AMERICAN HEROES CHANNEL AND ABC NEWS COMMEMORATE THE 15TH ANNIVERSARY OF SEPTEMBER 11 WITH TWO-NIGHT PROGRAMMING EVENT
(Silver Spring, Md.)— September 11, 2001—a fateful day that changed America, and Americans, forever. Now, on the cusp of the 15th anniversary of 9/11, American Heroes Channel (AHC) and ABC News’ Lincoln Square Productions have joined forces to revisit the events of that crisp fall day. With9/11: AS WE WATCHED slated to premiere on Tuesday, September 6 at 10/9c, and CAPTURING BIN LADEN premiering on Wednesday, September 7 at 10/9c, these specials bring back the raw emotion of 9/11, from the moment the first plane hit the World Trade Center to the aftermath in the days and years following, through the search for those responsible—and for justice.
“September 11 changed the world as we knew it, simultaneously showcasing the worst and the best of humanity, as from the rubble and ashes, incredible stories of bravery and heroism emerged—and the essence of the American spirit shined through,” said Henry Schleiff, Group President, Investigation Discovery, American Heroes Channel and Destination America. “With these specials, we are proud to tap into ABC’s incredible archive from that day, to present a unique perspective of the events that transpired through the eyes of some of the most esteemed and beloved journalists of our time—as well as the years that followed, in the ten year cat-and-mouse game to capture the world’s most deadly terrorist.”“ABC News’ vast archive is an incredible portal into major world events that can allow viewers to better understand history,” said Morgan Hertzan, senior vice president, ABC News, and executive in charge of ABC’s Lincoln Square Productions. “AHC delivers exceptional historical programming and these specials draw from the incredible reporting from that day that changed our world— with the distinct insights from ABC News journalists as they both witnessed and delivered the shocking and emotionally charged news to the world.”
September 11, 2001 began as any normal, crisp fall day—but America was about to forever change. At 8:52 AM, ABC News’ Charles Gibson and Diane Sawyer broke into Good Morning Americato report on a mysterious explosion at one of the World Trade Center’s Twin Towers. Little did they know, that moment in time was just the beginning of an unimaginable tragedy that would unfold one horrifying detail at a time—and change the course of American history.
Premiering Tuesday, September 6 at 10/9c, 9/11: AS WE WATCHED recounts the story of that day through the unflinching eye of ABC News, as the legendary Peter Jennings, Diane Sawyer, George Stephanopoulos, and dozens of journalists rushed to the scene of chaos – and embarked on what would become an extraordinary and unprecedented 83 hours of live coverage. Together, they provided first-hand accounts of the first plane hitting, the attack on the Pentagon, evacuations in Washington, and the scene onboard Air Force One as President Bush flew from state to state, unsure whether it was safe to return to the nation’s capital. They dug deep to uncover the story of the 19 hijackers who boarded four jetliners that day. And they interviewed those who survived the terror, and the families of those who didn’t.
CAPTURING BIN LADEN, premiering Wednesday, September 7 at 10/9c, tracks the rise and fall of the man who spent the decade following the 9/11 attacks at the top of America’s “Most Wanted” list. Drawing on extensive archives from ABC News’ in-depth and award-winning reporting on the emergence of Osama bin Laden, this all-new special chronicles his rise—from a shadowy figure financing international terrorist attacks, to the intelligence that identified him as the 9/11 mastermind—and fall, culminating with SEAL Team Six’s heroic and harrowing confrontation with at a safe-house in Pakistan that ended the 10 year cat-and mouse game to capture the world’s most deadly terrorist.CAPTURING BIN LADEN also includes in-depth interviews with two eyewitnesses to the most historic manhunt in U.S. history:
- Martha Raddatz, ABC News’ Chief Global Affairs Correspondent, whose contacts at the State Department and Pentagon provided her with unmatched insights into the long hunt for Osama bin Laden; and
- John Miller, current Deputy Commissioner of Intelligence & Counterterrorism at the New York City Police Department, former ABC News correspondent—and the last reporter to sit across from Osama bin Laden for an on-camera interview.
9/11: AS WE WATCHED and CAPTURING BIN LADEN are produced by Lincoln Square Productions, with Brook Porter and Lee Hoffman as executive producers. For American Heroes Channel, Max Culhane is executive producer, Sara Kozak is senior vice president of production, Kevin Bennett is general manager, and Henry Schleiff is Group President of Investigation Discovery, American Heroes Channel, and Destination America.
About American Heroes Channel
American Heroes Channel (AHC) is television’s home for high-quality history content. Embracing the totality of history through the incredible, brave and infamous characters that have fought for what they believe in and driven change, AHC provides a rare glimpse into major events that shaped our world, and the great defenders of our freedom. After all, heroes make history. Currently in nearly 60 million U.S. homes, AHC is part of Discovery Communications (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK), the world’s #1 pay-tv programmer reaching 3 billion cumulative subscribers in more than 220 countries and territories. For more information, please visit AHCtv.com, facebook.com/AHCtelevision, orTwitter.com/AHC_TV.
About Lincoln Square Productions
Lincoln Square Productions produces original content for broadcast, cable and digital distribution specializing in entertaining ways to tell fact based stories, including ABC’s “What Would You Do?,” ABC’s award-winning true medicine series, ABC’s “Madoff,” the OSCAR Red Carpet Opening Ceremony, ABC Family’s “Next Step Realty,” Investigation Discovery’s “Barbara Walters Presents American Scandals,” Travel Channel’s “Watt’s World,” as well as documentary programming for a wide array of partners, including Discovery Communications and A & E Networks. Lincoln Square Productions is a wholly-owned subsidiary of American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. The headquarters are located in New York City’s Lincoln Square neighborhood.
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