In celebration of the 25th anniversary of the landmark series The Civil War, KET presents for the first time ever a new, digitally re-mastered, high-definition version of the iconic documentary. The Civil War airs over five consecutive nights, Monday, Sept. 7-Friday, Sept. 11, at 9/8 pm on KET.

“I’m beyond excited,” said Burns. “For the first time, viewers will see what I saw when I looked through the lens of my camera. It is truly remarkable.”

The Civil War attracted an audience of 38.9 million during its premiere in September 1990. It set a record for the highest rated PBS series broadcast, which stands today.

Seen by many as the definitive narrative of the Civil War, the documentary is as timely today as ever – especially given our nation’s current, ongoing discussion of the Civil War’s legacy as it relates to racism, Southern history and the role of Confederate nostalgia.

The series begins with episode one, “The Cause,” which offers a searing indictment of slavery and a dramatic evocation of the causes of the war – including the clash between the status quo of the Southern Cotton Kingdom and the northern abolitionists who opposed it.

The episode also examines burning questions of states’ rights, the election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860, the firing on Fort Sumter and the jubilant rush to arms on both sides. Episode one comes to a close with the disastrous Union defeat at Manassas, Virginia, where both sides come to a grim discovery: this was poised to be a very long war.

The Civil War is directed by Ken Burns and produced by Ken Burns and Ric Burns. More information about the series – including episode descriptions, videos, a photo gallery and more – is available at www.pbs.org/kenburns/civil-war/.

KET is Kentucky’s largest classroom, serving more than one million people each week via television, online and mobile. Learn more about Kentucky’s preeminent public media organization on Twitter @KET and facebook.com/KET and at KET.org.

Contact:

Todd Piccirilli
Senior Director, Marketing and Communications
859-258-7242
tpiccirilli@ket.org