PRESS RELEASE:

When KUED aired part one of the national PBS series, “THE MORMONS,” in May, the number of viewers tuning in to watch the program brought the station one of its highest-rated programs ever. The Frontline/American Experience Special “The Mormons” will air again on KUED-Channel 7 Wednesday and Thursday, July 11 and 12, at 8 p.m. The four-hour documentary about the birth of Mormonism and its history marked a first-time collaboration between American Experience and Frontline. KUED Broadcasting Director Scott Chaffin noted that during its premier broadcast, “THE MORMONS” was the highest-rated program in its time period over all competition in the market, including the Jazz playoff game. “We pulled a 13.7 rating and a 22 share on the first night, which means that about 114,900 households in the Utah viewing market tuned in to the program,”. Since the May airing, the station has received numerous calls and emails from viewers requesting that the programs be shown again. “This represents the biggest national ratings success in more than 20 years for KUED. In January of 1996, KUED’s initial broadcast of episodes 1 and 2 of Ken Verdoia’s Utah: “The Struggle for Statehood” pulled a 14 rating and 21 share,” Chaffin added. KUED will also rebroadcast the special edition of Utah NOW that accompanied “The Mormons” when it premiered. “Many viewers praised KUED for offering a thoughtful and articulate review of “The Mormons” after its initial broadcast,” Chaffin observed. Viewers can watch a rebroadcast of “Utah NOW: Viewing The Mormons” Thursday, July 12, at 11 p.m. Both programs will be available for on-demand viewing at kued.org and Comcast on Demand.