SMITHSONIAN CHANNEL(TM) COMMEMORATES 9/11 ON FIFTEENTH ANNIVERSARY WITH SPECIAL DAY OF PROGRAMMING

NEW YORK - AUGUST 26, 2016 - Smithsonian Channel will mark the fifteenth anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks with a special day of programming on Sunday, September 11. The marathon will kick off at 2:00 p.m. with an encore presentation of the critically-acclaimed 9/11: DAY THAT CHANGED THE WORLD, which spans from dawn to midnight on September 11, 2001, and goes behind the scenes to show how the events of the day developed.

9/11: DAY THAT CHANGED THE WORLD - 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. ET/PT

This is the inside story of the people whose job it was to make decisions that would affect the lives and safety of the nation, and to protect the United States from further attack. The two-hour special, narrated by Martin Sheen, features exclusive interviews with Laura Bush, Dick and Lynne Cheney, Rudy Giuliani, Donald Rumsfeld, Andrew Card, Richard Clarke and other key decision-makers. The two-hour special goes into the airplanes, offices, bunkers, and military headquarters where the President, advisors, security personnel and military were trying to piece together what was happening, who was attacking, and what might happen next.

CROWNING NEW YORK - 4:00 p.m. ET/PT

This one-hour special takes a look at the engineering and construction feats of the defining structure, One World Trade Center, that has rebuilt Gotham's skyline. It is a story of hope mixed with the realistic nature of what it takes to build the Western Hemisphere's tallest building. This isn't rebuilding Ground Zero. This is the final chapter in rebuilding a city.

THE MISSING EVIDENCE: 9/11 SECRET EXPLOSIONS IN THE TOWERS - 5:00 p.m. ET/PT

The 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center left many with questions about the true cause of the buildings' collapse - even after the release of the official report. Conspiracy theorists and government investigators alike were mystified by some of the facts in the tragedy. Both structures were designed to survive the impact of a commercial airliner. Both should have withstood intense fires for 10 hours - so why did the towers collapse at all? Scientists testing a theory determine that there were glaring omissions in the official report, and tackle the conspiracies head on. Two scientists working independently found a logical cause for the mysterious "explosions" reported at Ground Zero - and this overlooked source may finally put an end to the dark conspiracy theories surrounding 9/11.

9/11: STORIES IN FRAGMENTS - 6:00 p.m. ET/PT

This program tells the heart-rending stories behind the iconic objects in the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History's 9/11 collection. Among them are a phone used in the last calls between a husband and his wife; the nametag of a hero; a briefcase found in a pile of rubble at Ground Zero, undamaged. All are witnesses to history, and the program shows how the National Museum of American History's curators chose them to represent one of the most infamous periods in American history.

9/11: THE HEARTLAND TAPES - 7:00 p.m. ET/PT

This program combines media from across the nation and fashions them into a compelling story of bearing witness, taking action, and survival. This is the story of September 11th from the outside looking in. 9/11: THE HEARTLAND TAPES uses the same successful technique used in the Smithsonian Channel Peabody Award-winning original documentary MLK: THE ASSASSINATION TAPES. There is no narration. There are no interviews. Instead, the program only uses documentary evidence from that day to tell this harrowing story - to give a detailed look at how the rest of the nation perceived and dealt with what was going on in the east.

AERIAL AMERICA: NEW YORK - 10:00 p.m. ET/PT

Poignant episode of Smithsonian Channel's signature series tells the stories of expansive natural wonders, the city that never sleeps, and the day we will never forget. This memorable flight over New York is rich with stories of a nation that began long before European settlers discovered its mighty rivers. Explore New York's amazing beauty, from the roaring Niagara Falls to its stunning peaks and valleys, to a city full of abundant architectural heritage and infamous residents.

Smithsonian Channel(TM), owned by Smithsonian Networks(TM), a joint venture between Showtime Networks Inc. and the Smithsonian Institution, is where curiosity lives, inspiration strikes and wonders never cease. This is the place for awe-inspiring stories, powerful documentaries and amazing entertainment across multiple platforms. Smithsonian Channel combines the storytelling prowess of SHOWTIME(R) with the unmatched resources and rich traditions of the Smithsonian, to create award-winning programming that shines new light on popular genres such as air and space, history, science, nature, and pop culture. Among the network's offerings are series including Aerial America, Million Dollar American Princesses, The Weapon Hunter, Mighty Ships, Mighty Planes and Air Disasters, as well as critically-acclaimed specials that include Civil War 360, 9/11: The Heartland Tapes; MLK: The Assassination Tapes and The Day Kennedy Died. Smithsonian Networks also operates Smithsonian Earth(TM), through SN Digital LLC., a new subscription video streaming service delivering spectacular original nature and wildlife content. To learn more, go to www.smithsonianchannel.com, or connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.