curated 25 for 250 Collection on WETA+ and WETA PBS

WETA’s curated 25 for 250 collection on streaming service WETA+ features documentaries that explore America and its history. The collection, which debuted in May, adds five films each month, with some of the titles also airing Saturday nights on WETA PBS. In 25 for 250, watch for iconic series from Ken Burns and Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr., along with acclaimed films from American Experience, American Masters, Frontline and more. The collection includes some content available only with WETA+ with PBS Passport.

• American Experience: FDR — Filmmaker David Grubin’s four-part biography spotlights President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who served in the office longer than anyone before or since and led the country through two great crises of the 20th century: the Great Depression and World War II. The film airs Saturdays, July 18 & 25 at 8 p.m. on WETA PBS.

• The U.S. and the Holocaust — The acclaimed three-part 2022 Florentine Films and WETA co-production, a film by Ken Burns, Lynn Novick and Sarah Botstein, examines America’s response to one of the greatest humanitarian disasters of the 20th century and how the Holocaust challenged the very ideals of U.S. democracy.

• The Vietnam War — The monumental 10-part 2017 series, a Florentine Films and WETA co-production directed by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick, tells the epic story of the war, presenting testimony from American and Vietnamese witnesses, and bringing the conflict’s chaotic epoch to life.

• American Experience: Woodstock: Three Days That Defined a Generation —

A documentary revisits the famous 1969 music festival, bringing the three-day concert to life through the voices of those who were present at what became the defining moment of the counterculture revolution.

• Great Migrations: A People on the Move —

A history series created in association with WETA and written, hosted and produced by Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. examines the influence of Black migration on American culture and society. Episodes air Saturdays, June 27 & July 11, 8-10 p.m. on WETA PBS.

Stream Favorites and

Stream on WETA+

WETA+ is a free and easy-to-use streaming service curated for the D.C.-area community by WETA programming staff. On WETA+, enjoy an extraordinary library of acclaimed PBS and WETA shows, on-demand. Watch your favorites and explore WETA+ exclusive program collections; discover new programming; and catch up on recent shows you missed — all on your own schedule. And stream all WETA television channels, live Find out more at weta.org/wetaplus.

WETA+ with PBS Passport

Expand your viewing options with WETA+ with PBS Passport, which offers access to an even wider array of dramas, documentaries and more. Watch everything available with WETA+, and more; access thousands of additional shows from the PBS library, and unlock early access to new series and seasons. Already have Passport? Use your login details to stream on WETA+. New to Passport? Easily create a login. To start enjoying Passport, make a qualifying donation of $8 monthly or $96 per year at weta.org/wetaplus

How to Get Started

Visit weta.org/plushelp for instructions on how to download the WETA+ app. WETA+ is free on any device where it is available, including most TV streaming devices, smart TVs, mobile phones, tablets, and web browsers (go to wetaplus.org). If you need assistance accessing or setting up WETA+, or WETA+ with PBS Passport, email plushelp@weta.org or call 703-998-2724.

WETA+ Program Collections to Explore, Curated for

You

by

WETA Staff

• Finding Your Roots: Revolutionary Roots — View episodes and clips of celebrity guests on genealogy series Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr. that explore their ties to the founding of America. Full episodes include “Puritans and Pioneers,” “War Stories,” and “Westward Bound” — and clips spotlight Ken Burns, Anderson Cooper, Sally Field, Kevin Bacon, Julianne Moore, Bill Hader, Carol Burnett and others. Available July 1.

• Vive la France — Celebrate Bastille Day with WETA’s popular French-language dramas, including Astrid; Mademoiselle Holmes; The Paris Murders; Panda; The Mountain Detective; The Madame Blanc Mysteries; The Wagner Method; Munch and more. Available July 14.

• Peanuts & Pennants — Get inside baseball and discover the sport’s culture and history with engaging documentaries: Never Drop the Ball; WETA co-production Baseball: The Tenth Inning; WETA co-production Jackie Robinson; Graceball: The Story of Bobby Richard; A Season to Remember: The Baseball Boys of Mon City; Signs of the Game; and more. Available July 1.

• 25 for 250 — WETA’s ongoing celebration of America’s 250th birthday includes a special curated collection of documentary films and series that explore the nation’s history and culture. Launched in May, the collection adds 5 additional series or programs each month through September. See page 3 for July additions.

• Summer of Space — Enjoy miniseries and documentaries exploring space and space travel, including Once Upon a Time in Space (as of July 14); 8 Days: To the Moon and Back; American Experience: Chasing the Moon; NOVA space-related episodes; a wide array of films from NASA; and more.

Available July 1.

Watch Live TV, Anytime, Anywhere

Binge programs and series on WETA+ with PBS Passport

• Signora Volpe, Series 1-2 — In this mystery drama, disillusioned British spy Sylvia Fox (Emilia Fox of Silent Witness) is in Italy for her niece’s wedding when the groom goes missing. Sylvia tackles the mystery and, longing to reconnect with her sister Isabel (Tara Fitzgerald), decides to relocate to Umbria. Soon she’s investigating other cases and winning over a local cop, even as her ex-husband, an ex-colleague, tries to lure her back. Binge-watch 6 episodes as of July 15.

• The Madame Blanc Mysteries, Series 3 — Follow expatriate antiques dealer Jean White (Sally Lindsay) as she solves new mysteries in Sainte Victoire in the South of France alongside her friend and flirting partner, Dom (Steve Edge). Binge-watch seven Series 3 episodes as of July 1.

• Call Me Levi, Series 1 — A German drama from international series “Walter Presents” follows the story of true-life bluejeans manufacturer Levi Strauss, tracing his mid-19th-century journey from Germany to New York and then San Francisco. There, a hostile mobster threatens his hopes of a new life. English-subtitled. Binge-watch 4 episodes as of July 3.

• Diana’s Decades — During Princess Diana’s 36 years, she changed the face of royalty, and of Britain. Gain insight into this global icon of the final decades of the 20th century — who influenced wider society and inspired social change. Binge-watch 3 episodes as of July 1.

• Sunset Grove, Series 1 — A Finnish drama from international series “Walter Presents” follows three retirement-home residents — Siiri, Irma and Mika — who investigate a young chef’s death and discover a hidden criminal enterprise at work in their community. Englishsubtitled. Binge-watch 8 episodes as of July 10.

Once Upon a Time in Space

Tuesdays at 9 p.m.

starting July 14 on WETA PBS; stream on WETA+

Anew four-part series from director James Bluemel and the team behind the acclaimed series Once Upon a Time in Northern Ireland and Peabody Award-winner Once Upon a Time in Iraq tells the human stories behind one of mankind’s most extraordinary endeavors: the exploration of space. Moving beyond scientific achievement, the programs examine the personal experiences of astronauts, cosmonauts, ground-based participants, and the loved ones left on Earth — while tracing significant landmarks in spacefaring history, from the birth of the Space Shuttle and the pioneering space station Mir to the rise of commercial spaceflight. As with the previous films, Once Upon a Time in Space features powerful firsthand testimony and intimate archival footage. The programs present accounts of bravery, friendship and tragedy against the backdrop of a rapidly changing world, connecting technical and geopolitical developments to those who experienced them.

Humankind’s journey into space began nearly 70 years ago as a competition between two opposing world views: capitalism and communism. Over the decades, space exploration evolved into a collaborative and unifying endeavor, culminating in the creation of the International Space Station — a place where people from across the globe live and work together in orbit. Featured in the series are many NASA astronauts, in addition to Russian cosmonauts, NASA officials, and family members. Episodes are America First (July 14), exploring the arc from the Space Race to the Shuttle program; The Russian Thing (July 21), spotlighting the Mir space station and U.S.Russian cooperation; Politics Always Wins (July 28), featuring the story of the International Space Station; and Friends Forever (August 4), exploring the challenges and future of collaboration in space.

More Space-Themed Programming on WETA PBS in July

American Experience: Chasing the Moon

• American Experience: Chasing the Moon — July 24 & 31 + Aug. 7 (Fridays), 9 p.m. A monumental three-part series featuring exclusively archival footage explores the era of the Space Race from its earliest beginnings to the first lunar landing on July 20, 1969. Interviewees include NASA astronauts; physicists; Soviet space program engineers; the first woman to serve in NASA’s Mission Control; and America’s first Black astronaut.

• 8 Days: To the Moon and Back — Sunday, July 12, 6:30 p.m. A BBC documentary featuring declassified mission audio, archival NASA film, and reenactments chronicles the Apollo 11 voyage to the moon, and moon landing, in July 1969.

• On NOVA: Black Hole Apocalypse + Black Hole Universe

— Wednesdays, July 8 & 15, 9 p.m. NOVA episodes spotlight the frontiers of research into black holes and join scientists as they try to detect gravitational waves to learn how black holes grow.

• On NOVA: Chasing Pluto + Pluto and Beyond — Wednesdays, July 22 & 29, 9 p.m. NOVA episodes follow NASA deep space probe New Horizon’s historic 2015 flyby of Pluto and 2019 visit to Ultima Thule, an object four billion miles from Earth.

Signora Volpe

Sundays at 6:30 p.m. starting July 19 on WETA PBS; stream on WETA+

When disillusioned British MI-6 agent Sylvia Fox (Emilia Fox, of classic British crime drama Silent Witness) visits Italy for her beloved niece’s wedding, the groom goes missing and Sylvia feels compelled to tackle the case. She solves the mystery and, seeking a quieter life and also longing to reconnect with her estranged sister (portrayed by Tara Fitzgerald, of Waking the Dead and Game of Thrones), decides to relocate to a picturesque village in Umbria. After moving in, she is soon investigating other cases — and she wins over a handsome local cop (Giovanni Cirfiera), even as her ex-husband and ex-colleague Adam (Jamie Bamber, of Law & Order: UK) tries to lure her back. Series 1, featuring three episodes, starts July 19 on WETA PBS. Binge-watch Series 1 and 2 on WETA+ with PBS Passport as of July 15.

Breakthrough: The Ideas That Changed the World

Tuesdays at 10 p.m. starting July 14 on WETA PBS; stream on WETA+

WETA reprises episodes of the 2019 BBC/PBS miniseries Breakthrough: The Ideas That Changed the World, which presents a voyage through human history, exploring the story of iconic inventions that are each a pinnacle of human achievement. Each is the culmination of thousands of years of thought, struggle, sacrifice, determination and insight; and each reveals littleknown stories, including surprising accidents, colorful characters and moments stretching back in time. Episodes airing this month are The Airplane (July 14), which gave us our greatest superpower: flight; The Telescope (July 21), which allowed the greatest discovery in history: the universe itself; and The Rocket (July 28), which has the potential to change the human species, allowing us to leave our earthly home.

