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Rick Sebak

The programs in the WQED Pittsburgh History Series are some of the most popular ever aired on public television. One of these programs, "Downtown Pittsburgh", premiered to a 13.7 rating, a very close second to Seinfeld that night. More remarkable is that "Downtown Pittsburgh" is hardly a sitcom; it’s an architecture history of our city, based on a tour given by the American Institute of Architects.

Produced by Emmy Award-winning Rick Sebak and other WQED producers, this series of programs hold up a mirror to our community and show the history, people and places that make western Pennsylvania unique. The Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation honored WQED for helping preserve what is important in Pittsburgh buildings.

Dozens of stations around the country have tried to copy this local production model to great success. It represents the best of local television that stations find they can’t afford not to make. They, like WQED, have discovered that there is a very special magic in helping a community to understand what it values by revealing its history and shared memories of its people.

WQED has also taken the series statewide with Pennsylvania Public Television Network productions "The Pennsylvania Road Show" and
"Pennsylvania Diners".