New York, NY – August 18, 2021 – Commemorating the 20th anniversary of the September 11th attacks, the HISTORY® Channel remembers the events that took place and the heroism and historical impact that forever transformed a nation with seven hours of new, compelling documentary programming and a special podcast episode of HISTORY This Week.
From Category 6 Media™ group, “9/11: The Legacy,” a one-hour documentary premiering Friday, September 10th at 7 PM ET/PT, provides an intimate look into the profound impact and legacy this tragic day had on America’s children through the subsequent days and 20 years that followed celebrating their courage, strength, and resilience. This poignant documentary joins previously announced “Rise And Fall: The World Trade Center” premiering Friday, September 10th at 8 PM ET/PT, “9/11: Four Flights” premiering Saturday, September 11th at 8 PM ET/PT, and “9/11: I Was There” premiering Saturday, September 11th at 10 PM ET/PT. Additionally, “9/11: Rescue on the Water,” a special episode of the award-winning podcast HISTORY This Week, is available Monday, September 6th. The new audio episode recounts the heroic efforts of New York’s civilian, commercial and military boat captains as they orchestrated an impromptu coastal evacuation of Manhattan – on a scale larger than Dunkirk during World War II – bringing more than 500,000 people to safety amidst the desperate chaos following the World Trade Center attacks.
The full programming slate airing on September 10th and 11th include the following:
“9/11: The Legacy” – One-Hour Documentary Premieres Friday, September 10th at 7 PM ET/PT
More than 72 million children woke up the morning of September 11, 2001, to what seemed like an ordinary Tuesday; by the end, eight lost their lives and more than 3,000 lost a parent. “9/11: The Legacy” is a new, poignant one-hour documentary sharing extraordinary stories of resilience and healing from the children impacted on 9/11 – their life and legacy 20 years later. The documentary encapsulates the tragic event through these now young adults who describe what they thought it meant then vs. now and how the experience altered their lives forever. Viewers will hear the raw, emotional, and harrowing details of that day from some of the students in attendance at the High School for Leadership and Public Service in Manhattan and their brave principal, Ada Rosario Dolch, and English teacher Heather Ordover who ultimately led all 550 students to safety; individuals whose direct experiences inspired each to serve their country; twin brothers who started a charitable company in memory of their father who never came home and much more. Incorporating the tangible artifacts that keep these memories alive, the documentary offers tales of hope – a reminder of the historical impact and importance of 9/11 for generations to come.
“Rise and Fall: The World Trade Center” – Two-Hour Documentary Premieres Friday, September 10th at 8 PM ET/PT
Through a unique architectural and engineering lens, “Rise and Fall: The World Trade Center” takes a chronological look at the conception, construction, and destruction of the World Trade Center towers. It recounts the inspiring, true story behind the individuals who dreamed, planned, and built a symbol of American strength and ambition. Step by step, viewers will witness the execution of this innovative and one-of-a-kind sky-high complex from early designs to overcoming technical challenges to its heart-wrenching collapse. The two-hour documentary covers the first terrorist attack on the WTC during the 1993 bombing and unpacks, in vivid detail, a timeline of how and why the building fell after terrorists flew commercial airliners into them on September 11. With the use of historical elements and graphics, expert interviews, and courageous first-hand testimonies of the two attacks, the documentary reveals the wonders and vulnerabilities of these unforgettable buildings.
“9/11: Four Flights” – Two-Hour Documentary Premieres Saturday, September 11th at 8 PM ET/PT
Four flights – American 11, United 175, American 77, and United 93 – took off the morning of September 11, 2001, unaware of the life-changing events to follow and fate that would forever intertwine them. Through the powerful and personal narratives from family and friends, “9/11: Four Flights” tells the riveting and emotional human stories of those aboard each doomed jetliner. Looking at all four flights for the first time in one program, the two-hour documentary unveils a saga of surprising connections, strange coincidences, and detrimental decisions. From one flight tracking another as it veered off course, barreling toward Manhattan, to the final heart-wrenching phone calls to some incredibly harrowing yet heroic moments, viewers will hear about the bravery of passengers, crew, air traffic controllers, and more who tried in vain to intercept the airliners. On the 20th anniversary of this historic yet tragic event, we remember and honor those loved ones lost and the day that transformed a nation forever.