POV: The Dating Game

Monday, July 20 at 10 p.m. on WETA PBS; stream on WETA+

An acclaimed documentary — a nominee for Sundance 2025’s Grand Jury Prize for World Cinema Documentary — visits China, a country where eligible men greatly outnumber women, to follow three bachelors, Zhou, Wu and Li, who join an intensive seven-day dating camp led by one of China’s top dating coaches in what may be their last-ditch effort to find love. China’s former one-child policy has left a marked gender imbalance in the nation’s population; tens of millions of men will be unable to find marriage partners. Director Violet Du Feng’s bittersweet film captures the three men stumbling through the camp’s awkward challenges and trying to make sense of their authentic and constructed selves.

Also this month: POV: For Venida, For Kalief (July 27, 10 p.m.) features the story of a mother and son whose experience and fate helped fuel the movement to close New York’s notorious Rikers Island prison.

NOVA: Athens: Birth of Democracy

Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators, Series 1 (Pt 4 of 10)

Denotes WETA productions, co-productions and presentations

NOVA: Revolutionary War Weapons The Kimberley: Australia’s Wild West (Pt 3 of 3. Into the Fire)

The Brokenwood Mysteries, Series 6 (Ep 3 of 4. Dead Men Don’t Shoot Ducks) (to 10:33pm)

Washington Week with The Atlantic A Capitol Fourth: 250th Weekend Celebration

Patience, Series 2 (Pt 4 of 8. The Timetable)

Antiques Roadshow: Springs Preserve, Hour 3

Finding Your Roots w/ Henry Louis Gates, Jr., Series 9 encore (Family: Lost and Found)

Nature: Niagara Falls

Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators, Series 1 (Pt 5 of 10)

Washington Week with The Atlantic Live from the LBJ Library w/ Mark Updegrove, Series 3

Great Migrations: A People on the Move (Pt 3 of 4. One-Way Ticket Back)

Patience, Series 2 (Pt 5 of 8. The Runes)

Antiques Roadshow: Living History Farms, Hour 2

Finding Your Roots w/ Henry Louis Gates, Jr., Series 9 encore (Out of the Past)

Nature: Soul of the Ocean

Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators, Series 1 (Pt 6 of 10)

Grantchester, Season 11 on Masterpiece (Pt 4 of 8)

Signature Dish, Series 2 (Pizza Perfection) Get Out of Town, Series 1 (St. Michaels, MD)

Breaking the Deadlock: How to Fix an Election

Utopia, Series 1 (Pt 3 of 8)

A Capitol Fourth: 250th Weekend Celebration (encore, to 11:30pm)

America–Made in Virginia: 250 Years Together A Capitol Fourth: 250th Weekend Celebration (encore, to 11:30pm)

Downton Abbey, Series 2 on Masterpiece (Pt 4 of 7)

Independent Lens: True North: Canadian Myths and Black Power (to 11:30pm)

8 Days: To the Moon and Back (to 11:30pm)

NOVA: Black Hole Apocalypse The American Southwest

The Brokenwood Mysteries, Series 6 (Ep 4 of 4. Dead and Buried) (to 10:32pm) Utopia, Series 1 (Pt 4 of 8)

Experience: JFK (Pt 1 of 2)

Great Migrations: A People on the Move (Pt 4 of 4. Coming to America)

Grantchester, Series 11 on Masterpiece (Pt 5 of 8)

Signature Dish, Series 2 (Mediterranean Magic) Get Out of Town, Series 1 (Deep Creek Lake, MD)

Once Upon a Time in Space (Pt 1 of 4. American First)

American Experience: JFK (Pt 1 of 2) (to 12m)

Downton Abbey, Series 2 on Masterpiece (Pt 5 of 7)

Independent Lens: Flood (to 11:30pm)

Breakthrough: The Ideas That Changed the World (The Airplane)

NOVA: Black Hole Universe Bugs That Rule the World (Pt 1 of 4. Insect Apocalypse)

The Brokenwood Mysteries, Series 7 (Ep 1 of 6. The Garotte and the Vinkelbraun) (to 10:32pm) Utopia, Series 1 (Pt 5 of 8)

Washington Week with The Atlantic Live from the LBJ Library w/ Mark Updegrove, Series 3 American Experience: JFK (Pt 2 of 2)

American Experience: FDR (Pt 1 of 2)

Patience, Series 2 (Pt 6 of 8. Paco’s Revenge)

Antiques Roadshow: Denver Botanic Gardens Chatfield Farms, Hour 1

Finding Your Roots w/ Henry Louis Gates, Jr., Series 12 encore (Caribbean Roots)

Nature: Big Little Journeys: Home

Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators, Series 1 (Pt 7 of 10)

Washington Week with The Atlantic Live from the LBJ Library w/ Mark Updegrove, Series 3

American Experience: FDR (Pt 2 of 2)

Patience, Series 2 (Pt 7 of 8. A Monk’s Tale)

Antiques Roadshow: Denver Botanic Gardens Chatfield Farms, Hour 3

Finding Your Roots w/ Henry Louis Gates, Jr., Series 12 encore (The Road We Took)

Nature: Big Little Journeys: Survival

Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators, Series 1 (Pt 8 of 10)

Washington Week with The Atlantic

Live from the LBJ Library w/ Mark Updegrove, Series 3

Grantchester, Series 11 on Masterpiece (Pt 6 of 8)

Signature Dish, Series 2 (Crossover Cuisine)

Once Upon a Time in Space (Pt 2 of 4. The Russian Thing)

NOVA: Chasing Pluto

Visit weta.org/schedule for the most up-to-date schedule information. 10:30

PBS News Hour airs weeknights at 7 p.m.

American Experience: JFK (Pt 2 of 2) (to 12m)

Downton Abbey, Series 2 on Masterpiece (Pt 6 of 7) (to 12m)

Get Out of Town, Series 1 (Harpers Ferry, WV) POV: The Dating Game (to 11:30pm)

Breakthrough: The Ideas That Changed the World (The Telescope)

Bugs That Rule the World (Pt 2 of 4. Lifegivers)

The Brokenwood Mysteries, Series 7 (Ep 2 of 6. The Witches of Brokenwood) (to 10:32pm) Utopia, Series 1 (Pt 6 of 8)

American Experience: Chasing the Moon (Pt 1 of 3. A Place Beyond the Sky)

Live from the LBJ Library w/ Mark Updegrove, Series 3

Grantchester, Series 11 on Masterpiece (Pt 7 of 8)

Downton Abbey, Series 2 on Masterpiece (Pt 7 of 7) (to 12m)

Signature Dish, Series 2 (Just Desserts) Get Out of Town, Series 1 (Charlottesville, VA) POV: For Venida, For Kalief (to 11:30pm)

Once Upon a Time in Space (Pt 3 of 4. Politics Always Wins)

NOVA: Pluto and Beyond

The Brokenwood Mysteries, Series 7 (Ep 3 of 6. Dog Day Morning) (to 10:32pm)

Breakthrough: The Ideas That Changed the World (The Rocket)

Bugs That Rule the World (Pt 3 of 4. Eat or Be Eaten)

Utopia, Series 1 (Pt 7 of 8)

American Experience: Chasing the Moon (Pt 2 of 3. Earthrise)

Amanpour and Company airs late weeknights (check listings)

TV Listings

WETA PBS in July

Listings are accurate as of press time. For latest schedules, visit weta.org/schedule or call 703-998-2724.

WETA PBS is devoted to children’s educational programming 8 a.m.–3 p.m., Monday-Friday. For 24 hours of children’s programming each day, tune in to the WETA PBS Kids channel.

Program Key

Blue type — WETA productions, co-productions and presentations. R — Repeat of recent programming.

July 3 at

1

Wednesday

WEEKDAYS IN JULY:

6AM NHK NEWSLINE

6:30AM BBC NEWS

7AM (Mondays:) COMPASS POINTS FROM PBS NEWS

7AM (Tuesdays-Saturdays:) PBS NEWS HOUR R

7:30 (Mon:) WASHINGTON WEEK WITH THE ATLANTIC — R

8AM-3PM WETA KIDS PROGRAMMING

5PM AMANPOUR AND COMPANY Rpt of previous night

6PM BBC NEWS: THE CONTEXT

6:30 BBC WORLD NEWS AMERICA

7:00 PBS NEWS HOUR — Each weeknight, the WETA production presents in-depth news reports and analysis of current events with a news summary, live studio interviews and discussions of domestic and international issues. Amna Nawaz and Geoff Bennett anchor. Visit pbs.org/newshour Repeats next day, 7am

8:00 NOVA: ATHENS: BIRTH OF DEMOCRACY — Follow archaeological investigations into the origins of democracy in Greece 2,500 years ago. Repeats Thur 7/2, 3pm; Mon 7/6, 3pm

9:00 NOVA: REVOLUTIONARY WAR WEAPONS — How did America’s colonial army defeat the most powerful army in the world to win American independence? Discover the key military technologies that helped propel the colonies to victory. Repeats Thur 7/2, 4pm; Sun 7/5, 3pm; Mon 7/6, 4pm

10:00 THE KIMBERLEY: AUSTRALIA’S WILD WEST — Experience iconic creatures and breathtaking lands found nowhere else on Earth. Part 3 of 3. Into the Fire. Bask in the largest intact savanna on the planet, where mammals and insects fly through the air. Study traditional wildfire-management methods, explore a sandstone refuge, and more. Repeats Fri 7/3, 4pm

11:00 AMANPOUR AND COMPANY — Examine the global issues, domestic news and trends impacting the world. Christiane Amanpour leads conversations with thought leaders and influencers. Repeats next weekday, 5pm

2 Thursday

8:00 SHAKESPEARE & HATHAWAY: PRIVATE INVESTIGATORS, SERIES 1 — A quirky crime drama follows a private detective duo’s cases. Mark Benton and

Jo Joyner star. Part 4 of 10. This Rough Magic. Magician Lawrence Pross is in the midst of his act’s grand finale when tragedy strikes and his unlucky volunteer is killed. Accused of involuntary manslaughter, Lawrence is ruined. His daughter Maggie doesn’t believe the trick was faulty and helps enlist Frank and Lu to prove that the act was sabotaged.

