NEW YORK, Nov. 13, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Intelligence Squared U.S., the public policy debate series, will increase its national audience as the result of a partnership with presenting station WTTW, a premier producer and presenter of original, high-quality television programs, and distribution by PBS.
This announcement marks a major national expansion for the New York-based Intelligence Squared U.S., which already influences thinkers across the country through diverse media channels. Debates air on more than 220 NPR stations; its NPR-distributed podcasts average over 100,000 downloads a month; in the NY market, debates are shown on PBS stations WNET and WLIW, and NJTV; and all debates stream live on Fora.tv and are archived at http://intelligencesquaredus.org/
Starting January 17, Intelligence Squared U.S. debates will air monthly on PBS stations throughout 2013. The first episode to air nationally tackles the provocative motion "Better Elected Islamists than Dictators," a topic that exemplifies the series' focus on transcending partisan ideology and instead presenting discourse grounded in facts and informed by reasoned analysis.
Dana Wolfe, Intelligence Squared U.S. Executive Producer, comments: "We are pleased to be working with WTTW and PBS to expand our reach in the public square. A key part of our mission is to engage with smart audiences across the country and we know public television viewers will enjoy our intelligent discourse on important issues of the day and be inspired to "Think Twice" when watching our broadcast."
Daniel Soles, WTTW's Senior Vice President and Chief Television Content, Officer says: "WTTW is proud to be the presenting station for Intelligence Squared. I think this type of thoughtful and civil debate belongs on public television. I am excited that audiences around the country will have the opportunity to see important social issues discussed in such an engaging manner."
About Intelligence Squared U.S.
Named One of "Five Podcasts that Will Change the Way You Think" by Forbes, the non-profit Intelligence Squared U.S. was founded in New York City in 2006 by Robert Rosenkranz, and has grown into an internationally syndicated series heard and watched by millions. The debates have attracted some of the world's top thinkers including Paul Krugman, Karl Rove, Malcolm Gladwell, Alan Dershowitz, Peter Thiel and Arianna Huffington. Intelligence Squared U.S. has presented over 60 debates on a wide range of provocative topics including global warming, the financial crisis, capitalism in China, the war on terror, government entitlements and the death of mainstream media. ABC News correspondent John Donvan is the moderator and the executive producer is Dana Wolfe.
About WTTW National Productions
WTTW National Productions is a premier producer and presenter of original, high-quality television programs for both public and commercial television broadcast. WTTW National Productions is a division of Window to the World Communications, Inc., the parent company of WTTW11 Chicago. For more than 50 years, WTTW11 and WTTW National Productions have introduced a wide array of ground-breaking television programming - reflecting the world's rich and diverse arts and entertainment scene as well as education, politics, public affairs, business, and religion - to a national audience. Its landmark innovative series and original productions include the critically-acclaimed performance showcases Soundstage, Legends of Jazz with Ramsey Lewis; Proclamation of Hope, and David Broza at Masada: The Sunrise Concert; cultural series, MEXICO-One Plate at a Time with Rick Bayless, Grannies on Safari, Ebert Presents At the Movies and The Artist Toolbox; the business series CEO Exchange; the documentary series Retirement Revolution; the transmedia online educational children's properties Mission to Planet 429 and UMIGO, and the award-winning animated children's series WordWorld. For more information, please visit www.wttw.com/national.
For more information about Intelligence Squared U.S., please contact Andrea Bussell (abussell@shorefire.com), Rebecca Shapiro (rshapiro@shorefire.com) or Mark Satlof (msatlof@shorefire.com) at Shore Fire Media, 718.522.7171.
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