For Immediate Release
Wednesday, November 26, 2015
Contacts: Greg Petrowich, Executive Director, WSIU Public Broadcasting, (618) 453-6181, greg.petrowich@wsiu.org; Monica Tichenor, Promotions Director, WSIU Public Broadcasting, (618) 453-6160, monica.tichenor@wsiu.org
Public Invited to Season Preview of Award-Winning Masterpiece Series Downton Abbey
Carbondale, Ill. – The Friends of WSIU community advisory board and WSIU Public Broadcasting invite the general public to kick off the holiday season with an exclusive sneak peek of the upcoming fifth season of the multiple award-winning Masterpiece series Downton Abbey. The new season will premiere on WSIU-TV 8 and WUSI-TV 16 beginning Sunday, January 4, 2015 at 8pm.
To generate excitement about the new season, the WSIU Friends Board and WSIU Public Television will host two free public events. Each event will include a screening of the first hour of season five of Downton Abbey, a reception, and door prizes. Guests are encouraged, but not required, to dress in 1920s-era costume.
The first event will be held on Saturday, December 6 at 3pm at the Rose Theatre in the Grauel Language Arts Building on the campus of Southeast Missouri State University, 408 N. Pacific St. in Cape Girardeau, Mo. A reception will follow from 4-6pm at the Flag House (Oliver-Leming House), one block from the theatre. Cup 'N' Cork in Cape Girardeau will provide refreshments for the event, which is sponsored locally by Southeast Health and Hutson's Fine Furniture in Cape Girardeau.
The second event will take place on Sunday, December 7 beginning with a reception at 4pm at the Murphysboro Event Center, 1329 Walnut St. in downtown Murphysboro, Ill., followed by a screening at 5pm at the Liberty Theater, 1333 Walnut St. Cristaudo's Café, Catering & Bakery in Carbondale will provide refreshments. Forbes Financial Group is the event sponsor.
Advance registration is required for either event, which can be completed online at www.wsiu.org/downtonabbey or by calling (618) 453-6122.
Prior to the premiere of Season Five of Downton Abbey on January 4, WSIU will rebroadcast Season 4 in its entirety on Sundays at 7pm from December 14 through December 28.
Downton Abbey is a Carnival Films/Masterpiece Co-Production written and created by Julian Fellowes. The series is Executive Produced by Gareth Neame, Julian Fellowes, Liz Trubridge, and Nigel Marchant. Rebecca Eaton is the Executive Producer Masterpiece. Masterpiece is presented on PBS by WGBH Boston. Funding for the series is provided by Viking River Cruises and Ralph Lauren Corporation with additional support from public television viewers and contributors to The Masterpiece Trust. DVDs and other Downton Abbey items are available at shopPBS.org.
Local sponsors of Season Five of Masterpiece featuring Downton Abbey on WSIU-TV are Southeast Health and Hutson's Fine Furniture.
About WSIU
WSIU Public Broadcasting is licensed to the Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois University and is an integral part of the College of Mass Communication & Media Arts on the Carbondale campus. The WSIU stations reach more than three million people across five states and beyond through three digital public television channels, three public radio stations, a radio information service, a website, and an education and community outreach department.
WSIU's mission is to improve the quality of life of the people they serve. The WSIU stations partner with other community organizations to promote positive change and to support the academic and public service missions of Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Learn more and get the latest station news online at wsiu.org and on WSIU's Facebook and Twitter pages.
WSIU's programs and services are partially funded by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.
About MASTERPIECE
Masterpiece is presented on PBS by WGBH Boston. Rebecca Eaton is Executive Producer. Funding for the series is provided by Viking River Cruises and Ralph Lauren Corporation with additional support from public television viewers and contributors to The Masterpiece Trust, created to help ensure the series' future.
About Carnival Films
Founded in 1978, Carnival Films is a division of NBC Universal International TV Production and is the UK's largest drama specialist. The company is responsible for the global TV sensation Downton Abbey, winner of two Golden Globes® and ten Primetime Emmy® awards, including Best Mini-series. It is the most nominated non-US show in the history of the Emmys® with a total of 51 nominations and is now in 250 territories worldwide. Among numerous national and international awards, the show has even garnered a Guinness World Record for highest critical ratings for a TV show. Downton Abbey is executive produced by Carnival's Managing Director Gareth Neame, who sold the production company to NBCU in 2008. Carnival was recognized as best production company at the 2011 Bulldog Awards and 2012 Broadcast Awards.
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.
Specific program information and updates for press are available at pbs.org/pressroom or by following PBS PressRoom on Twitter.
About WGBH
WGBH Boston is America's preeminent public broadcaster and the largest producer of PBS content for TV and the Web, including Masterpiece, Antiques Roadshow, Frontline, NOVA, American Experience, Arthur, Curious George, and more than a dozen other primetime, lifestyle, and children's series. WGBH also is a leader in educational multimedia, including PBS LearningMedia, and a pioneer in technologies and services that make media accessible to the 36 million Americans who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind, or visually impaired. WGBH has been recognized with hundreds of honors: Emmys, Peabodys, duPont-Columbia Awards...even two Oscars. Find more information at www.wgbh.org.
# # #
