January 11, 2016 (ARLINGTON, VA) — PBS and WETA Washington, D.C., the flagship public television station in the nation’s capital, today announced that PBS NewsHour will produce the first Democratic presidential candidates debate following the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary on Thursday, February 11, 2016 at 9 PM ET. NewsHour co-anchors and managing editors Gwen Ifill and Judy Woodruff will moderate the PBS NewsHour Democratic Primary Debate , to be broadcast nationwide on PBS stations. The Democratic National Committee (DNC)-sanctioned debate will be held at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee on its main campus.

In addition to the national live broadcast on PBS, the debate - produced in cooperation with Milwaukee Public Television and WUWM 89.7 FM - will be streamed online at pbs.org/newshour.

“It is fitting that two of America’s finest journalists will guide this candidates’ debate, which will take place just days after the Iowa Caucuses and New Hampshire Primary,” said Sharon Percy Rockefeller, President and CEO of WETA, the producing station of PBS NewsHour. “In service to the American people, Gwen Ifill and Judy Woodruff will bring to bear the trademark intelligence, balance, and gravitas of one of the nation’s most trusted and respected news operations as they elicit candidates’ views on issues facing the nation. We look forward to an illuminating, engaging debate that will enrich the national political dialogue and reflect PBS NewsHour’s fundamental mission to inform and educate the public.”

“We are proud that PBS stations will broadcast this Democratic candidate debate at such a critical time in the election cycle — on the heels of the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary — and there are no better journalists to moderate than Gwen and Judy,” said Beth Hoppe, Chief Programming Executive and General Manager, General Audience Programming, PBS. “I know that PBS NewsHour and WETA will produce a debate that is as engaging as it is informative, and which will help the public learn more about the positions of these candidates.”

“Gwen Ifill and Judy Woodruff will bring the same high journalistic standards and integrity to this debate that they bring to the PBS NewsHour every day,” said Sara Just, Executive Producer of the NewsHour and Senior Vice President of WETA. “I’m looking forward to seeing the first all-female moderating team at a presidential debate.”

“UW-Milwaukee has a long history of promoting civil discourse on important issues facing our society, and we are proud to host the debate on our campus,” said University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Chancellor Mark Mone. “Our school is an incredibly strong academic institution with a vast alumni base, robust research profile, and deep connection to the Milwaukee community — and we very much look forward to welcoming presidential candidates here this upcoming February.”

The PBS NewsHour Democratic Primary Debate is part of PBS Elections 2016 — a year-long, cross-platform initiative that brings together PBS’ news, public affairs, documentary and digital programming to provide comprehensive, trusted coverage of the 2016 elections. New and returning series will join acclaimed programs including PBS NewsHour, PBS NewsHour Weekend, Frontline, Washington Week with Gwen Ifill, Charlie Rose and Tavis Smiley for comprehensive coverage of breaking news, topical political issues and behind-the-scenes stories about the candidates and the election process.

CONTACTS:

Nick Massella, Director of Audience Engagement and Communications, PBS NewsHour

Kate Kelly, Senior Director of National Publicity, WETA

Chris Pigott, DKC News

David Helfenbein, DKC News

About PBS

PBS, with 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 more than 103 million people through television and over 33 million people online, inviting them to experience the worlds of science, history, nature and public affairs; to hear the 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. Teachers of children from pre-K through 12th grade turn to PBS for digital content and services that help bring classroom lessons to life. PBS’ premier children’s TV programming and its website, pbskids.org, are parents’ and teachers’ most trusted partners in inspiring and nurturing curiosity and love of learning in children. More information about PBS is available at www.pbs.org, one of the leading dot-org websites on the Internet, or by following PBS on Twitter, Facebook or through our apps for mobile devices. Specific program information and updates for press are available at pbs.org/pressroom or by following PBS Pressroom on Twitter.

About WETA

WETA is one of the largest producing stations of new content for public television in the United States and serves Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia with educational initiatives and with high-quality programming on four digital television channels. WETA productions and co-productions include PBS NewsHour, Washington Week with Gwen Ifill, America After Charleston, The Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize, The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song and documentaries by filmmaker Ken Burns, including The Roosevelts: An Intimate History and the April 2016 premiere of Jackie Robinson. WETA studios and administrative offices are located in Arlington, Virginia. More information on WETA and its programs and services is available at www.weta.org.

About PBS NewsHour

PBS NewsHour is seen by over four million weekly viewers and is also available online, via public radio in select markets, and via podcast. PBS NewsHour is a production of NewsHour Productions LLC, a wholly-owned non-profit subsidiary of WETA Washington, D.C., in association with WNET in New York. Major funding for PBS NewsHour is provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, PBS and public television viewers. Major corporate funding is provided by BNSF and Lincoln Financial Group, with additional support from Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, Carnegie Corporation of New York, the J. Paul Getty Trust, the S.D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the Lemelson Foundation, National Science Foundation, The Rockefeller Foundation, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, Ford Foundation, Skoll Foundation, Friends of the NewsHour and others. More information on PBS NewsHour is available at pbs.org/newshour. On social media, visit NewsHour on Facebook or follow @NewsHour on Twitter.

About UW-Milwaukee

As Wisconsin’s only public urban research university, UW-Milwaukee has established an international reputation for excellence in research, community engagement, teaching and entrepreneurism. On a budget of $667 million, UW-Milwaukee educates more than 27,000 students and is an engine for innovation in southeastern Wisconsin. Its economic impact is more than $1.5 billion per year in Wisconsin alone. The Princeton Review named UWM a “2016 Best Midwestern” university based on overall academic excellence and student reviews. WUWM 89.7 FM, Milwaukee Public Radio, is a service of UW-Milwaukee’s College of Letters & Science.