PBS News Launches Two New Weekend Programs, Replacing ‘PBS News Weekend’
Meta Description: PBS News is expanding its weekend programming with “Horizons” and “Compass Points,” replacing “PBS News Weekend” in January and offering deeper dives into science & foreign affairs.
WETA in Washington, D.C., and PBS News have announced the launch of two new weekend programs – Horizons From PBS News and Compass Points From PBS News – set to replace PBS News Weekend in January. Both programs will maintain the 30-minute format of their predecessor.
Hosted by William Brangham, Horizons will focus on science, health, and technology. Compass Points, led by Nick Schifrin, will delve into foreign affairs. The premiere dates are set for Saturday, January 17th, at 6 p.m. Eastern time for Horizons, and Sunday, January 18th, at the same time for Compass Points. Both broadcasts will also be available online and as video podcasts across various platforms.
The decision to end PBS News Weekend was announced last month as part of a broader restructuring within WETA and News Hour Productions, prompted by the reduction of federal funding for public media. At the time, a station representative indicated that two new programs would fill the weekend slots.
“As we lay out the next chapter of PBS News’ multi-platform programming, we are delighted to launch two new weekend broadcasts, both of which will build on existing editorial strengths of our newsroom and allow us to dive deeper into topics our audiences care about deeply,” stated Sara Just, PBS News senior Executive Producer and WETA Senior Vice President, in a news release. “As we have found with the success of Washington Week with The Atlantic, there is a growing and hungry audience for deep, nuanced conversations with knowledgeable guests that help shed light on critical issues and are a welcome break from some of the bite-sized, headline-grabbing news that proliferates so much these days.”
Horizons will dedicate each weekly episode to a single, in-depth issue. Upcoming topics include the evolving artificial intelligence race, significant medical advancements, and the latest developments in climate science. Brangham joined PBS News Hour in 2013, initially as a producer and correspondent, and later served as a substitute anchor. His prior experience includes work with the WNET Group in New York, NOW on PBS, and as a producer for Bill Moyers. Talesha Reynolds will serve as the Executive Producer of Horizons, alongside her existing role as a senior producer of content and special projects for News Hour.
Compass Points will examine the influence of the American government’s interests and power on global events. Each episode will feature a panel of experts, including journalists and former government officials, offering diverse perspectives.
Schifrin joined PBS News Hour in 2015 as a special correspondent and has been the program’s foreign affairs and defense correspondent since 2018. His work on the News Hour series Inside Putin’s Russia earned a 2017 Peabody Award. He was also part of the News Hour teams recognized with a 2021 Peabody for their COVID-19 coverage and a 2023 duPont-Columbia Award for their reporting on Afghanistan and Ukraine. Before joining News Hour, Schifrin reported from locations including London, Jerusalem, Afghanistan, and Pakistan as a foreign correspondent for NPR, Al Jazeera America, and ABC News. Stephanie Kotuby will lead Compass Points as Executive Producer, in addition to her role as Executive Producer of Washington Week with The Atlantic and as a senior editorial producer for PBS News Hour.
The final broadcast of PBS News Weekend is scheduled for January 11th.
