JACKSON, Miss. – Mississippi Roads, Mississippi Public Broadcasting’s original program that showcases the state’s unique attractions, culture and people, will begin airing nationally on the Create TV channel at 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. Monday, Feb. 25 and air the following Mondays at the same times.
Roads episodes from 2012-2014 will air on Create this year. Several individuals have hosted Roads since the program debuted on MPB Television in 1983. However, local broadcast journalist Walt Grayson has been the beloved host since 1999. Roads has won a Bronze Telly Award and has been nominated for a Southeast Regional Emmy at least twice.
“We are elated Mississippi Roads is now being presented to viewers coast to coast,” said MPB Executive Director Ronnie Agnew. “This is just the kind of national exposure Mississippi needs. The viewership could lead to tourism for the state as consumers from across the country look for interesting places to visit.”
The Create channel launched in 2006 and reaches 46 million viewers nationwide. The program genres on the channel include viewers' favorite public television series and specials on cooking, travel, home improvement, gardening, arts and crafts and other lifestyle interests. American Public Television, The National Educational Telecommunications Association (NETA) and Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) provide programs for Create.
“The folks at Create obviously believe Roads will be interesting and entertaining to people who have never set foot in Mississippi, and I think they’re exactly right,” said MPB Television Director John Gibson. “Soon people nationwide will get to know Walt Grayson as their trusted tour guide and experience the same stories Mississippians have enjoyed for years. I don’t think the state could buy better publicity or present a better image."
MPB’s Katie Savage is Roads’ executive producer, and MPB’s Corey Hart is associate producer. Individual segments are produced by many members of MPB’s staff as well as some Mississippi independent filmmakers.
