Niall Ferguson's The Ascent of Money Comes To PBS in January, Offering a Timely Perspective on the Economy

Niall Ferguson's The Ascent of Money Comes To PBS in January, Offering a Timely Perspective on the Economy

NEW YORK, Dec. 4 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- One week before a new President who campaigned on a promise to fix the economy takes office, public media provider WNET.ORG is putting the meaning of money into context - where it came from, where it goes, and why it has always been (and always will be) the fulcrum of civilization. The Ascent of Money, a two-hour documentary based on the newly-released book The Ascent of Money: A Financial History of the World (Penguin Group USA), will premiere on Tuesday, January 13 at 9 p.m. (ET) on PBS (check local listings). The film is written and presented by the bestselling author, economist, historian, and Harvard professor Niall Ferguson. An expanded, four-hour version of The Ascent of Money will air on PBS later in 2009.

In The Ascent of Money, Ferguson - whose series War of the World garnered critical attention last summer - traces the evolution of money and demonstrates that financial history is the essential back-story behind all history. "Everyone needs to understand the complex history of money and our relationship to it," he says. "By learning how societies have continually created and survived financial crises, we can find solid solutions to today's worldwide economic emergency." As he traverses historic financial hot spots around the world, Ferguson illuminates fundamental economic concepts and speaks with leading experts in the financial world.

Visit www.thirteen.org/pressroom for further information.

Funding for The Ascent of Money is provided by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, The Smith Richardson Foundation, James and Merryl Tisch, and PBS.

The Ascent of Money is a co-production of Chimerica Media Limited and THIRTEEN in association with WNET.ORG. Series writer and presenter is Niall Ferguson. Series producer is Melanie Fall. Series director is Adrian Pennick. Executive producer is Simon Berthon. For WNET.ORG, William R. Grant is executive producer. Stephen Segaller is executive-in-charge.

About WNET.ORG

New York public media company WNET.ORG is a pioneering provider of television and web content. The parent of Thirteen, WLIW21 and Creative News Group, WNET.ORG brings such acclaimed broadcast series and websites as Worldfocus, Nature, Great Performances, American Masters, Charlie Rose, Wide Angle, Secrets of the Dead, Religion & Ethics Newsweekly, Visions, Consuelo Mack WealthTrack,Wild Chronicles, Miffy and Friends, and Cyberchase to national and international audiences. Through its wide range of channels and platforms, WNET.ORG serves the entire New York City metro area with unique local productions, broadcasts and innovative educational and cultural projects. In all that it does, WNET.ORG pursues a single, overarching goal -- to create media experiences of lasting significance for New York, America and the world. For more information, visit www.wnet.org.

NOTE TO EDITORS: Niall Ferguson is available for interviews. Contact Lisa Batchelder, batcheld@thirteen.org.

Source: WNET.ORG

CONTACT: Lisa Batchelder, +1-212-560-2074, batcheld@thirteen.org, for
WNET.ORG

Web Site: http://www.thirteen.org/
http://www.wnet.org/

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