WETA National Productions

For more than five decades, WETA has been a major producing station for PBS, creating exceptional television programs for audiences nationwide.

WETA is especially noted for its more than 35-year partnership with Ken Burns that has resulted in landmark television series such The American Buffalo, The U.S. and the Holocaust, Benjamin Franklin, Jazz, Baseball, THE WAR, The National Parks: America’s Best Idea, The Vietnam War and Country Music. 

More recently, WETA has enjoyed a production partnership with the acclaimed Harvard scholar Henry Louis Gates, Jr. that has brought to the American public the history documentaries GOSPEL, Making Black America, Black America Since MLK: And Still I Rise, Africa’s Great Civilizations, The Black Church: This Is Our Story, This Is Our Song and the beloved genealogy series Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr. 

Since 2020, WETA has provided the public with Well Beings, a multiplatform, multi-year campaign from public media to address the critical health needs in America through original broadcast and digital content, national engagement campaigns, and impactful local events. Well Beings, created by WETA Washington, D.C., brings together partners from across the country, including individuals with lived experience, families, caregivers, experts, educators, physical and mental health professionals, social service agencies, thought leaders, private foundations, filmmakers, corporations and media sponsors. Since the launch of Well Beings in May 2020 at the start of the global pandemic, Well Beings has reached millions of people throughout America and beyond, through national outreach, education and engagement; national conversations, as well as virtual and in-person events; engaging social media campaigns; the production and acquisition of original digital-first content, ranging from feature-length and short-form documentaries to animated explainer shorts; and producing signature broadcast content, including the award-winning documentary Ken Burns Presents Hiding in Plain Sight: Youth Mental Illness A film by Erik Ewers and Christopher Loren Ewers.  Well Beings is in production or development to address topics including adult mental health, caregiving, dementia, rural health, and sustainable living — creating awareness and resources for better health and well-being for all.

Additionally, our acclaimed news and public affairs series such as PBS News Hour and Washington Week with The Atlantic are staples of the national public television schedule.

More information about WETA's rich history of national productions and co-productions can be found on the Past Productions page. 

Below are just a few examples of national television productions currently in the WETA production pipeline. Look for them to be broadcast on public media stations nationwide in the months and years ahead!

Caregiving (2025)
This two-hour documentary will reveal the vital impact of the caregiver’s role in the family, the workplace, and the country’s economy — featuring a diverse group of caregivers sharing their personal stories of challenge and triumph. The series will examine caregiving from multiple perspectives: the creation and evolution of the care system; the social dynamics that shape our approach to caregiving today and the future possibilities; the lives of caregivers and their relationships with those in their care; the interpersonal and economic pressures faced by caregivers; and the broader societal context in which caregiving operates on the margins, yet affects everyone.

Submit Your Program Proposal 

 WETA National Productions Does Accept Program Proposals for Consideration 

At WETA, we believe in the power of storytelling to inspire, educate, and entertain. We are dedicated to bringing diverse and compelling narratives to life, creating programming that resonates with audiences nationwide. We accept program proposals for consideration, including for feature-length projects, regular hour-long or half-hour series, or short-form content. We may consider projects at any stage of production for co-production or presentation — from an early idea through to post-production. We particularly consider nonfiction health, arts, and history programs. 

The review process may take 6 to 8 weeks, and submission does not guarantee response.   

Please fill out the WETA Program Submission Summary Form found here: Submit Your Program Proposal