“NOVA” NOMINATED FOR TWO NEWS & DOCUMENTARY EMMY AWARDS
BOSTON, MA; July 26, 2024 – The award-winning PBS science series, NOVA, a production of GBH, has been recognized by The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) with two nominations for The 45th Annual News & Documentary Emmy Awards.
Receiving nominations are ANCIENT EARTH, a five-part series telling the epic story of our planet, featuring the most dramatic events in Earth’s 4.5-billion-year-history; and THE BATTLE TO BEAT MALARIA, which reveals the inside story of a new vaccine to fight against one of humanity’s oldest and most devastating plagues. ANCIENT EARTH earned a nomination in the category of “Outstanding Graphic Design: Documentary” and THE BATTLE TO BEAT MALARIA was nominated in the category of “Outstanding Science & Technology Documentary.”
ANCIENT EARTH, a BBC Studios production with NOVA and GBH for PBS and the BBC — with nearly 100 minutes of science-led visual effects produced by Moonraker VFX — takes viewers on a journey through our planet’s most astonishing moments, from its early years as a volcanic hellscape through the rise of humans. Featuring stunning animation, based on the latest scientific research and an original music score, each of the five episodes brings to life long-lost worlds that ultimately led to the one we know today. (Full credits here)
THE BATTLE TO BEAT MALARIA, produced by Wingspan Productions and HHMI Tangled Bank Studios in association with NOVA/GBH, brings viewers an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the University of Oxford research team that spearheaded the new R21 vaccine — being hailed as a major breakthrough in the fight against malaria — and its long path from development to approval by the World Health Organization (W.H.O.) in October 2023. The film follows scientists, doctors, health care workers, and trial participants on a dramatic quest to save millions of lives by delivering humankind from one of the world’s deadliest diseases. (Full credits here)
“We’re truly honored to receive these nominations and grateful to our production partners and filmmakers at the BBC, Wingspan Productions, and HHMI Tangled Bank Studios for their extraordinary work on these films,” said NOVA Co-Executive Producer Julia Cort. “These productions provide an astonishing, awe-inspiring look at the wonders of our planet and spotlight how human ingenuity and groundbreaking science can combine to potentially save millions of lives.”
“As we continue to celebrate our 50th anniversary year, we deeply appreciate The National Academy of Arts and Sciences for recognizing NOVA’s unwavering commitment to excellence in science storytelling,” said NOVA Co-Executive Producer Chris Schmidt. “We share this wonderful acknowledgement with GBH, PBS, NOVA’s corporate sponsor Carlisle Companies, supporters of the NOVA Science Trust, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and of course our viewers for their continued support of our mission to make science accessible to all.”
In total, PBS was honored with 34 nominations, including 20 nominations for Boston public media producer GBH across ANTIQUES ROADSHOW, FRONTLINE, and NOVA. Read a full list of this year’s nominees here.
The 45th Annual News & Documentary Emmy Awards will be presented in two individual ceremonies: Wednesday, September 25, 2024 (News Categories), and Thursday, September 26, 2023 (Documentary Categories).
NOVA airs Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT on PBS (check local listings) and is available for streaming at pbs.org/nova, NOVA on YouTube, the PBS Documentaries Prime Video Channel, and the PBS App, available on iOS, Android, Roku streaming devices, Apple TV, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV, Samsung Smart TV, Chromecast and VIZIO. PBS station members can view many series, documentaries and specials via PBS Passport. For more information about PBS Passport, visit the PBS Passport FAQ website.
ANCIENT EARTH is a BBC Studios Production with NOVA and GBH for PBS and the BBC. The partnership provides a pipeline of the high-quality, entertaining factual programs that PBS and BBC audiences have come to expect. Executive Producers for BBC Studios are Head of BBC Studios Science Unit Andrew Cohen, and Executive Producer Rob Liddell. NOVA “ANCIENT EARTH” was commissioned for BBC Two by Jack Bootle, Head of Commissioning, Science & Natural History, and executive in charge for PBS Bill Gardner, Vice President of Programming and Development. Executive Producers for NOVA are Julia Cort and Chris Schmidt. Senior Producer for NOVA is Caitlin Saks.
