ADVANCE December 2025

DECEMBER SCHEDULE

THURSDAY 18

9:00 p.m. WORLD PBS News Hour 9:30 p.m. Iowa PBS

TUNE IN:

5:00 p.m. WORLD France 24 5:30 p.m. Iowa PBS PBS News Hour

American Masters:

Ten Times Better Experience the astonishing and heartwarming story of dancer George Lee, who originated a featured role in George Balanchine’s “The Nutcracker” 70 years ago. Nuclear Question Using rare ground access in Iran, this episode investigates the country’s nuclear program in the aftermath of U.S. and Israeli strikes. (R-12/17, 8 p.m. WORLD) Frontline: Strike on Iran: The

(R-12/18, 9 p.m., WORLD)

WORLD NHK Newsline 6:00 p.m. WORLD Bridging Divides: Sharing Heartbeats Six organizations work to bridge 6:30 p.m. Iowa PBS Iowa Ingredient: Cheddar (R-12/20, 11:30 a.m., Iowa PBS) 7:00 p.m. Iowa PBS Father Brown: The Wisdom of the Fool A jesters convention turns into a murder site when Doctor Belmont suddenly collapses and dies. TV-PG WORLD Local, USA: Public Enemies, Private Friends divides by bringing people together from different backgrounds. TV-PG

10:00 p.m. Iowa PBS

Nature: Santa’s Wild Home Wednesday, December 17 7 p.m. on Iowa PBS .1 Green lights dance across a star-filled sky, and snowflakes sparkle on the trees. It is little wonder Lapland is famous as the magical home of Santa Clause. However, this northernmost region of mainland Europe is a real place with real animals who live out their lives in the tundra and forest.

WORLD DW The Day 10:30 p.m. WORLD BBC News 11:00 p.m. Iowa PBS Midsomer Murders: Tainted Fruit, Part 1

(See 12/11 at 9:30 p.m. on Iowa PBS)

8:00 p.m. Iowa PBS NOVA: Polar Extremes

Leaders from opposing sides of the abortion debate meet in secret talks following deadly attacks. (R-12/21, 8 a.m., WORLD) The Brokenwood Mysteries: The Power of Steam After a murder at the Brokenwood Steampunk event, Mike and his team are thrown into a world of dress-up and escapism where the suspects all have alter-egos.

WORLD Amanpour and Company

Uncover the bizarre history of the poles, from miles-thick ice sheets to warm polar forests. (R-12/23, 6 p.m., WORLD) TV-PG

WEDNESDAY 17

7:55 p.m. Iowa PBS

5:00 p.m. WORLD France 24 5:30 p.m. Iowa PBS PBS News Hour

WORLD Frontline: Strike on Iran: The Nuclear Question

(See 12/17 at 10 p.m. on Iowa PBS)

9:00 p.m. WORLD PBS News Hour 10:00 p.m. Iowa PBS Nature: Penguins: Meet the Family

(R-12/17, 9 p.m., WORLD)

WORLD NHK Newsline 6:00 p.m. WORLD Hollywood Priest: The Story of Fr. “Bud” Kieser A devoted yet stubborn priest

8:30 p.m. WORLD Eddy’s World

This celebration of the iconic and beloved bird features footage of all 17 species of penguins. DVS

(See 12/13 at 8:30 p.m. on WORLD) (R-12/21, 9:30 a.m., WORLD)

9:00 p.m. WORLD PBS News Hour 9:30 p.m. Iowa PBS Midsomer Murders: Ring Out Your Dead, Part 1 Church-bell ringers are being murdered one by one, with a nursery rhyme line left by each body.

discovered that the best way to reach audiences in the 1960s was with a fictional television series. TV-PG

WORLD DW The Day 10:30 p.m. WORLD BBC News 11:00 p.m. Iowa PBS Midsomer Murders: Tainted Fruit, Part 2

6:30 p.m. Iowa PBS Road Trip Iowa: Great River Road National Scenic Byway—South (R-12/20, 9 a.m., Iowa PBS) 7:00 p.m. Iowa PBS Nature: Santa’s Wild Home

(See 12/11 at 9:30 p.m. on Iowa PBS)

(Part 1: R-12/23, 11 p.m., Iowa PBS) (Part 2: R-12/24, 11 p.m., Iowa PBS) TV-PG

WORLD Amanpour and Company

An intimate look into life in Lapland, home of tenacious wildlife such as reindeer and wolverines. (R-12/21, 7 p.m., WORLD) DVS

10:00 p.m. WORLD DW The Day

WORLD A Celebration of Hanukkah

(See 12/14 at 2 p.m. on Iowa PBS)

24 ADVANCE | DECEMBER 2025