9:00 THE BROKENWOOD MYSTERIES, SERIES 6 — Quirky Detective Mike Shepherd and his team investigate crimes in small-town New Zealand. Episode 3 of 4. Dead Men Don’t Shoot Ducks. When an animal rights activist is killed while attempting to disrupt the first day of duck-hunting season, Shepherd and the team investigate. Was the woman’s death an accidental shooting?

10:33 UTOPIA, SERIES 1 — An Australian comedy, set inside the offices of a fictitious government ministry, follows the work of a team guiding major infrastructure projects. Part 3 of 8. Very Fast Turnover. Tony must investigate the feasibility of a very fast train but is hampered by staff turnover. Amy decides to conduct an office safety audit.

3 Friday

8:00 WASHINGTON WEEK WITH THE ATLANTIC — In WETA’s weekly production, The Atlantic editor in chief Jeffrey Goldberg moderates a roundtable discussion with award-winning journalists who provide reporting and analysis of major news stories from the nation’s capital. Visit pbs.org/washingtonweek Repeats Sat 7/4, 6am, 6:30pm; Sun 7/5, 11:30am; Mon 7/6, 7:30am

8:30 A CAPITOL FOURTH: 250TH WEEKEND CELEBRATION — Celebrate the nation’s 250th birthday live from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol with the July 3 national kick-off event to this Independence Day weekend’s festivities. This celebration features all-star musical and patriotic performances from pop, country, R&B, Broadway, classical and gospel artists — including country music icon Trace Adkins, who debuts his new song “American Made” — joined by the National Symphony Orchestra under the direction of pops conductor Jack Everly. The 2026 edition of America’s birthday party includes a live fireworks show at George Washington’s Mount Vernon. Repeats tonight; Sat 7/4, 10pm

10:00 A CAPITOL FOURTH: 250TH WEEKEND CELEBRATION — (Encore presentation; 90 min.) R

Sunday dramas on WETA PBS & WETA Metro Crime drama Patience (above, starring Ella Maisy Purvis) and Masterpiece presentations Grantchester and Downton Abbey continue. On WETA PBS, mystery series Signora Volpe starts July 19, 6:30 p.m., starring Emilia Fox as a British spy relocating to Italy.

4 Saturday

6AM WASHINGTON WEEK WITH THE ATLANTIC — R

6:30 FIRING LINE WITH MARGARET HOOVER — Repeats

Sundays, 11am

7AM PBS NEWS HOUR — R

8AM BLOOMBERG WALL STREET WEEK

9AM THIS OLD HOUSE + ASK THIS OLD HOUSE

10AM SAVERS OF FLAVOR

10AM OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS, SERIES 3 — (starts July 11)

10:30 LUCKY CHOW

10:30 SIGNATURE DISH, SEASON 4 — (starts July 11)

11AM AMERICA’S TEST KITCHEN FROM COOK’S ILLUSTRATED

11:30 PATI’S MEXICAN TABLE

12N NEW SCANDINAVIAN COOKING

12:30 CHRISTOPHER KIMBALL’S MILK STREET TELEVISION

1:00 FORK & HAMMER

1:00 MY GREEK TABLE WITH DIANE KOCHILAS — (starts July 25)

1:30 LIDIA’S KITCHEN

2:00 WEEKENDS WITH YANKEE

2:30 WINE FIRST

3:00 J SCHWANKE’S LIFE IN BLOOM

3:30 LIFE OF LOI

3:30 JOSEPH ROSENDO’S STEPPIN’ OUT — (starts July 11)

4:00 COOK’S COUNTRY FROM AMERICA’S TEST KITCHEN

4:30 AMERICA’S TEST KITCHEN FROM COOK’S ILLUSTRATED

5:00 INDIAN AS APPLE PIE

5:30 THIS OLD HOUSE

6:00 HORIZONS FROM PBS NEWS — Dive into the world of science, health, technology, and environmental issues making headlines each week. PBS News Hour’s William Brangham hosts in-depth discussions featuring leading experts. Repeats Sunday, noon

6:30 WASHINGTON WEEK WITH THE ATLANTIC — R

7:00 GEORGE WASHINGTON’S MOUNT VERNON: PRESERVING THE LEGACY — In this program produced by WETA as part of the award-winning WETA Arts series, go behind the scenes of the recent, large-scale restoration work done at George Washington’s Mount Vernon in Virginia. The sprawling estate remains an enduring symbol of Washington’s life, and this renovation has uncovered new insights into the private person behind the public figure. Repeats tonight; Sun 7/5, 4pm

7:30 WETA ARTS — In a reprised episode, WETA’s series highlights a sweeping renovation at George Washington’s Mount Vernon — the latest chapter in a long preservation story. By the mid-19th century, the estate had fallen into near ruin; the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association saved the mansion and established a model for preserving historic sites. Repeats tonight; Sun 7/5, 4:30pm

8:00 AMERICA–MADE IN VIRGINIA: 250 YEARS TOGETHER — Set in the heart of Colonial Williamsburg, a special Independence Day program pays tribute to America’s Semiquincentennial with live performance, historic interpretation, music, narration and more. Participants include Ken Burns, Judy Collins, Michael Feinstein, Ryan Speedo Green, Kelli O’Hara, Richard Thomas, Adrienne Warren, Leah Glenn Dance Theatre, and Virginia Chorale. The evening culminates with a dramatic fireworks and drone display set to a patriotic score

performed by the United States Air Force Heritage of America Band. Repeats Sun 7/5, 1pm

10:00 A CAPITOL FOURTH: 250TH WEEKEND CELEBRATION — (Encore) R

11:30 GEORGE WASHINGTON’S MOUNT VERNON: PRESERVING THE LEGACY — R

12M WETA ARTS — R

12:30AM LIVE FROM THE LBJ LIBRARY WITH MARK UPDEGROVE

1AM DECLARATIONS: BLACK AMERICANS AND THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR — Trace the heroic stories of the enslaved and freed Black Americans who fought to define democracy and their liberty through the Revolutionary War. R

5

Sunday

6AM-9AM WETA KIDS PROGRAMMING 9AM WHITE HOUSE CHRONICLE

9:30 EUROMAXX AT ITS BEST

10AM DW EUROMAXX – LIFESTYLE EUROPE

10:30 MOTORWEEK

11AM FIRING LINE WITH MARGARET HOOVER

11:30 WASHINGTON WEEK WITH THE ATLANTIC — R 12N HORIZONS FROM PBS NEWS — R

12:30 COMPASS POINTS FROM PBS NEWS — See tonight’s 6 p.m. listing.

1:00 AMERICA–MADE IN VIRGINIA: 250 YEARS TOGETHER — See the Saturday, July 4, 8 p.m. listing. R

3:00 NOVA: REVOLUTIONARY WAR WEAPONS — R

4:00 GEORGE WASHINGTON’S MOUNT VERNON: PRESERVING THE LEGACY — R

4:30 WETA ARTS — R

5:00 LUCY WORSLEY INVESTIGATES: THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION — Historian Lucy Worsley investigates the 18th-century split between Britain and its 13 American colonies. Part 2 of 2. A Messy Divorce. Worsley examines how the American Revolution affected Britain. R

6:00 COMPASS POINTS FROM PBS NEWS — Join PBS News Hour’s Nick Schifrin and a panel of experts analyzing prominent international affairs topics. Repeats Mondays, 7am

6:30 UTOPIA, SERIES 1 — An Australian comedy, set inside the offices of a fictitious government organization, follows the work of a team in charge of guiding major infrastructure projects. Part 6. Then We Can Build It Concerned that Tasmania’s infrastructure needs have been overlooked, Jim sends Tony and the team south for a series of public forums.

7:00 BIG ADVENTURES: INTO THE AMAZON WITH ROBSON GREEN — Follow the Grantchester actor’s journey into the largest rainforest on Earth. Part 3 of 3. Green explores the beautiful Anavilhanas Archipelago by canoe. A group of tiny islands and lagoons, it’s a magical place, and Robson is bowled over to see its wildlife. He learns to fish with a bow and arrow, helped by an indigenous guide.

8:00 PATIENCE, SERIES 2 — Ella Maisy Purvis stars in the British crime drama. Part 4 of 8. The Timetable. A young autistic girl witnesses her father’s murder at the railway museum but is unable to tell anyone what happened. Patience connects with her and coaxes some information from her that leads to a breakthrough in the case. Repeats 1am

Wednesday, July 8 at 8 p.m. on WETA PBS & WETA Metro Nature: Niagara Falls spotlights an extraordinary ecosystem, larger than the state of Texas, that feeds the water world of America’s most famous falls. Through the eyes of scientists and naturalists, the program also explores the region’s wide variety of wildlife.

Fridays, July 10 & 17 at 9 p.m. on WETA PBS & WETA Metro WETA reprises the acclaimed American Experience program JFK, a two-part biography of John F. Kennedy, the nation’s 35th president, exploring the story of the man, his accomplishments and his unfulfilled promise. Above, Kennedy in Dallas, Nov. 22, 1963.

9:00 GRANTCHESTER, SERIES 11 ON MASTERPIECE — Part 4 of 8. Alphy’s trip to reconcile with his mother takes a shocking turn when a passenger is murdered and he becomes the prime suspect. Back in Grantchester, Leonard defends troubled Raymond from Geordie, and Miss Scott hides a big secret. Repeats 2am

10:00 DOWNTON ABBEY, SERIES 2 ON MASTERPIECE — Part 4 of 7. In the climactic battle of the war, Matthew and William go over the top to an uncertain fate. Vera plays a cruel endgame with Bates and Anna. And Daisy faces the severest test of her life. Repeats 3am

11:00 THE INN AT LITTLE WASHINGTON: A DELICIOUS DOCUMENTARY — Meet Patrick O’Connell, a self-taught chef whose Virginia restaurant is considered one of the finest dining experiences in America. This 2020 film follows Chef O’Connell’s pursuit of the ultimate culinary accolade: a third Michelin star. R 12M-4AM See the 7-11 p.m. listings.