THE BATTLE TO BEAT MALARIA is produced by UK-based independent production company WINGSPAN PRODUCTIONS and HHMI TANGLED BANK STUDIOS in association with NOVA/GBH. It is produced and directed by Catherine Gale (Race for the Vaccine). Executive Producer for Wingspan Productions is Archie Baron (Race for the Vaccine). Executive Producers for HHMI Tangled Bank Studios are Jared Lipworth and Sean B. Carroll. Executive Producers for NOVA are Julia Cort and Chris Schmidt.
NOVA is a production of GBH.
Original funding for ANCIENT EARTH was provided by Viking Cruises, the NOVA Science Trust, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and PBS viewers.
Original funding for THE BATTLE TO BEAT MALARIA was provided by Viking Cruises, the NOVA Science Trust, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and PBS viewers.
Funding for NOVA is provided by Carlisle Companies, the NOVA Science Trust, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and PBS viewers.
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About NOVA
NOVA is the most popular primetime science series on American television, demystifying the scientific and technological concepts that shape and define our lives, our planet, and our universe. The PBS series is also one of the most widely distributed science programs around the world, and is a multimedia, multiplatform brand reaching more than 55 million Americans every year on TV and online. NOVA’s important and inspiring stories of human ingenuity, exploration, and the quest for knowledge are regularly recognized with the industry’s most prestigious awards. As part of its mission to make the scientific enterprise accessible to all, NOVA is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility in all its work, from the production process to the range of stories we tell and the voices we amplify. In addition, science educators across the country rely on NOVA for resources used in the classroom as well as in museums, libraries, and after-school programs. NOVA is a production of GBH; more information can be found at pbs.org/nova, or by following NOVA on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), or Instagram.
About PBS
PBS, with more than 330 member stations, offers all Americans the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television and digital content. Each month, PBS reaches over 36 million adults on linear primetime television, more than 16 million users on PBS-owned streaming platforms, 53 million viewers on YouTube, and 60 million people view PBS content on social media, inviting them to experience the worlds of science, history, nature, and public affairs and to take front-row seats to world-class drama and performances. PBS’s 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 LearningMedia for digital content and services that help bring classroom lessons to life. As the number one educational media brand, PBS KIDS helps children 2-8 build critical skills, enabling them to find success in school and life. Delivered through member stations, PBS KIDS offers high-quality content on TV — including a PBS KIDS channel — and streaming free on pbskids.org and the PBS KIDS Video app, games on the PBS KIDS Games app, and in communities across America. More information about PBS is available at PBS.org, one of the leading dot-org websites on the internet, Facebook, Instagram, or through our apps for mobile and connected devices. Specific program information and updates for press are available at pbs.org/pressroom or by following PBS Communications on X.
About GBH
GBH is the leading multiplatform creator for public media in America. As the largest producer of content for PBS and partner to NPR and PRX, GBH delivers compelling experiences, stories and information to audiences wherever they are. GBH produces digital and broadcast programming that engages, illuminates and inspires, through drama and science, history, arts, culture and journalism. It is the creator of such signature programs as MASTERPIECE, ANTIQUES ROADSHOW, FRONTLINE, NOVA, AMERICAN EXPERIENCE, Arthur and Molly of Denali, as well as WORLD Channel and a catalog of streaming series, podcasts and on-demand video. With studios and a newsroom headquartered in Boston, GBH reaches across New England with GBH 89.7, Boston’s Local NPR®; CRB Classical 99.5; and CAI, the Cape and Islands NPR® station. Dedicated to making media accessible to and inclusive of our diverse culture, GBH is a pioneer in delivering media to those who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind and visually impaired. GBH creates curriculum-based digital content for educators nationwide with PBS LearningMedia and has been recognized with hundreds of the nation’s premier broadcast, digital and journalism awards. Find more information at wgbh.org.
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Press Contacts:
Jordan Lawrence
DKC Public Relations
jordan_lawrence@dkcnews.com
212.981.5220
Jennifer Welsh
NOVA/GBH
jennifer_welsh@wgbh.org
978.985.9835