102 Minutes That Changed America

102 Minutes That Changed America reconstructs—in real time—the events of 9/11 in New York City, using only sound and video from that morning.The two-hour special premiered without commercial interruption on September 11, 2008, followed by I-Witness to 9/11, a look at the stories behind the footage. More than five million viewers tuned in to the premiere, making it the most-watched special ever on the History Channel, and the program has now been seen by over thirty million viewers worldwide.

There is no question that 102 Minutes is the most comprehensive and accurate record of the events of that day, told from a number of very human perspectives. You have done a great public service by producing a documentary that will help our families’ children and grandchildren understand this momentous event in the history of our department and of our country.
– Suzanne Sebert, Assistant Commissioner, FDNY Family Assistance Unit

One of the most acclaimed documentaries of recent years, 102 Minutes won three Primetime Emmys in 2009, including Outstanding Nonfiction Special, Outstanding Sound Editing for Nonfiction Programming, and Outstanding Sound Mixing for Nonfiction Programming. The show also won the Most Innovative Program Award at the 2009 History Makers International Summit, a CINE Masters Series Award, a Silver Telly, and a FOCAL International Award, and was named the Best Nonfiction TV Episode of 2008 by iTunes. Most importantly, 102 Minutes has become standard viewing in high school and college classrooms across the country, a way for teachers to introduce their students to the emotional and historical impact of 9/11.

On September 11, 2011, 102 Minutes was simulcast in 150 countries to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the events of that day.