6 Monday

7:00 PBS NEWS HOUR — Weeknights. Visit pbs.org/newshour Repeats next day, 7am

8:00 ANTIQUES ROADSHOW: SPRINGS PRESERVE, HOUR 3 — Roadshow heads to the Mojave Desert in search of marvels. Finds include a Frank McCarthy oil painting; baseball autographs, ca. 1945; and a 1977 Elvis Presley watch presented to Redd Foxx. One is valued at $80,000 to $120,000. Repeats Tue 7/7, 3pm

9:00 SIGNATURE DISH — Season 2 encore: Pizza Perfection WETA’s local restaurant series explores the artistry behind perfect pies, from the unique Roman-style “pinsas” of La Casina in Capitol Hill to the Detroit-style delights of Shaw’s Motown Square and the Greekinfluenced creations at Martha Dear in Mount Pleasant. Seth Tillman hosts. Repeats Tue 7/7, 4pm

9:30 GET OUT OF TOWN — WETA reprises episodes of the regional travel and adventure series. Season 1 encore: St. Michaels, MD. Mother-daughter hosts Laurita and Lauren take to the water in the seaport town. They learn to sail with Sail Selina II and explore the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, while staying at the Wildset Hotel and the Inn at Perry Cabin. Food exploration includes cracking crabs at The Crab Claw and enjoying local fare at Ava’s Pizzeria & Wine Bar. Repeats Tue 7/7, 4:30pm

10:00 INDEPENDENT LENS: TRUE NORTH: CANADIAN MYTHS AND BLACK POWER — In 1968, Montreal became a crossroads for Black liberation. After the Congress of Black Writers, student activists launched what became the Sir George Williams Affair, confronting racism and state violence in a defining moment of the Black Power era. (90 min.)

7 Tuesday

8:00 FINDING YOUR ROOTS WITH HENRY LOUIS GATES, JR. — In this series produced in association with WETA, join Harvard scholar Henry Louis Gates, Jr., as he delves into the genealogy of famous Americans. Season 9 encore: Family: Lost and Found. Gates uses DNA

detective work to solve family mysteries for actor Joe Manganiello and football star Tony Gonzalez — uncovering close relatives whose names they’ve never heard and compelling each man to rethink his own identity. Repeats Wed 7/8, 3pm; Sat 7/11, midnight

9:00 BREAKING THE DEADLOCK: HOW TO FIX AN ELECTION — Moderator Aaron Tang leads panelists, all prominent voices with political and cultural differences, through a hypothetical situation. Unknown to the panelists in advance, the scenario involves city, state, and national leaders first tackling an infrastructure threat that expands to include an upcoming election, questions of voting rights, and national security. Will America’s core principles withstand this theoretical stress test? Rpts Wed 7/8, 4pm; Sat 7/11, 1am; Sun 7/12, 1pm, 11pm

10:00 8 DAYS: TO THE MOON AND BACK — Join Apollo 11 on its historic 1969 journey. The program blends mission audio featuring conversations between Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins with new footage, NASA archival imagery and stunning CGI to recreate the first moon landing. (90 min.) Repeats Sun 7/12, 6:30pm

8 Wednesday

8:00 NATURE: NIAGARA FALLS — Witness the stunning beauty of Niagara Falls and learn about the wide variety of wildlife — mammals, birds and reptiles — that call it home. Through the eyes of passionate scientists, uncover a complex world forged by stone and powered by water. Repeats Thur 7/9, 3pm

9:00 NOVA: BLACK HOLE APOCALYPSE — Join a mind-bending journey to the frontiers of black hole research with astrophysicist Janna Levin. Discover how scientists observe black holes as they form and reveal new clues to the strangest and most extreme objects in the universe. Repeats Thur 7/9, 4pm; Sun 7/12, 2pm

10:00 THE AMERICAN SOUTHWEST — A journey spotlights the majestic Colorado River. From the Rockies to scorching deserts and iconic landscapes, the river sustains wildlife and communities. Uncover the region’s deep cultural history and the battle to protect its future. Quannah Chasinghorse narrates. Rpts Fri 7/10, 3pm

9 Thursday

8:00 SHAKESPEARE & HATHAWAY: PRIVATE INVESTIGATORS, SERIES 1 — Part 5 of 10. Toil and Trouble. When the Mayor of Arden is discovered murdered in his isolated cottage, suspicion falls on local criminal Billy Porters. With the law hunting him, Billy turns up at the agency and pleads with Frank to clear his name.

9:00 THE BROKENWOOD MYSTERIES, SERIES 6 — Episode 4 of 4. Dead and Buried. A suspicious suicide inside Brokenwood Women’s Prison turns personal when Shepherd discovers he knew the victim. As the detectives investigate, they come across familiar faces.

10:32 UTOPIA, SERIES 1 — Part 4 of 8. Onwards and Upwards Tony is reluctantly dragged in when the developer of a low-rise inner city building project decides he wants to double the height of his apartment block — and then triple it.

Fridays at 8:30 p.m. starting July 10 on WETA PBS The interview-style discussion series Live From the LBJ Library with Mark Updegrove presents new Season 3 episodes, featuring the author, historian and journalist interviewing eminent thinkers.

9 p.m. Tuesdays starting July 14 on WETA PBS & WETA Metro New miniseries Once Upon a Time in Space, from the makers of Once Upon a Time in Northern Ireland and Once Upon a Time in Iraq, draws on firsthand testimony to tell human stories behind the quest to explore space. Above: Astronaut Anna Fisher, May 1980.

10 Friday

8:00 WASHINGTON WEEK WITH THE ATLANTIC — Visit pbs.org/washingtonweek Repeats Sat 7/11, 6am, 6:30pm; Sun 7/12, 11:30am; Mon 7/13, 7:30am

8:30 LIVE FROM THE LBJ LIBRARY WITH MARK UPDEGROVE, SERIES 3 — New season! The interview series features author, historian and journalist Mark Updegrove speaking with thought leaders about contemporary topics. Episode 1. Stacey Abrams. Abrams, the first African American to serve as Georgia House Minority Leader, campaigned in the Georgia gubernatorial race and remains a guardian of voting rights. She discusses efforts to dismantle the Voting Rights Act — and what can be done to protect American democracy.

9:00 AMERICAN EXPERIENCE: JFK — Follow the story of President John F. Kennedy: the man, his accomplishments and his unfulfilled promise. Part 1 of 2. The first half of the film follows JFK’s rise to power through his election as president in 1960 — the youngest man ever to be elected to the office. With illuminating interviews with family members, historian Robert Dallek and author Robert Caro, the program offers insight into Kennedy’s early years, and his transformation from a sickly youth, to Washington’s most eligible bachelor, to the nation’s president. Repeats Sat 7/11, 10pm; Sun 7/12, 4pm; Mon 7/13, 3pm

11 Saturday

6AM-6PM See the Saturday, July 4 listings.

6:00 HORIZONS FROM PBS NEWS — Repeats Sunday, noon

6:30 WASHINGTON WEEK WITH THE ATLANTIC — R

7:00 THE LAST BATTLEFRONT: QUEST FOR THE VOTE IN WASHINGTON, D.C. — Learn about Washington, D.C.’s campaign for self-government and voting rights through the experiences of its citizens. Since 1801, D.C. residents have faced disenfranchisement. Repeats 2am; Sun 7/12, midnight

8:00 GREAT MIGRATIONS: A PEOPLE ON THE MOVE — A 2025 production created in association with WETA and written and hosted by Prof. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. spotlights how a series of Black migrations have shaped America — and how movement is a defining feature of the Black experience. Part 3 of 4. One-Way Ticket Back Explore how the migration of Black Americans back to the South — driven by mass movements, economic change, and an ongoing struggle for freedom — continued to reshape the country.

9:00 GREAT MIGRATIONS: A PEOPLE ON THE MOVE — Part 4 of 4. Coming to America. Hear the story of African and Caribbean immigrants in the United States and learn about their profound impact on American culture and what it means to be Black in America.

10:00 AMERICAN EXPERIENCE: JFK — Part 1 of 2. R

12M FINDING YOUR ROOTS WITH HENRY LOUIS GATES, JR. — Season 9 encore: Family: Lost and Found R

1AM BREAKING THE DEADLOCK : HOW TO FIX AN ELECTION — R

12 Sunday

6AM-11:30AM See the Sunday, July 5 listings.

11:30 WASHINGTON WEEK WITH THE ATLANTIC — R

12N HORIZONS FROM PBS NEWS — R

12:30 COMPASS POINTS FROM PBS NEWS — Rpts 6pm

1:00 BREAKING THE DEADLOCK: HOW TO FIX AN ELECTION — R

2:00 NOVA: BLACK HOLE APOCALYPSE — R

3:00 ASTROPOLITICS — Today, from low earth orbit to the lunar surface, China, the USA and a host of other nations are racing to gain advantages in space that will bolster their influence on Earth. Will this race end in governments, companies and individuals collaborating to benefit all humankind — or pursuing a zero-sum national interest strategy that inevitably leads to conflict?

4:00 AMERICAN EXPERIENCE: JFK — Part 1 of 2 R

6:00 COMPASS POINTS FROM PBS NEWS — Rpts Mondays, 7am

6:30 8 DAYS: TO THE MOON AND BACK — R

8:00 PATIENCE, SERIES 2 — Part 5 of 8. The Runes. A Viking expert dies before a big controversial speech and Patience finds a coded message hinting at foul play. As another scholar is targeted, she and Frankie race to uncover the truth. And her relationship with Elliot hits the rocks. Repeats 1am

9:00 GRANTCHESTER, SERIES 11 ON MASTERPIECE — Part 5 of 8. A murder near Bishop Grey’s home exposes corruption within the Church’s inner circle, shaking Alphy’s faith. Geordie secures his long-awaited promotion but faces growing distance from Cathy. Meanwhile, Leonard returns to his calling. Repeats 2am

10:00 DOWNTON ABBEY, SERIES 2 ON MASTERPIECE — Part 5 of 7. As the war nears its end, Downton’s aristocrats and servants put their lives back together. Mary and Sir Richard go estate hunting. A mysterious wounded officer makes a shocking revelation. Repeats 3am

11:00 BREAKING THE DEADLOCK: HOW TO FIX AN ELECTION — R

12M THE LAST BATTLEFRONT: QUEST FOR THE VOTE IN WASHINGTON, D.C. — R 1AM-4AM See the 8-11 p.m. listings.

