PBS Green-Lights Updated Format of "HISTORY DETECTIVES"

- New Format Investigating Iconic Mysteries Debuts in 2014 -

Alexandria, VA July 8, 2013 -- PBS announced today a new format of HISTORY DETECTIVES to air in 2014. Comprised of four one-hour programs, HDSI - HISTORY DETECTIVES SPECIAL INVESTIGATION (w.t.), introduces the fresh perspective of a new detective and focuses on a single story per episode. The new episodes will air as part of a block of history programming and offer viewers a night of intriguing glimpses into our past.

Kaiama (ki YA ma) Glover will join forces with two veteran History Detectives, Wes Cowan and Tukufu Zuberi to collectively investigate each mystery from all angles. Glover is a professor at Barnard College, Columbia University, where she teaches literature of the French-speaking Caribbean and sub-Saharan West African cinema.

Each new hour-long episode will ask probing questions behind a single iconic mystery from America's past. What was behind the tragic sinking of the SS Sultana at the end of the American Civil War? Can we solve the mystery of the Austin Servant Girl Murders of the 1880s? Did a Mafia kingpin's darkest secret trigger Jimmy Hoffa's disappearance? And what led to the mysterious disappearance of big band leader Glenn Miller during World War II?

The HDSI team will bring cutting edge tools to some of our biggest historical mysteries. As they unearth fresh evidence, sift through clues and crisscross the country in search of answers, they reveal new perspectives on stories we thought we knew.

"We are thrilled to bring the detectives back to solve famous mysteries from American history," said Beth Hoppe, Chief Programming Executive and General Manager of General Audience Programming for PBS. "With the new program format and a fresh face added to the team, HDSI sheds new light on historical moments and revamps a treasured show."

PBS will announce airdates as soon as they become available.

View past episodes of HISTORY DETECTIVES on our website at http://pbs.org/historydetectives. "Like" HISTORY DETECTIVES on Facebook and follow the detectives on Twitter. HISTORY DETECTIVES SPECIAL INVESTIGATION will be a co-production of Lion Television and Oregon Public Broadcasting for PBS.

About Lion Television

Lion Television creates hundreds of hours of programming every year from its production bases in the UK and U.S. Lion currently has more than 200 hours in production specializing in entertainment, daytime, ambitious science and history shows.

About OPB

OPB is the largest cultural and education institution in Oregon and southern Washington, delivering excellence in public broadcasting to 1.5 million people each week through television, radio and the Internet. Widely recognized as a national leader in the public broadcasting arena, OPB is a major contributor to the program schedule that serves the entire country. OPB is one of the most-used and most-supported public broadcasting services in the country and is generously supported by its members.

About PBS

PBS, with its over 350 member stations, offers all Americans the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television and online content. Each month, PBS reaches nearly 120 million people through television and over 29 million people online, inviting them to experience the worlds of science, history, nature and public affairs; to hear diverse viewpoints; and to take front row seats to world-class drama and performances. PBS' broad array of programs has been consistently honored by the industry's most coveted award competitions. Teachers of children from pre-K through 12th grade turn to PBS for digital content and services that help bring classroom lessons to life. PBS' premier children's TV programming and its website, pbskids.org, are parents' and teachers' most trusted partners in inspiring and nurturing curiosity and love of learning in children. More information about PBS is available at www.pbs.org, one of the leading dot-org websites on the Internet, or by following PBS on Twitter, Facebook or through our apps for mobile devices.