WILD ALASKA LIVE is hosted by Emmy Award®-winning zoologists, adventurers and brothers Chris Kratt and Martin Kratt, the creators, executive producers and stars of the hit PBS KIDS series WILD KRATTS.
Liz Bonnin and Steve Backshall, both of whom presented BIG BLUE LIVE, will join the Kratts as on-air correspondents.
FOR PARENTS: On the KPBS KIDS 24/7 channel and live stream, WILD ALASKA LIVE will air immediately after WILD KRATTS one-hour specials, including "Creatures of the Deep Sea" (on July 23 at 8 p.m.) and the all-new "Alaska: Hero’s Journey" (on July 26 and 30 at 8 p.m.).
What happens in the Alaskan wilderness in late July affects the animals’ survival and well-being for the remainder of the year.
With some of largest areas of wilderness left on Earth, Alaska is the best place in the world to see the huge animals and top predators in all their glory.
The three-night live presentation also explores the challenges of preserving America’s last frontier, as scientists, filmmakers, photographers and other experts gather there to tell some of the planet’s extraordinary wildlife stories.
Official Trailer
"Broadcasting live over three nights with hosts Chris Kratt and Martin Kratt
Over three nights, WILD ALASKA LIVE will visit several locations, including points near Juneau and the Tongass National Forest, where the team will look for black bears and bald eagles; the vast Kenai Fjords National Park, in search of orcas and humpback whales; and the wilderness of Katmai National Park, where brown bears and elusive wolves live and hunt.
Meet the Orca Team of Wild Alaska Live
Wildlife experts venture into Alaska’s vast Kenai Fjords National Park in search of orcas. Researchers like Dan Olsen are trying to track the animals’ feeding and habitation patterns. Watch the Orca adventure play out live as thousands of the world’s wildest animals gather to take part in Alaska’s amazing summer feast. Premieres July 23 @ 8 ET/PT
WILD ALASKA LIVE will also introduce viewers to local experts who explore the relationship between Alaska’s First Peoples and the animals among whom they co-exist.
WILD ALASKA LIVE will use state-of-the-art filming technologies and live reports from the air, by boat and on the rugged Alaskan terrain.
The event will be anchored by an on-location team of hosts, including Chris and Martin Kratt, correspondents, scientists and wildlife experts who will provide insights and perspective during the broadcasts.
In addition to the live portions of the programs, PBS and BBC crews will shoot video in the weeks preceding the live broadcast, to enhance each live broadcast by telling the bigger stories of each unique species.
WILD ALASKA LIVE follows the multi-platform success of 2015’s BIG BLUE LIVE television event, which captured the late summer feeding frenzy of marine life in Monterey Bay, California, on air, streaming online and through social media.
That event showcased Monterey Bay’s unique underwater community of humpback whales, sea lions, dolphins, elephant seals, sea otters, great white sharks, shearwaters, brown pelicans, blue whales and more, and was experienced by millions of viewers worldwide in a shared multimedia experience.
JOIN THE CONVERSATION:
Visit the #AlaskaLive Social Hub. PBS is on Facebook, Instagram, and you can follow @PBS on Twitter. #AlaskaLive
WILD KRATTS show is on Facebook.
Steve Backshall is on Facebook, and you can follow @SteveBackshall on Twitter.
Follow Liz Bonnin - @lizbonnin on Twitter.
FUN FEATURES:
What's Your Wild Alaska Animal Personality? Take our quiz to see which featured Alaskan Wildlife create you are.
Caption This Photo: Check out our 'Bear With Us' meme generator and see what others have come up with.
FIMMAKER QUOTES:
“WILD ALASKA LIVE is the blueprint for the incredible family trip you’ve always wanted to take,” said Beth Hoppe, Chief Programming Executive and General Manager, General Audience Programming, PBS. “The beauty of America’s most remote state is awe-inspiring and jaw-dropping; it’s the true meaning of wilderness. Nature lovers, adventurers and families alike can follow the action live on TV, online and on their mobile devices throughout the week, to catch every exceptional moment. This immersive event is not to be missed.”
“BIG BLUE LIVE was a summer smash in 2015 and I'm delighted that the team behind our BAFTA Award winning series are reuniting for WILD ALASKA LIVE,” said Tom McDonald, BBC Head of Commissioning for Natural History and Specialist Factual. “The series will be the most ambitious live natural history project we've ever commissioned - broadcasting from one of the last truly wild places on earth for what promises to be an unforgettable week of animal encounters.”