13 Monday

7:00 PBS NEWS HOUR — Weeknights. Visit pbs.org/newshour Repeats next day, 7am

8:00 ANTIQUES ROADSHOW: LIVING HISTORY FARMS, HOUR 2 — See remarkable finds from Iowa, including a 1967 NFL Championship “Ice Bowl” ticket stub; a 1989 Ronald Reagan letter; and a Robert Riggs Saturday Evening Post illustration. Which is valued at $70,000 to $90,000? Repeats Tue 7/14, 3pm 9:00 SIGNATURE DISH — Season 2 encore: Mediterranean Magic. WETA’s local restaurant series dives into the rich culinary heritage of the Mediterranean. Host Seth Tillman first stops at Green Almond Pantry in Georgetown, then heads to Maryland to visit Cedars of Lebanon in Greenbelt and Melina in North Bethesda and explore unique flavors. Repeats Tue 7/14, 4pm

Saturday, July 11 at 7 p.m. on WETA PBS The Last Battlefront: Quest for the Vote in Washington, D.C.explores the capital city’s campaign for self-government and voting rights through the experiences of its citizens past and present.

Wednesday, July 15 at 8 p.m. on WETA PBS & WETA Metro

Nature: Soul of the Ocean, from eminent underwater filmmaker Howard Hall, illuminates how life in the ocean really works — in surprisingly cooperative communities in a vast system of interconnection, with life co-existing in a marriage of necessity.

9:30 GET OUT OF TOWN — Season 1 encore: Deep Creek Lake, MD. Mountain and water views beckon; activities include paddleboarding and kayaking on Deep Creek Lake, roller-coastering on Wisp Mountain, and more. Repeats Tue 7/14, 4:30pm

10:00 INDEPENDENT LENS: FLOOD — In this film, Katy Scoggin returns home to California’s Inland Empire outside Los Angeles to face her differences with her evangelical father. What begins as a project becomes a journey toward empathy and connection, as they confront faith, family, and memory on a cross-country trip. (90 min.)

14 Tuesday

8:00 FINDING YOUR ROOTS WITH HENRY LOUIS GATES, JR. — In this series produced in association with WETA, join Harvard scholar Henry Louis Gates, Jr., as he delves into the genealogy of famous Americans. Season 9 encore: Out of the Past. Gates uncovers the lost roots of actors Billy Crudup and Tamera Mowry-Housley, recounting significant events in history — from the American Revolution to the journey of the Mayflower — in a deeply personal way. Repeats Fri 7/17, 3pm; Sat 7/18, midnight

9:00 ONCE UPON A TIME IN SPACE — Drawing on archival imagery and firsthand testimony, this series from the makers of Once Upon a Time in Northern Ireland tells the human stories behind mankind’s quest to explore space. Part 1 of 4. America First. With the dawn of the Space Shuttle, the U.S. gains ground on its Cold War rivals. A pioneering class of astronauts takes flight, but when tragedy strikes, NASA is left reeling. Repeats Wed 7/15, 3pm; Sat 7/18, 7pm, 1am; Sun 7/19, 3pm

10:00 BREAKTHROUGH: THE IDEAS THAT CHANGED THE WORLD — Hear stories of how humans changed the world with revolutionary inventions. The Airplane. Take to the sky with the dreamers whose work gave humans the ability to fly; explore inventions from Leonardo da Vinci’s “flying machines” to the modern commercial plane. Repeats Wed 7/15, 4pm; Sat 7/18, 2am; Sun 7/19, 1pm

15 Wednesday

8:00 NATURE: SOUL OF THE OCEAN — Take a never-beforeseen look at how life underwater co-exists in a marriage of necessity. Repeats Thur 7/16, 3pm

9:00 NOVA: BLACK HOLE UNIVERSE — Black holes, and even supermassive black holes, are likely at the center of every galaxy. But how do they grow, and can we ever be sure we’re “seeing” one? Join scientists as they try to detect gravitational waves. Repeats Thur 7/16, 4pm; Sun 7/19, 2pm

10:00 BUGS THAT RULE THE WORLD — Explore the fascinating world of bugs and their ecological importance, from pollinators to insect predators and more. Part 1 of 4. Insect Apocalypse. Could a world without insects survive? Follow scientists investigating the crucial role bugs play on our planet. Repeats Fri 7/17, 4pm

16 Thursday

8:00 SHAKESPEARE & HATHAWAY: PRIVATE INVESTIGATORS, SERIES 1 — Part 6 of 10. Pursued by a Bear. A hysterical actor, Sally, flies into Frank and Lu’s office. Sally is in town staging her new adaptation of Romeo and Juliet but someone has left a menacing message on her hotel room window. The sleuths get to work, and someone tries to poison Sally during the preview performance. The cast is full of suspects; Frank and Lu must find the would-be killer.

9:00 THE BROKENWOOD MYSTERIES, SERIES 7 — Episode 1 of 6. The Garotte and the Vinkelbraun. Detective Mike Shepherd and his team explore the world of antiquities when a host of the hit series All Things Old and Beautiful is found murdered.

10:32 UTOPIA, SERIES 1 — Part 5 of 8. Arts and Minds. The decision to include roadside art on a major highway upgrade leads to controversy. Things get worse when Tony’s visit to a primary school results in the actual launch of Australia’s first space program.

17 Friday

8:00 WASHINGTON WEEK WITH THE ATLANTIC — Visit pbs.org/washingtonweek Repeats 7/18, 6am, 6:30pm; Sun 7/19, 11:30am; Mon 7/20, 7:30am

8:30 LIVE FROM THE LBJ LIBRARY WITH MARK UPDEGROVE, SERIES 3 — The author, historian and journalist discusses contemporary issues with thought leaders. Episode 2. America 250 Compilation. The series celebrates America’s 250th birthday by looking back at moments in the program that shed light on the American experience and our nation’s history — with reflections from Doris Kearns Goodwin, Andrew Young, Heather Cox Richardson, Bryan Cranston, Bob Woodward, Carl Bernstein, and others.

9:00 AMERICAN EXPERIENCE: JFK — Part 2 of 2. Follow President John F. Kennedy into the White House, through his assassination and the unfulfilled promise of his presidency. Offering fresh assessments of his tenure, the program features frank appraisals by administration officials, including John Siegenthaler, Thomas Hughes and Harris Wofford — and by civil rights leaders Andrew Young and Julian Bond, and journalists Evan Thomas and Richard Reeves. (2 hrs.) Repeats Sat 7/18, 10pm; Sun 7/19, 4pm; Mon 7/20, 3pm

18 Saturday

6AM-6PM See the Saturday, July 4 listings.

6:00 HORIZONS FROM PBS NEWS — Repeats Sunday, noon

6:30 WASHINGTON WEEK WITH THE ATLANTIC — R

7:00 ONCE UPON A TIME IN SPACE — Part 1 of 4. America First R

8:00 AMERICAN EXPERIENCE: FDR — In this reprised 1995 documentary, learn how President Franklin D. Roosevelt restored hope after the Great Depression and led the nation during World War II. Parts 1 & 2 of 4 The Center of the World/Fear Itself. Explore Roosevelt’s background, early political rise, courtship, and

10 p.m. Wednesdays starting July 15 on WETA PBS & WETA Metro Four-part miniseries Bugs That Rule the World explores the world of insects and their ecological importance — from pollinators and insect predators to the clean-up crews purifying the planet.

Monday, July 20 at 8 p.m. on WETA PBS

In a reprised episode, Antiques Roadshow visits Denver’s Botanic Gardens Chatfield Farms native plant refuge and working farm to find Colorado treasures. Above: Appraiser Ken Famer examines a Cann & Dunn coin silver tea service, ca. 1856, in Littleton.

marriage to his distant cousin Eleanor. The story continues with FDR’s bout with polio at 39 and his struggle to rehabilitate his body and his political future. David McCullough narrates.

10:00 AMERICAN EXPERIENCE: JFK — Part 2 of 2 R

12M FINDING YOUR ROOTS WITH HENRY LOUIS GATES, JR. — Season 9 encore: Out of the Past R

1AM ONCE UPON A TIME IN SPACE — Part 1 of 4. America First R

2AM BREAKTHROUGH: THE IDEAS THAT CHANGED THE WORLD — The Airplane R

19 Sunday

6AM-11:30AM See the Sunday, July 5 listings.

11:30 WASHINGTON WEEK WITH THE ATLANTIC — R

12N HORIZONS FROM PBS NEWS — R

12:30 COMPASS POINTS FROM PBS NEWS — Rpts 6pm

1:00 BREAKTHROUGH: THE IDEAS THAT CHANGED THE WORLD — The Airplane R

2:00 NOVA: BLACK HOLE UNIVERSE — R

3:00 ONCE UPON A TIME IN SPACE — Part 1 of 4. America First R

4:00 AMERICAN EXPERIENCE: JFK — Part 2 of 2 R

6:00 COMPASS POINTS FROM PBS NEWS — Repeats Mondays, 7am

6:30 SIGNORA VOLPE, SERIES 1 — Disillusioned British spy Sylvia Fox (Emilia Fox, Silent Witness) visits Italy, tackles a mystery and decides to start anew in Umbria. Part 1 of 3. An Anxious Aunt. Sylvia Fox travels to Italy for her niece’s wedding and in hopes of repairing her relationship with her sister Isabel (Tara Fitzgerald). When the groom goes missing, leaving a dead woman behind, Sylvia investigates. The trail leads her from an empty pizza box and stolen children’s book to a deadly showdown.

8:00 PATIENCE, SERIES 2 — Part 6 of 8. Paco’s Revenge. A woman is found dead in the botanical gardens. Was she murdered or did she die of natural causes? Patience suspects foul play and falls out with Frankie — who needs convincing. Meanwhile, Patience tries to deny her feelings for Elliot. Repeats midnight

9:00 GRANTCHESTER, SERIES 11 ON MASTERPIECE — Part 6 of 8. Cathy’s triumph at CeCe’s turns dark when a club manager is found dead and Alphy is discovered in the depths of an illegal poker game. As Geordie uncovers a web of extortion, friendships fracture and faith falters. Repeats 1am

10:00 DOWNTON ABBEY, SERIES 2 ON MASTERPIECE — Part 6 of 7. The Spanish Influenza epidemic strikes Downton and tragedies unfold, disrupting one match, hastening another, and transforming the fortunes of all. Mary, Sybil and Robert each confront a moment of truth. Anna and Bates know a precious moment of happiness. Repeats 2am

12M-4AM See the 8 p.m.-midnight listings.

