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Programming Highlights | October 2026

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by Mark Lasswell • Published on
Programming Highlights: October 2026 banner over a sunlit autumn forest with colorful fallen leaves.
Programming

October is full of compelling content on WTVP, including documentaries, history, debate and travel.

Independent Lens

Two men walking outdoors, one in a plaid shirt with a backpack, the other in a white shirt. Greenery and houses in the background.

Independent Lens #2802

My Omaha

Monday, 10/5/2026 @ 9:00 PM

Filmmaker Nick Beaulieu explores his hometown's racial justice movement while trying to reconnect with his terminally ill, conservative father.

Man in a hat holding a baby outdoors with a field and overcast sky in the background.

Independent Lens #2803

Seeds

Monday, 10/26/2026 @ 9:00 PM

"Seeds" is a visual and cultural exploration of centennial farmers in the southern U.S. that examines the decline of generational Black farmers and the significance of owning land.

Single Episode Programs

A group of six people with camera equipment stands in a field with hills in the background.

Stand Together as One

Friday, 10/9/2026 @ 8:00 PM

Forty years after the recording of "We Are the World," the pop anthem still resonates for music lovers worldwide, and the global concert Live Aid remains the benchmark for what's possible when musicians come together in a common cause. The documentary STAND TOGETHER AS ONE explores what motivated this epic collaboration and highlights how artists, journalists, activists, filmmakers and healthcare workers can work together to engage in the fight for equality, justice and positive change. The program features interviews with artist-activist Harry Belafonte, "We Are The World" organizer Ken Kragen, composer and renowned entertainer Lionel Richie, singer Dionne Warwick and the celebrated BBC correspondent Michael Buerk, among others. It also features a rare interview with Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, along with never-before-seen footage and still photos of the 1983 Ethiopian famine that were restored for this production.

Red background with white text reading

Frontline #4503

American Voices 2026

Tuesday, 10/13/2026 @ 9:00 PM

This special follows the changing views and experiences of Americans from the 2020 election to today. Frontline returns to voters first filmed six years ago to see how their hopes and fears have changed amid another polarizing election season. 

Aerial view of ancient stone ruins and circular structures surrounded by trees with a rocky hill in the background.

Secrets of the Dead #2305

Africa's Golden City

Wednesday, 10/14/2026 @ 9:00 PM

In the heart of southern Africa lies a mysterious forgotten city. Known as Great Zimbabwe, it was once home to 20,000 people. Its imposing walls are forty feet high and sixteen feet thick. Who built this huge metropolis? Why is it filled with gold and treasures from around the world? And why doesn't anyone know its story? Today, after five centuries, archaeologists are finding new clues about this sophisticated civilization.

A person sits at a table with glass domes and figurines, in a black and white photo.

Curious Worlds: The Art & Imagination of David Beck

Friday, 10/23/2026 @ 9:30 PM

CURIOUS WORLDS: THE ART & IMAGINATION OF DAVID BECK pulls back the curtain on one of America's most accomplished and original, yet least-known, working artists. A master sculptor, carver, painter and miniature architect, Beck works in a fantastical genre all his own, creating intricate worlds, alive with playful and incisive observations of the world we know. Beck subjects his work and life to the camera's invasive scrutiny with a wit and charm that's both inviting and ambivalent. CURIOUS WORLDS captures the artist at work in his studio and reflecting on his process in an intimate portrait illuminating what it takes to create a masterwork: extraordinary ideas, an almost eerie ability to focus on the work, and patience. The only artist to have three shows at the Smithsonian American Museum of Art, David Beck comes across as the smartest, most creative guy you knew in high school. He didn't get a day job.

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Breaking the Deadlock #106

AI Who's In Control?

Tuesday, 10/27/2026 @ 8:00 PM

As AI works its way into every facet of our lives, Americans will have a choice: will we control it, or will it control us? Can the transformative benefits of the technology balance the costs in lost jobs, a stable future, in our humanity? In a series of hypothetical dilemmas involving the role of local communities over its use, personal privacy, and the impact of AI on our politics, a panel of prominent leaders in tech, culture, politics, and journalism work through challenging ethical questions to reach - if not common ground - then common understanding about the stakes of this controversial technology.

Walkin' West

Join host Steve Weldon as he hikes and explores the beautiful trails of the American West, from the rugged California Coast to the Colorado Rockies. Steve will showcase the flora and fauna of the region along with the history of our early inhabitants. Experience the great outdoors with this fun, family-oriented program!

Red rock hoodoos in Bryce Canyon National Park with green trees in the background.

Walkin' West #301

Sequoia

Saturday, 10/24/2026 @ 6:30 PM

Join WALKIN' WEST host Steve Weldon on a magical hike through the Giant Sequoias of the High Sierras of California. Sequoia National Park is the home of Mt Whitney and the largest living tree by volume in the world!

Man with backpack and walking stick overlooks a vast canyon landscape with rock formations and trees under a clear blue sky.

Walkin' West #302

Kings Canyon

Saturday, 10/31/2026 @ 6:30 PM

Join WALKIN' WEST host Steve Weldon as he hikes and explores one of America's deepest canyons: Kings Canyon National Park. Discover jagged peaks, rushing rivers and wildlife galore!