Public TV Force WNET Launches Broadcast And Streaming Channel All Arts

WNET, the parent company of New York PBS stations Thirteen and WLIW21 and operator of NJTV, is launching a free, 24-hour broadcast and streaming channel dedicated to dance, film, literature, music, theater and other art forms.

All Arts, which will go live on January 28, will feature an eclectic mix of new, original shows produced by WLIW21, as well as acquired programs from around the world and archival programs mined from WNET’s 50-year history of arts broadcasting.

Select programming is already available on the web as well as via Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. At launch, the streaming service will be found on iOS and Android smartphones and tablets, as well as Roku, Apple TV and Amazon Fire TV.

Shows that will air on All Arts include Broadway Sandwich, which follows Broadway stars on their breaks, bringing viewers behind the scenes of major shows. The first episode features Hamilton and Kinky Boots. Box Burners centers on artists who are redefining their fields; House Seats features stage productions such as Antigone in Ferguson; In Motion highlights dance performance; and The Set List offers live music from reggae to show tunes.

“WNET has a long history of bringing great art to audiences – we have showcased pioneers in visual arts, literature, music, theater, and dance for decades. We’re thrilled to carry that tradition into a new generation,” notes Neal Shapiro, WNET President and CEO and also the Co-Executive in Charge of All Arts.

Diane Masciale, WLIW21 Vice President and General Manager and CoExecutive in Charge of All Arts, said the new venture is “committed to reducing barriers to experiencing the arts and building new audiences for cultural organizations in a way that only public media can do.”

Jörn Weisbrodt, All Arts Artistic Director, added: “With All Arts, many obstacles to enjoying culture vanish: we have no tickets, dress codes, opening times, dark days, transport, parking issues, sold-out houses, or boundaries as to what we present. It is a radical luxury to have an entire space devoted to arts, culture, and creativity, accessible 24 hours a day.”