20 Monday

7:00 PBS NEWS HOUR — Weeknights. Visit pbs.org/newshour Repeats next day, 7am

8:00 ANTIQUES ROADSHOW: DENVER BOTANIC GARDENS

CHATFIELD FARMS, HOUR 1 — Discover Colorado treasures including a 1954 Marilyn Monroe military defense ID photo; a Panama hat, ca. 1970; and an Andy Warhol golden-shoe collage. Which is valued at $125,000 to $150,000? Repeats Tue 7/21, 3pm

9:00 SIGNATURE DISH — Season 2 encore: Crossover Cuisine The innovative world of fusion cuisine, where culinary traditions blend and create something new, is the heart of this episode of WETA’s local restaurant series. Host Seth Tillman stops by Imperfecto in D.C.’s West End and then heads to Virginia to visit Mama Tigre in Oakton and Wooboi in Alexandria. Repeats Tue 7/21, 4pm

9:30 GET OUT OF TOWN — Season 1 encore: Harpers Ferry, WV. Mother-daughter hosts Laurita and Lauren experience history, enjoy delicious meals and go adventuring. From tours of Harpers Ferry sites to rafting down the Shenandoah, this destination is full of surprises. Repeats Tue 7/21, 4:30pm

10:00 POV: THE DATING GAME — In this film, three bachelors in China, where men markedly outnumber women as a result of a former national one-child policy, embark on a dating camp led by one of the country’s top dating coaches. As the three stumble through the camp’s awkward challenges, they try to make sense of their authentic and constructed selves, and the self-confidence they need in order to land a date. (90 min.)

21 Tuesday

8:00 FINDING YOUR ROOTS WITH HENRY LOUIS GATES, JR., — In this series produced in association with WETA, join Harvard scholar Henry Louis Gates, Jr., as he delves into the genealogy of famous Americans. Season 12 encore: Caribbean Roots. Gates explores the Caribbean heritage of actors Liza Colón-Zayas and Delroy Lindo — meeting women and men who crisscrossed the globe to help their families move forward, often taking enormous risks. Repeats Fri 7/24, 3pm; Sat 7/25, midnight

9:00 ONCE UPON A TIME IN SPACE — Part 2 of 4. The Russian Thing. When the Soviet Union falls, Russia welcomes U.S. astronauts to the space station Mir. But cooperation between the former Cold War enemies is threatened by a run of disasters onboard. Repeats Wed 7/22, 3pm; Sat 7/25, 7pm, 1am; Sun 7/26, 3pm

10:00 BREAKTHROUGH: THE IDEAS THAT CHANGED THE WORLD — Hear stories of how humans changed the world with revolutionary inventions. The Telescope Meet the brilliant minds throughout history, from Galileo to Edwin Hubble, responsible for creating the telescope. Today, their invention allows humanity to reach the furthest limits of seeing — 13 billion light-years out. Repeats Wed 7/22, 4pm; Sat 7/25, 11pm, 2am; Sun 7/26, 1pm

22 Wednesday

8:00 NATURE: BIG LITTLE JOURNEYS — Dive into the worlds of several tiny animals as they embark upon epic journeys to find a home or a mate. Home. In Canada, a tiny turtle ventures through a forest of giants in search of the lake where she will spend the next 50 years of her life. In South Africa, a young bushbaby is drawn

Wednesday, July 22 at 9 p.m. on WETA PBS & WETA Metro NOVA: Chasing Pluto follows a historic 2015 flyby of the dwarf planet by NASA space probe New Horizons after a 9-year journey. Then, July 29 NOVA episode Pluto and Beyond documents the probe’s 2019 mission to Ultima Thule, four billion miles from Earth.

towards a world of light in his quest to find a new home. Repeats Thur 7/23, 3pm

9:00 NOVA: CHASING PLUTO — Join NOVA for NASA space probe New Horizon’s historic 2015 flyby of Pluto, the culmination of the spacecraft’s nine-year, threebillion-mile journey to reveal the first-ever detailed images of this strange, icy world at the very edge of our solar system. Repeats Thur 7/23, 4pm; Sun 7/26, 2pm

10:00 BUGS THAT RULE THAT WORLD — Part 2 of 4. Lifegivers. Dive into the colorful world of Earth’s essential pollinators — bees, moths and butterflies. Scientists and enthusiasts discuss life without these resilient creatures, whose impact goes far beyond their delicate appearance. Repeats Fri 7/24, 4pm

23 Thursday

8:00 SHAKESPEARE & HATHAWAY: PRIVATE INVESTIGATORS, SERIES 1 — Part 7 of 10. The Fairest Show Means Most Deceit. At the detective agency, Frank is ambushed by an American, Martin, who claims to be his long-lost uncle. In a workplace-injury compensation case, owners of a gift shop suspect an employee of making a false compensation claim and need Lu and Frank to prove it. When the personal and professional collide, everyone becomes a suspect.

9:00 THE BROKENWOOD MYSTERIES, SERIES 7 — Episode 2 of 6. The Witches of Brokenwood. A health retreat becomes unhealthy for one unfortunate visitor, leaving the team of detectives with a difficult case to solve.

10:32 UTOPIA, SERIES 1 — Part 6 of 8 Then We Can Build It Concerned that Tasmania’s infrastructure needs have been overlooked, Jim sends Tony and the team south for a series of public forums.

24 Friday

8:00 WASHINGTON WEEK WITH THE ATLANTIC — Visit pbs.org/washingtonweek Repeats Sat 7/25, 6am, 6:30pm; Sun 7/26, 11:30am; Mon 7/27, 7:30am

8:30 LIVE FROM THE LBJ LIBRARY WITH MARK UPDEGROVE, SERIES 3 — Episode 3. Richard Linklater. For over 40 years, Linklater has made eclectic and iconic movies such as Dazed and Confused, School of Rock, and Boyhood; his latest acclaimed films include Nouvelle Vague and Blue Moon. He reflects on his approach to filmmaking and shares his inspirations and his thoughts on the distinct character of the American film industry. Repeats Sat 7/25, 10:30pm

9:00 AMERICAN EXPERIENCE: CHASING THE MOON — Experience the thrilling era of the Space Race, from its earliest days to the 1969 moon landing. Part 1 of 3 A Place Beyond the Sky. Explore the early days of the Space Race, the struggle to catch up with the Soviet Union, and the enormous stakes in the quest to reach the moon. Learn about breathtaking failures and successes of the nascent American space program — and the costs of reaching the moon. Repeats Sun 7/26, 4pm; Mon 7/27, 3pm

25 Saturday

6AM-6PM See the Saturday, July 4 listings.

6:00 HORIZONS FROM PBS NEWS — Repeats Sunday, noon

6:30 WASHINGTON WEEK WITH THE ATLANTIC — R

7:00 ONCE UPON A TIME IN SPACE — Part 2 of 4. The Russian Thing R

8:00 AMERICAN EXPERIENCE: FDR — Parts 3 & 4 of 4. The Grandest Job in the World/The Juggler. Learn about Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s first two terms as president, his response to the massive problems posed by the Great Depression, and how his relationship with his wife affected his personal and political life. Then explore his efforts during World War II: how he maneuvered support for England and led his country through the greatest war in history. David McCullough narrates. 10:30 LIVE FROM THE LBJ LIBRARY WITH MARK UPDEGROVE, SERIES 3 — Episode 3. Richard Linklater R 11:00 BREAKTHROUGH: THE IDEAS THAT CHANGED THE WORLD — The Telescope R 12M FINDING YOUR ROOTS WITH HENRY LOUIS GATES, JR. — Season 12 encore: Caribbean Roots R 1AM ONCE UPON A TIME IN SPACE — Part 2 of 4. The Russian Thing R

26 Sunday

6AM-11:30AM See the Sunday, July 5 listings. 11:30 WASHINGTON WEEK WITH THE ATLANTIC — R 12N HORIZONS FROM PBS NEWS — R 12:30 COMPASS POINTS FROM PBS NEWS — Rpts 6pm 1:00 BREAKTHROUGH: THE IDEAS THAT CHANGED THE WORLD — The Telescope R 2:00 NOVA: CHASING PLUTO — R

3:00 ONCE UPON A TIME IN SPACE — Part 2 of 4. The Russian Thing R

4:00 AMERICAN EXPERIENCE: CHASING THE MOON — Part 1 of 3 A Place Beyond the Sky R

6:00 COMPASS POINTS FROM PBS NEWS — Rpts Mon, 7am

6:30 SIGNORA VOLPE, SERIES 1 — Part 2 of 3. Secrets & Sacrifices. As her new home undergoes renovation, Sylvia helps an old friend at her archaeological dig, where Sylvia unearths a skeleton buried in a shallow grave. The locals think they know the identity of both corpse and killer, but Sylvia uncovers a tragic tale of dark secrets and heroic sacrifice dating back decades.

8:00 PATIENCE, SERIES 2 — Part 7 of 8. A Monk’s Tale. A monk is found dead, kneeling in prayer. Patience and Frankie investigate and secrets surface at the monastery. Meanwhile, Patience finds herself on stage as the face of the City of York police and starts rethinking her decision about Elliot. Repeats midnight

9:00 GRANTCHESTER, SERIES 11 ON MASTERPIECE — Part 7 of 8. While Alphy seeks redemption and renewed faith, Geordie’s investigation into a local crook ignites a high-stakes siege. As tensions rise and shots are fired, courage, love, and sacrifice are pushed to their limits. Repeats 1am

Monday, July 27 at 10 p.m. on WETA PBS POV: For Venida, For Kalief spotlights Kalief Browder’s experience with the criminal justice system — including incarceration without trial for 3 years at Rikers Island (two in solitary confinement) — and how his legacy expanded via the poetry of his mother, Venida.

10:00 DOWNTON ABBEY, SERIES 2 ON MASTERPIECE — Part 7 of 7. In the Season 2 finale, the family gathers at Downton Abbey for Christmas. Repeats 2am 12M-4AM See the 8 p.m.-midnight listings.

