#SmallScreenScenes @History @mchooyah THE HISTORY CHANNEL PREMIERES “REVEALED: THE HUNT FOR BIN LADEN” MAY 2 AND ANNOUNCES NEW DOCUMENTARIES TO COMMEMORATE 20TH
In commemoration of the 20th anniversary, The HISTORY® Channel is remembering the fallen of the September 11 terrorist attacks and paying tribute to the first responders and survivors with four new powerful two-hour documentaries. Co-produced by The 9/11 Memorial & Museum, “Revealed: The Hunt for Bin Laden,” will premiere on Sunday, May 2 from 8-10pm ET/PT on the 10th anniversary of the raid that found Osama bin Laden. Six hours of additional programming will premiere on September 10 and 11 with “9/11: Four Flights,” “Rise and Fall: The World Trade Center” and “9/11: From the Ground Up” (working title).
“Over the last 20 years, The HISTORY Channel has been committed to never forgetting the events of September 11 that changed this world forever by honoring the heroic individuals who perished or played an important role in that tragic time in our history,” said Eli Lehrer, Executive Vice President and Head of Programming for The HISTORY Channel. “Our mission as archivists of history is to continue to offer powerful documentaries with untold, poignant stories that provide a different perspective to that horrific day.”
“Revealed: The Hunt for Bin Laden” opens an unprecedented window into the hunt for the man who masterminded the September 11 attacks and then disappeared, thwarting American efforts to bring him to justice for nearly a decade. Ten years after the raid on Bin Laden's hideout, this two-hour HISTORY Channel documentary will premiere on Sunday, May 2 from 8-10pm ET/PT providing a sweeping account of the story, linking policy, intelligence and military decision-making as they converged on a mysterious compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. Those interviewed include not only President Barack Obama, Secretary Hillary Clinton, Secretary Robert Gates, CIA Director Leon Panetta, and Admiral William McRaven, but also key, though unnamed, intelligence officers, who narrowed the search for Bin Laden after years of no leads or false starts, and the military planners, SEAL operators and army pilots selected to carry out the raid.
Programming airing on September 10 and 11 will include:
“9/11: Four Flights”
Four flights – American 11, United 175, American 77, and United 93 – took off the morning of September 11, 2001 unaware of the life-changing events to follow and fate that would forever intertwine them. Through the powerful and personal narratives from family and friends, “9/11: Four Flights” tells the riveting and emotional human stories of those aboard each doomed jetliner. Looking at all four flights for the first time in one program, the two-hour documentary unveils a saga of surprising connections, strange coincidences and detrimental decisions. From one flight tracking another as it veered off course, barreling toward Manhattan, to the final heart-wrenching phone calls to some incredibly harrowing yet heroic moments, viewers will hear about the bravery of passengers, crew, air traffic controllers and more who tried in vain to intercept the airliners. On the 20th anniversary of this historic yet tragic event, we remember and honor those loved ones lost and the day that transformed a nation forever.
“Rise and Fall: The World Trade Center”
Through a unique architectural and engineering lens, “Rise and Fall: The World Trade Center” takes a chronological look at the conception, construction and destruction of the World Trade Center towers. It recounts the inspiring, true story behind the individuals who dreamed, planned and built a symbol of American strength and ambition. Step by step, viewers will witness the execution of this innovative and one-of-a-kind sky-high complex from early designs to overcoming technical challenges to its heart-wrenching collapse. The two-hour documentary covers the first terrorist attack on the WTC during the 1993 bombing and unpacks, in vivid detail, a timeline of how and why the building fell after terrorists flew commercial airliners into them on September 11. With the use of historical elements and graphics, expert interviews and courageous first-hand testimonies of the two attacks, the documentary reveals the wonders and vulnerabilities of these unforgettable buildings.
“9/11: From the Ground Up” (w.t.)
Marking the 20th anniversary of September 11, this two-hour documentary presents a unique and moving account of the day that changed the modern world. “9/11: From the Ground Up” (w.t.) is an intimate portrayal of the events of September 11 captured by ordinary people who chose to pick up their video cameras on that day. Featuring previously unseen video and unheard audio, and told without interview or commentary, this compelling documentary tells a unique story of their journey from confusion to comprehension, terror and relief.
In addition, The HISTORY Channel has forged a multi-faceted partnership with The 9/11 Memorial & Museum. As part of this partnership, the network will create original short form content under its “Save Our History” initiative telling the powerful stories about those who lost loved ones on September 11 and highlighting important artifacts in the museum's collection as the world observes the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attacks. The HISTORY Channel will also support the museum's mission to keep the history of September 11 alive through dissemination of educational content and virtual events for teachers and students.
Previously announced and available now, The HISTORY Channel 8-part podcast series, Blindspot: The Road to 9/11 brings together the voices of U.S. government and intelligence officials, national security experts, associates of the terrorists and more to tell the little-known story of the lead-up to September 11.
Hosted by WNYC reporter Jim O’Grady and based on The HISTORY Channel television documentary “Road to 9/11,” the podcast series draws on interviews with more than 60 people – including FBI agents, high level bureaucrats, journalists, experts, and people who knew the terrorists personally – and weaves them together with original reporting to create a gripping, serialized narrative audio experience. The series can be heard on history.com, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, PocketCast and all other platforms where podcasts are available.
The HISTORY Channel has committed to providing an informative and historical record of the events that unfolded on and after September 11 – from crews documenting on the ground at the World Trade Center right after the attacks to playing a role in the recovery and return of the Ground Zero Flag to the Emmy® Award-winning documentary “102 Minutes That Changed America.” Over the past 20 years, the network has amassed over 70 premiere hours of September 11 related programming and produced more than 60 pieces of original digital content exploring every angle and providing different perspectives about the day that changed our nation forever.
“Revealed: The Hunt for Bin Laden” is co-produced for The HISTORY Channel by The 9/11 Memorial & Museum and Northern Light Productions. Clifford Chanin, head of Museum Programs, is executive producer and Jessica Chen, Senior Director of Public & Professional Programs, is producer for The 9/11 Memorial & Museum. Andrew Kukura is director and producer and Jen Mackie Young is co-producer for Northern Light Productions. Zachary Behr and Eli Lehrer serve as executive producers for The HISTORY Channel.
“9/11: Four Flights” and “Rise and Fall: The World Trade Center” are produced for The HISTORY Channel by Left/Right. Ken Druckerman and Banks Tarver serve as executive producers and Jon Meyersohn and Mike Mezaros serve as co-executive producers for Left/Right. Mike Stiller and Mary E. Donahue serve as executive producers for The HISTORY Channel.
“9/11: From the Ground Up” (w.t.) is produced for The HISTORY Channel by Brook Lapping Productions in co-production with ITV and France Télévisions. Greg Sanderson and Karen Edwards serve as executive producers for Brook Lapping Productions. Zachary Behr and Brad Holcman serve as executive producers for The HISTORY Channel.
About The HISTORY® Channel
The HISTORY® channel, a division of A+E Networks, is the premier destination for historical storytelling. From best-in-class documentary events, to a signature slate of industry leading nonfiction series and premium fact-based scripted programming, the HISTORY® channel serves as the most trustworthy source of informational entertainment in media. The HISTORY® channel has been named the #1 U.S. TV network in buzz for seven consecutive years by YouGov BrandIndex, and a top favorite TV network by Beta Research Corporation. For a deeper dive, visit history.com or follow @history on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.
