Ken Burns' Benjamin Franklin Doc Release Date and How to Watch

If you're a fan of U.S. history and Emmy winner and Oscar nominee Ken Burn's work, you won't want to miss Benjamin Franklin: A Film By Ken Burns on PBS.

In the latest of his PBS film series, Burns is exploring the trials and tribulations of U.S. founding father Benjamin Franklin. The two-part film comes 25 years after his documentary on fellow founding father Thomas Jefferson and history buffs can't wait to see what Burns has in store.

Newsweek has everything you need to know about Benjamin Franklin: A Film By Ken Burns, including the release date and streaming options, so you won't miss a thing.

When Is Benjamin Franklin: A Film By Ken Burns Out?

Benjamin Franklin: A Film By Ken Burns premieres on Monday, April 4, at 8 p.m. ET on PBS.

Part two of the highly anticipated film will air the following evening, on Tuesday, April 5 at 8 p.m. ET.

The documentary is four hours long, airing in two parts.

How to Watch Benjamin Franklin: A Film By Ken Burns?

Benjamin Franklin: A Film By Ken Burns will air on the PBS Network in the U.S.

Audiences will also be able to stream Benjamin Franklin: A Film By Ken Burns live via the PBS website, PBS.org.

Alternatively, customers can watch the film and other PBS content via the PBS Video App, which is available to download on AppleTV, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, Android TV, and Amazon Fire TV as well as smartphone and tablet devices.

Access to PBS will depend largely on your location, for example, if your local area in the U.S. doesn't have a PBS station, you may not be able to access the channel.

AT&T's live streaming service is another way to watch PBS live. To do so, you can subscribe to their Entertainment Package for $69.99 after a five-day free trial. YouTube TV also has PBS available on the platform, which costs $64.99 per month.

U.K. fans of PBS can watch PBS content via Freeview 84, Freesat 155, Virgin Media 273, Sky 174, or Samsung TV Plus.

Alternatively, if you miss it this time around, some PBS content has been made available on Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, and the BBC at a later date.

What Is Benjamin Franklin: A Film By Ken Burns About?

You guessed it, Benjamin Franklin: A Film By Ken Burns looks at the life of U.S. founding father Benjamin Franklin.

From his early days as a printer's apprentice to his revolutionary inventions and unfortunate role in the slave trade, Benjamin Franklin on PBS covers it all.

Describing him as "the greatest diplomat in all of American history" in the trailer, Burns makes sure to cover Franklin's flaws as well as his greatest achievements, including signing the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution.

Speaking to PBS, Burns said: "Benjamin Franklin was a fascinating and complicated individual who helped shape our contemporary world.

"If we see him for more than his long list of accomplishments, we recognize an imperfect man challenging himself and his contemporaries as he tries to understand and improve the world around him. One of the best and most prolific writers of the 18th century, Franklin both embodies and documents the dynamic social, scientific, and political changes of this revolutionary age. His story is one of hope, with faith in the common man. But his shortcomings are also a reminder of this country's failure to address slavery at the time of its founding and the racial divisions that continue to impact our country today."

Benjamin Franklin: A Film By Ken Burns airs on Monday, April 4, and Tuesday, April 5, at 8 p.m. ET on PBS.

ken burns benjamin franklin
Ken Burns explores the life of Benjamin Franklin in his latest film on PBS Heritage Art/Heritage Images via Getty Images

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