27 Monday

7:00 PBS NEWS HOUR — Weeknights. Visit pbs.org/newshour Repeats next day, 7am

8:00 ANTIQUES ROADSHOW: DENVER BOTANIC GARDENS CHATFIELD FARMS, HOUR 3 — More Colorado finds include a World War II WASP archive; a fire helmet & fire parade hat; and a 1956-1968 Al Oerter Olympic collection. Guess the top $400,000 find! Repeats Tue 7/28, 3pm

9:00 SIGNATURE DISH — Season 2 encore: Just Desserts Host Seth Tillman dives into dessert, with visits to the neo-bistro Lutèce in Georgetown, the dessert shop Mr. Bake Sweets in Riverdale Park, MD, and The Conche in Leesburg, VA, where chocolate infuses everything on the menu. Repeats Tue 7/28, 4pm

9:30 GET OUT OF TOWN — Season 1 encore: Charlottesville, VA. A visit to Charlottesville offers mother-daughter hosts Laurita and Lauren adventure and historical explorations in Laurita’s college town. Activities include horseback riding, wine tasting, and a tour of Monticello. Repeats Tue 7/28, 4:30pm

10:00 POV: FOR VENIDA, FOR KALIEF — A documentary honors the legacy of Kalief Browder and his mother, Venida Brodnax Browder. Kalief was arrested at 16 for allegedly stealing a backpack, held without trial at the Rikers Island jail complex, 2010-2013, including 700 days in solitary confinement, and later died by suicide. The film spotlights Venida for her poetry, her role as a foster mother, and her advocacy work. (90 min.)

28 Tuesday

8:00 FINDING YOUR ROOTS WITH HENRY LOUIS GATES, JR., — In this series produced in association with WETA, join Harvard scholar Henry Louis Gates, Jr., as he delves into the genealogy of famous Americans. Season 12 encore: The Road We Took. Gates maps the roots of actor Lizzie Caplan and comedian Hasan Minhaj — moving from shtetls in Eastern Europe to farmlands in northern India to meet ancestors whose bold decisions forever reshaped their family trees. Repeats Fri 7/31, 3pm

9:00 ONCE UPON A TIME IN SPACE — Part 3 of 4. Politics Always Wins. Mir’s reign in space comes to an end with the arrival of the International Space Station. A new

dawn of cooperation awaits, offering hope for a divided world. Repeats Wed 7/29, 3pm

10:00 BREAKTHROUGH: THE IDEAS THAT CHANGED THE WORLD — Hear stories of how humans changed the world with revolutionary inventions. The Rocket. Learn the history of the rocket, from its origin in ancient China, to its use as a weapon of war, to how adding hydrogen allowed it to carry astronauts to the moon. Repeats Wed 7/29, 4pm

29 Wednesday

8:00 NATURE: BIG LITTLE JOURNEYS — Dive into the worlds of tiny animals as they embark upon epic journeys to find a home or a mate. Survival. In Taiwan, a Formosan pangolin travels through a land of giants to find a mate in a protected forest, while in Brazil’s Atlantic Forest, a family of golden-headed lion tamarins journey from the edge of their world into a land of plenty. Repeats Thur 7/30, 3pm

9:00 NOVA: PLUTO AND BEYOND — Join the mission as the New Horizons probe attempts to fly by NASA’s most distant target yet. After exploring Pluto in 2015, New Horizons in 2019 zoomed toward Ultima Thule, an object four billion miles from Earth. Repeats Thur 7/30, 4pm

10:00 BUGS THAT RULE THAT WORLD — Part 3 of 4. Eat Or Be Eaten. Uncover the ruthless realm of some of the stealthiest and deadliest insects in the animal kingdom. From praying mantises to aquatic insects to dragonflies, nature has equipped these creatures with intelligence, agility, and the hunting skills for survival. Repeats Fri 7/31, 4pm

30 Thursday

8:00 SHAKESPEARE & HATHAWAY: PRIVATE INVESTIGATORS, SERIES 1 — Part 8 of 10. The Chameleon’s Dish. Awkward teen Hamish is plagued with a recurring dream in which he sees the body of a murdered woman. He’s sure it’s a premonition and asks Frank and Lu to tail him. Pretending to be newlyweds, the duo ends up at a retreat run by Hamish’s family. Goings-on in the night distract the pair, and Frank wakes to learn that a death has occurred and Hamish is implicated.

9:00 THE BROKENWOOD MYSTERIES, SERIES 7 — Episode 3 of 6. Dog Day Morning. When masked men attempt to rob the Brokenwood Savings Bank, Mike and the team must find out which one of them pulled the trigger, killing the bank manager.

10:33 UTOPIA, SERIES 1 — Part 7 of 8. The First Project. Slightly disillusioned by his first 11 months in the job, Tony thinks back to when it all began. The launch of the Nation Building Authority (NBA) was a great success, but within weeks, Jim was at his door, desperate for some sort of new public announcement.

31 Friday

8:00 WASHINGTON WEEK WITH THE ATLANTIC — Visit pbs.org/washingtonweek Repeats Sat 8/1, 6am, 6:30pm; Sun 8/2, 11:30am; Mon 8/3, 7:30am

8:30 LIVE FROM THE LBJ LIBRARY WITH MARK UPDEGROVE, SERIES 3 — Episode 4. Stanley McChrystal. General McChrystal served in the U.S. Army for 34 years. He was the Commander of International Security Assistance Forces in Afghanistan and Joint Special Operations Command. McChrystal discusses his latest book, On Character, and the choices we make that reflect who we are.

9:00 AMERICAN EXPERIENCE: CHASING THE MOON — Part 2 of 3 Earthrise. Discover what it took for the U.S. to beat the Soviet Union to the moon. Follow the story through the years 1964-1968 — four heady, dangerous years in the history of the Space Race — focusing on events surrounding the Apollo 1 and Apollo 8 missions. (2 hrs.)

WETA Magazine is published monthly by the Greater Washington Educational Telecommunications Association for its members. Three dollars of each member’s dues are designated for its subscription. WETA occasionally exchanges member names with other organizations. If you wish that your name not be exchanged, please call Audience Services at 703-998-2724. ©2026 by Greater Washington Educational Telecommunications Association. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written permission. Periodical postage paid at Arlington, VA 22210 and additional offices. Send address changes to WETA, 3939 Campbell Avenue, Arlington, Virginia 22206. Volume 39, Number 7. ISSN No. 1041-2700. PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER

Publisher Mary Stewart

Editor Jeff Giese

Design MANIFEST LLC

Editorial and Advertising Offices 3939 Campbell Ave. Arlington, VA 22206

Enjoy More WETA Channels

Livestream the WETA Metro, WETA World and WETA PBS Kids channels on WETA+ or at weta.org. Visit weta.org/schedule for program lineups.

Gospel

10 p.m. Thursdays, July 2-16 on WETA Metro

Gospel, a 2024 WETA co-production produced, written and hosted by WETA partner Prof. Henry Louis Gates, Jr., digs deep into the origin story of Black spirituality through sermon and song. The multi-part film spotlights gospel music and its history, artistry and power, weaving interviews with musical performances. In the film, Gates, the Alphonse Fletcher University Professor and Director of the Hutchins Center for African & African American Research at Harvard University, speaks with clergymen, singers and scholars about their connection to the music that is now a global phenomenon. Visit pbs.org/gospel to learn more. Binge the series on WETA+ with PBS Passport.

Frederick Law Olmsted: Designing America

Monday, July 6 at 7 p.m. on WETA World

Adocumentary film tells the story of the man who made public parks an essential part of American life. Known as the father of American landscape architecture, Frederick Law Olmsted was co-designer of Central Park, head of the first Yosemite commission, leader of the campaign to protect Niagara Falls, designer of the U.S. Capitol Grounds, site planner for the Great White City of the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition, planner of Boston’s “Emerald Necklace” of green space, and designer of park systems in many other cities. His efforts to preserve nature created an “environmental ethic” decades before the environmental movement became a force in America.

Alma in Oz: The Musical!

Monday, July 13; 12:30 p.m. WETA PBS & 3:30 p.m. WETA PBS Kids

Aspecial musical episode of children’s series Alma’s Way — following a confident Puerto Rican girl and her family in a New York City community — visits an Oz version of the Bronx. In the storyline, after Alma’s brother Junior gets his tonsils taken out, he’s worried he can no longer roar like a dinosaur. To cheer him up, Alma tells him a music-filled story about a magical place called Oz. There, a girl who needs to get home, a Juniorsaurus who wants a big roar, an artist with no inspiration, and a person who is the world’s greatest everything but not the world’s greatest friend, journey to ask the Rubber Band Wizard for help.

12pm

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Via Antenna 26.2

WETA+ livestream

Comcast 265, 1146

Cox 800 Fios 474

RCN 39, 602

British Television at Its Best

The WETA UK channel is devoted to the best in British television programming, presenting beloved classics and contemporary series around the clock, seven days a week. WETA UK offers a full schedule of fine entertainment programming — featuring drama, mystery and comedy — in addition to documentary series and news reports.

JULY P.M. PROGRAMMING ON WETA UK

VISIT WETA.ORG/SCHEDULE FOR A PROGRAM LINEUP

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

• 7/5, noon: You Are Cordially Invited; 7/12, noon: Rick Steves’ Best of London; 7/19, 11am: Kerry: Tides of Time; 7/26, 11am: The Story of the Irish

• 1pm: Grantchester, Series 11

• 7/5: The Puzzle Lady (Pts 1-3)

• 7/12: The Puzzle Lady (Pts 4-6)

• 7/19: Vienna Blood, Series 1 (Pts 1-3)

• 7/26: Vienna Blood, Series 1 (Pts 4-6)

Ridley, Series 2 continues through 7/7; Professor T, Series 1 (UK) airs 7/8-7/15; Series 2 airs 7/16-7/23, Series 3 starts 7/24

RFDS: Royal Flying Doctor Service, Series 1 continues through 7/7; Series 2 airs 7/8-7/17; Series 3 airs 7/20-7/29; Series 1 restarts 7/30

Turn: Washington’s Spies, Series 1

• 7/6: Count of Monte Cristo on Masterpiece

• Starts 7/13: Miss Scarlet, Series 1 on Masterpiece

Under the Vines, Series 1 (starts 7/7) Seaside Hotel, Series 10 Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, Series 1

Bookish, Series 1 (starts 7/7) Velvet, Series 2

Flesh and Blood on Masterpiece Midsomer Murders, Series 23

4:30pm British Antiques Roadshow

5pm

5:30pm

RFDS: Royal Flying Doctor Service, Series 2

BBC News: The Context USA

BBC World News America

BBC News: The Context USA

BBC World News America

BBC News: The Context USA

BBC World News America

Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators, Series 1

Patience, Series 2

BBC News: The Context USA

BBC World News America

• 2pm: Diana’s Decades (7/3-7/17); Changing Face of Elton John (7/24); The Boleyns (starts 7/31)

• 3pm: Big Adventures: Amazon w/ Robson Green (7/3); L Worsley Investigates (starts 7/10)

• 4pm: Scotland: Escape to the Wilderness (7/3-7/10); Once Upon in a Time in Northern Ireland (starts 7/17)