“9/11: I Was There” – Two-Hour Documentary Premieres Saturday, September 11th at 10 PM ET/PT
Marking the 20th anniversary of September 11th, this two-hour documentary presents a unique and moving account of the day that changed the modern world. Featuring rare footage and audio, “9/11: I Was There” unveils an intimate portrayal of the events of September 11 captured by ordinary people who chose to pick up their video cameras that day; some courageous enough to get a closer look. Told in the moment without interview, commentary, or narration, this riveting documentary weaves together the personal video diaries of a dozen people whose emotions are remarkable documentation of that dark day. A truly extraordinary portrayal, “9/11: I Was There” puts viewers in the shoes of New Yorkers and visitors alike to unfold the tragedy, the fear of what was next, and the horrific aftermath to follow resulting in a raw and unfiltered telling of 9/11 from confusion to comprehension, terror and relief.
“9/11: Rescue on the Water” – Special HISTORY This Week Podcast Episode Available
Monday, September 6th Joins Encore of Blindspot: The Road to 9/11
From the award-winning podcast HISTORY This Week, the new audio episode of “9/11: Rescue on the Water” recounts the heroic efforts of New York’s civilian, commercial and military boat captains as they orchestrated an impromptu coastal evacuation of Manhattan – on a scale larger than Dunkirk during World War II – bringing more than 500,000 people to safety amidst the desperate chaos following the World Trade Center attacks. Additionally, hailed as one of the top podcasts of 2020 by The Atlantic, Blindspot: The Road to 9/11, a nine-part narrative podcast series co-produced by The HISTORY® Channel and WNYC Studios, tells the dramatic and largely unknown story of the lead-up to September 11, 2001. A special encore presentation of the critically acclaimed podcast is available now. Based on The HISTORY® Channel television documentary “Road to 9/11” and hosted by WNYC’s Jim O’Grady, Blindspot: The Road to 9/11 draws on interviews with more than 60 people – including FBI agents, high-level bureaucrats, journalists, national security experts, and people who knew the terrorists personally – and weaves them together with original reporting. Audiences can listen and subscribe to “HISTORY This Week” and “Blindspot: The Road to 9/11 on Apple podcasts, HISTORY.com/podcasts, and anywhere podcasts are available.
In addition, The HISTORY® Channel continues its partnership with The 9/11 Memorial & Museum. As part of this partnership, the network will create original short-form content under its “Save Our History” initiative telling powerful stories about those who survived the September 11th attacks and highlighting important artifacts in the museum’s collection. The HISTORY® Channel will also support the museum’s mission to keep the history of September 11th alive through the dissemination of educational content and virtual events for teachers and students.
The HISTORY® Channel has committed to providing an informative and historical record of the events that unfolded on and after September 11th – from crews documenting on the ground at the World Trade Center right after the attacks to playing a role in the recovery and return of the Ground Zero Flag to the Emmy® Award-winning documentary “102 Minutes That Changed America.” Over the past 20 years, the network has amassed over 70 premiere hours of September 11th related programming and produced more than 60 pieces of original digital content exploring every angle and providing different perspectives about the day that changed our nation forever.
“9/11: The Legacy” is produced for The HISTORY® Channel by the Category 6 Media™ group. Sharon Scott, Kristy Sabat, Jessica Conway, and Sydney Trattner serve as executive producers for the Category 6 Media™ group. Alex Hicks serves as executive producer for The HISTORY® Channel.
“Rise and Fall: The World Trade Center” and “9/11: Four Flights” are produced for The HISTORY® Channel by Left/Right. Ken Druckerman, Banks Tarver, Jon Meyersohn, and Michael Mezaros serve as executive producers for Left/Right. Mike Stiller serves as executive producer for The HISTORY® Channel.
“9/11: I Was There” is produced for The HISTORY® Channel by Brook Lapping Productions in co-production with ITV and France Télévisions. Greg Sanderson serves as executive producer and Karen Edwards serves as executive producer and director for Brook Lapping Productions. Zachary Behr and Brad Holcman serve as executive producers for The HISTORY® Channel.
