WXXI TV

The beloved annual concert performed by Vienna Philharmonic takes place in Schönbrunn Palace Park and is conducted for the first time by Maestro Tugan Sokhiev.

Great Performances: Vienna Philharmonic Summer Night Concert 2025 airs Friday August 29 at 9 p.m. on WXXI-TV and streams live on the WXXI app.

The beloved annual concert performed by Vienna Philharmonic takes place in Schönbrunn Palace Park and is conducted for the first time by Maestro Tugan Sokhiev. Renowned opera singer Piotr Beczała joins as the vocal soloist, performing three famed arias from Bizet’s “Carmen,” Puccini’s “Turandot,” and Kálmán’s operetta “Gräfin Mariza.” Additionally, the Vienna Boys Choir will perform at the concert for the first time. Past years’ conductors include Zubin Mehta (2005 & 2015), Franz Welser-Möst (2010), Gustavo Dudamel (2012, 2019), Daniel Harding (2021), Yannick Nézet-Séguin (2023), Andris Nelsons (2022, 2024), and more. The Summer Night Concert is transmitted in more than 80 countries worldwide. 

Chicago performs their greatest hits with special guests.

Chicago and Friends: Live at 55 airs Friday, August 15 at 10 p.m. on WXXI-TV and streams live on the WXXI app.

Join the Rock and Roll Hall-of-Famers as they perform their greatest hits with special guests Steve Vai, Chris Daughtry, Robert Randolph, Robin Thicke, VoicePlay, Judith Hill, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram and more. Filmed in Atlantic City with over 18 4k cameras, the band plays songs from their double-Platinum debut album Chicago Transit Authority, in honor of its 55th anniversary.

Enjoy a sneak peek at the upcoming six-part documentary series from Ken Burns that explores the country’s founding struggle.

PBS Previews: The American Revolution: A Film by Ken Burns airs Saturday, August 16 at 10:30 p.m. on WXXI-TV.and streams live on the WXXI app.

This special gives an inside look at the new series, The American Revolution, directed by Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein and David Schmidt. Tune in as the team uncovers how thirteen British colonies on the Atlantic Coast rose in rebellion, won their independence and established a new form of government that radically reshaped the continent and inspired centuries of democratic movements around the globe.

Watch the trailer for the six-part series that premieres November 16 on WXXI-TV.

Photo: The American Revolution key art.
Credit: PBS.

Focusing on the changes, misconceptions, and current state of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), this half-hour documentary offers insight through the personal stories of students and insights from experts.

Opportunity, Access & Uplift: The Evolving Legacy of HBCUs airs Thursday, September 11 at 10 p.m. on WXXI-TV and streams live on the WXXI app.

Hosted by HBCU graduate Brandis Griffith-Friedman, the program follows five students from two HBCUs located on opposite sides of the country — as well as a family of a high school senior in Chicago who is debating his future — through their day, sharing their experiences and stories. It also explores the changing face of enrollment and funding at HBCUs with contributions from experts Dr. Michael Lomax, CEO of UNCF, and Felecia Commodore, associate professor of higher education at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

Opportunity, Access & Uplift: The Evolving Legacy of HBCUs repeats Tuesday, September 10 at 4:30 a.m. on WXXI-TV and Sunday, September 14 at 10:30 a.m. on WXXI-WORLD

Photo: Opportunity, Access & Uplift: The Evolving Legacy of HBCUs key art.
Credit: American Public Television.

The Historic HBCU Photograph captures the remarkable event of alumni from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) gathered for a momentous photograph, and explores the important role the nation’s HBCUs have served in advancing social justice and equality for African Americans in the face of systemic racism.

The Historic HBCU Photograph airs Thursday, September 11 at 10:30 p.m. on WXXI-TV and streams live on the WXXI app.

Inspired by the iconic 1958 photograph “A Great Day in Harlem,” alumni from the nation’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) gathered for a momentous event on the steps of Morningside Park in Harlem to recreate a powerful moment symbolizing unity, resilience, and the enduring spirit of a community born out of the historic denial of education to African Americans in the United States. Through personal recollections and insights of the alumni participating in the event, this documentary commemorates this moment in history and celebrates the resilience and solidarity of the HBCU community.

The Historic HBCU Photograph repeats Friday, September 12 at 4:30 p.m. on WXXI-WORLD, and Sunday, September 14 at 3:30 p.m., Sunday, September 28 at 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, September 30 at 2:30 a.m. on WXXI-TV.

Photo: HBCU alumni gathered together for a photo.
Credit: American Public Television.

Often used to refer to an NFL player who will be enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the term “Headed to Canton” has expanded to include collegiate football more than 50 years later.

Black College Football Hall of Fame: Journey to Canton airs Saturday, September 13 at 5:30 p.m. on WXXI-TV and streams live on the WXXI app.

In 2019, the Black College Football Hall of Fame was officially welcomed to the campus of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, celebrating the historically Black college and university brand of football. This documentary tells the story of the formation of Black college football, the contributions that players from historically Black colleges and universities have made to the NFL, the founding of its Hall of Fame, and why the Hall is in the unexpected location of Canton.

Photo: The Black College Football Hall of Fame photographed.
Provided by NETA

This documentary charts the inception of the first Women’s Basketball team in 1974, the triumph and challenges they faced, and how it continues to raise the bar, embodying the spirit of resilience, determination and pride.

The Golden Year: Howard Women’s Basketball airs Saturday, September 13 at 5 p.m. on WXXI-TV and streams live on the WXXI app.

In 1974 Howard University formed its first Women’s Basketball team, creating new opportunities for women in sports and building a winning program committed to excellence that extends beyond the court. 50 years later, players and coaches reflect on their legacy and the overall growth of women’s sports while highlighting the continued struggle for equity in athletics.

Photo: The Golden Year: Howard Women’s Basketball key art.
Provided by NETA

Explore the life and legacy of one of the most significant African American leaders of the Reconstruction Era, George H. White.

George H. White: Searching for Freedom airs Wednesday, September 10 at 3 p.m. on WXXI-TV and streams live on the WXXI app.

Born in 1852 in Eastern North Carolina to a family of turpentine farmers, White rose through the ranks of state politics to serve in the 55th US Congress from 1887 to 1901 as its sole Black voice. The documentary offers insight into White’s groundbreaking accomplishments as a politician and civil rights leader.

Photo: George H. White: Searching for Freedom key art.
Provided by NETA

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