BBC News: The Context USA

BBC World News America

6pm Doc Martin, Series 9 Utopia (two episodes) Utopia (two episodes) Utopia (two episodes) Utopia (two episodes) Utopia (two episodes)

6:30pm

7pm Turn: Washington’s Spies, Series 1

7:30pm

8pm Inside the Tower of London

8:30pm

9pm

9:30pm

• 7/5-7/12: Big Adventures into the Amazon with Robson Green

• 7/19-7/26: Lucy Worsley Investigates, Series 1

10pm Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators, Series 1

10:30pm

11pm

RFDS: Royal Flying Doctor Service, Series 2

Celebrity Antiques Road Trip

Under the Vines, Series 1 (starts 7/6)

Bookish, Series 1 (starts 7/6)

Midsomer Murders, Series 23

Celebrity Antiques Road Trip

Foreign Favourites

• 8pm: Seaside Hotel, Series 10

• 9pm: Murder in the Mountains, Series 1

• 10pm: Velvet, Series 2

Celebrity Antiques Road Trip

Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, Series 1

Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators, Series 1

Celebrity Antiques Road Trip

• 8pm: Diana’s Decades (7/2-7/16); Changing Face of Elton John (7/23); The Boleyns (starts 7/30)

• 9pm: Big Adventures: Amazon w/ Robson Green (7/2); Lucy Worsley Investigates (starts 7/9)

Celebrity Antiques Road Trip

• 7/4-7/11, noon: Call the Midwife, Series 15

• 7/18, noon: Lucy Worsley’s Royal Palace Secrets

• 7/25, noon-4pm: Tom Jones on Masterpiece

• 7/4-7/18, 1pm: Nolly on Masterpiece

• 7/4-7/11, 2-5pm: Patience, Series 1

• 7/18, 2-3:30pm: The Mystery of Mr. E

• 7/18, 3:30-5pm: Coronation Girls

• 7/25, 4pm: You Are Cordially Invited

• 5pm starting 7/11: Miss Scarlet, Series 1 on Masterpiece

• 6pm starting 7/4: Flesh and Blood on Masterpiece

• 7/4: Rick Steves’ Best of London

• Starting 7/11: Under the Vines, Series 1

Masterworks Showcase

• 8pm: Turn: Washington’s Spies, Series 1

• 9pm, 7/3: Count of Monte Cristo on Masterpiece

• 9pm starting 7/10: Miss Scarlet, Series 1 on Masterpiece

Midsomer Murders, Series 23

• 10pm: Scotland: Escape to the Wilderness (7/2-7/9); Once Upon in a Time in Northern Ireland (starts 7/16)

• 10pm, 7/3-7/24: Flesh and Blood on Masterpiece

• 10pm starting 7/31: Baptiste, Series 1 on Masterpiece Grantchester, Series 11 on Masterpiece (Rpts 11pm)

Patience, Series 2 Turn: Washington’s Spies, Series 1

BBC News BBC News (11:30pm) BBC News

News

News Grantchester, Series 11 on Masterpiece 11:30pm [See 8pm] 12m: [See 8pm] [See 8pm] [See 8pm] [See 8pm] SUNDAY

WETA UK Highlights

Diana’s Decades

8 p.m. Thursdays starting July 2 on WETA UK

Athree-part documentary series explores the life of Britain’s Princess Diana. During her 36 years, she changed the face of royalty, and of her nation. She was a global icon of the final decades of the 20th century, embodying the changing spirit of the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. The film’s three episodes explore her life and impact across those years. Gain insight into a figure who influenced wider society and inspired social change. Episode 1 (July 2) sees Diana emerge from obscurity and begin her relationship with Prince Charles; Episode 2 (July 9) follows the Princess as she sheds her shyness and becomes the most photographed woman in the world; and Episode 3 (July 16) sees Diana cultivate her role as Queen of Hearts as her marriage unravels. Binge the series on WETA+ with PBS Passport as of July 1.

Under the Vines

8 p.m. Mondays starting July 6 on WETA UK

WETA UK reprises the six-part, light-hearted drama that follows broke Sydney socialite Daisy Munroe (Rebecca Gibney, of Halifax) to New Zealand to her recently deceased stepfather’s winery, which she intends to sell. Little does she know the vineyard has a co-owner: grumpy, disgraced U.K.born lawyer Louis Oakley (Charles Edwards, Downton Abbey; The Crown), who also travels to New Zealand to escape a spiraling series of unfortunate events. Despite neither having any experience with winemaking, nor ever having done a hard day’s work, and each resenting the other, the two must make the vineyard successful so they can sell it and move on. The drama is set in South Island wine region Central Otago. Binge-watch on WETA+ with PBS Passport, and watch for Series 2, coming to Passport August 1.

Rick Steves’ Best of London

Saturday, July 4 at 7 p.m. on WETA UK

Popular European travel expert Rick Steves hosts a one-hour special that celebrates the proud traditions of the United Kingdom’s capital. With Kings, Queens, Beefeaters, black cabs, Big Ben and nine million citizens, it’s a culture and history powerhouse. In the program, Steves cruises the Thames, enjoys a fancy afternoon tea, jogs with the locals and then drinks with the locals. Rick observes street art, enjoys London’s extraordinary diversity on a food tour, remembers Britain’s heroes from the first Elizabeth to the last, and marvels at how the U.K.’s industrial past has become a foundation for a promising future. The program repeats July 5 at 11 a.m. on WETA UK.

WETA Focus

This month, the nation celebrates the 250th anniversary of America’s founding, and per long tradition, WETA brings you festivities from around the region —

A Capitol Fourth: 250th Weekend Celebration, live from the grounds of the U.S. Capitol on July 3, and this year, an additional special program, America–Made in Virginia: 250 Years Together, live from Colonial Williamsburg on Independence Day, July 4. Featuring lively performances, patriotic readings, dazzling fireworks and more, these programs honor the remarkable experiment of our young democracy, pay homage to our freedoms, and showcase our rich, diverse culture. Our country is dedicated to continuously asking questions about our past and our potential; we embrace diverse ideas and cultures and rely on an empowered, informed public to pursue individual and societal happiness. For the past third of America’s history, public media has been a vital institution contributing to those ideals, and WETA is an important part of the story. From providing independent and trusted journalism, to producing and curating content that explores the many stories of America, to inspiring lifelong learning with access for all, WETA serves an essential civic, educational and cultural role in our community and in our nation.

In July, as part of our ongoing celebration of America at 250, enjoy more special programming across our channels and services, including American Experience presidential biographies; our WETA Classical series America 250: A Classical Portrait; and our “25 for 250” WETA+ collection of superb history films. Among other offerings, we also present engaging dramas and a wide array of space-themed programs that include the new miniseries Once Upon a Time in Space. Your contributions make possible our many services to the public. Thank you for your generous support for WETA — and for tuning in and streaming.

Sharon Percy Rockefeller President and Chief Executive Officer, WETA

Watch The American Revolution on WETA+

Free to stream through July 12

As the nation marks the 250th anniversary of America’s birth this month, WETA streaming service WETA+ is presenting — free through July 12 — the acclaimed, monumental 6-part, 12-hour 2025 documentary The American Revolution, a co-production of Florentine Films and WETA that spotlights the nation’s 1775-1783 War for Independence. Filmmakers Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein and David Schmidt’s chronicle of America’s founding struggle and origin story follows dozens of historical figures from a wide variety of backgrounds as it examines the American Revolution as a war for independence, a civil war, and a world war. Stream anytime on WETA+ with PBS Passport. Learn more about the film at pbs.org/americanrevolution

— ON THE AIR & ONLINE

Classical for Washington

America 250: A Classical Portrait

Series continues Wednesdays at 2 p.m. on WETA Virtuoso

WETA Classical series America 250: A Classical Portrait continues this month with more explorations of the story of classical music in America. WETA Classical’s James Jacobs hosts the series; below, he previews July episodes.

By James Jacobs, On-Air Host

In July, America 250: A Classical Portrait explores a golden age for American music. During the period between the two world wars, the United States firmly established itself as an economic, political and cultural force on the world stage. It was serendipitous that this coincided with the establishment of America as a force in the realm of music: no longer a mere follower of Europe or a promising innovator, the United States was now a respected leader, with world-class orchestras, concert halls, music festivals, opera companies, conservatories, and enough serious, respected composers that multiple styles of composition were being developed at the same time. The U.S. provided a stable home for prominent European musicians displaced by the wars and provided new audiences and opportunities for them.

Music was now a thriving American industry: between the global popularity of jazz, the booming nascent recording industry, Hollywood film studios, radio orchestras, Broadway pit orchestras, and the steadily increasing number of regional symphony orchestras, music was one of the few industries that thrived during the Great Depression, and the New Deal’s Works Progress Administration supported musicians in many ways. In the wake of World War II, the U.S. government decided it was part of its Cold War strategy to fund State Department tours of American musicians of all genres and ensure that public schools had comprehensive music education from the earliest grades.

This month, on America 250: A Classical Portrait, on July 1 we present music of celebration marking the nation’s upcoming birthday; then:

• July 8: We spotlight American musical theater, in which all the different strands of American music came together to create a lasting and unique cultural statement — with a special emphasis on that singular genius straight out of Brooklyn, George Gershwin.

• July 15: We explore how American symphonic music developed its own strain of Neo-Romanticism, a muscular but tonal lyricism, which we saw develop in the works of Florence Price, Samuel Barber, and Virgil Thomson — and is still inspiring today’s composers. We’ll also trace the influence of the French teacher, Nadia Boulanger, who took so many American students under her wing.

• July 22: The program will be devoted to the man who epitomizes the American musical spirit in all its guises: Leonard Bernstein.

• July 29: We will trace the stories of first-generation immigrants who shaped American music in the 20th century — from the already-famous émigrés such as Sergei Rachmaninoff to refugees such as Tania León.

Tune in each Wednesday at 2 p.m. on WETA Virtuoso for America 250: A Classical Portrait as we explore America’s musical saga. Visit wetaclassical.org to catch up on previous programs in the ongoing series.

WETA+ with PBS Passport Stream news, drama, history and much more on WETA+, our free streaming service; see page 4 for details. For access to even more programs, get WETA+ with PBS Passport! You’re ready to activate now at pbs.org/passport if you see a four-word activation code above your name and address at left; or go to weta.org/passport to make your qualifying donation to start enjoying WETA+ with PBS Passport today.