Stations can publish these two articles (of varying lengths), free of charge, to promote the special. Feel free to edit as needed. You can also download high resolution photos (see "Download Promtional Media" below).

Rick Steves' Europe: A Symphonic Journey [321 words]

Usually you'll find Rick Steves touring the great destinations of Europe. Now you can join him on a different journey: a Symphonic Journey.

Just as travel broadens one's perspectives, so can music. In his hour-long concert special—Rick Steves' Europe: A Symphonic Journey—Rick teams up with the Cascade Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Michael Miropolsky, on a musical tour that begins in the USA, then touches down in seven different European countries.

People of every nation have music that quickens their heartbeat and sets their patriotic spirit soaring. For each stop, Rick paints the cultural context in words, and then the orchestra plays stirring anthems—Strauss in Austria, Wagner in Germany, Smetana in the Czech Republic, Verdi in Italy, Elgar in England, Grieg in Norway, Berlioz in France—each accompanied by glorious video footage. While each piece celebrates a particular nationality, the finale, Beethoven's Ode to Joy (Europe's official national anthem), celebrates a continent whose motto is "united in diversity."

Rick Steves' Europe: A Symphonic Journey is also a musical journey through Europe's history. Each piece is a snapshot of the turbulent 19th century that changed the world—when common people rose up, demanding to be free from tyrants, to be equal to nobles, and to govern themselves. Composers were passionate champions of freedom, living colorful (sometimes messy) lives, unshackled by convention.

A century and a half later, this music still holds a special place in the hearts of today's Europeans. It captures the soul of their beloved homeland—the villages and rolling landscapes, the castle-lined rivers, old-time customs, and long history. It makes Europeans remember their struggles and aspirations for freedom. And—since music is an international language—it cuts across borders and joins people together, expressing the universal longing to be free. Consider this symphonic journey as a soundtrack...for the ongoing march of freedom.

Travel along with Rick Steves' Europe: A Symphonic Journey on [station, date, time].

Rick Steves' Europe: A Symphonic Journey [166 words]

Usually you'll find Rick Steves touring the great destinations of Europe. Now you can join him on a different journey: a Symphonic Journey.

Just as travel broadens one's perspectives, so can music. In this hour-long concert special — Rick Steves' Europe: A Symphonic Journey — Rick teams up with the Cascade Symphony Orchestra on a musical tour that begins in the USA, then touches down in seven different European countries.

People of every nation have music that quickens their heartbeat and sets their patriotic spirit soaring. For each stop, Rick paints the cultural context in words, and then the orchestra plays stirring anthems — Strauss in Austria, Wagner in Germany, Smetana in the Czech Republic, Verdi in Italy, Elgar in England, Grieg in Norway, Berlioz in France — each accompanied by glorious video footage. While each piece celebrates a particular nationality, the finale, Beethoven's Ode to Joy (Europe's official national anthem), celebrates a continent whose motto is "united in diversity."

Travel along with Rick Steves' Europe: A Symphonic Journey on [station, date, time].

Rick Steves advocates smart, affordable, perspective-broadening travel. As host and writer of the popular public television series Rick Steves' Europe, and best-selling author of over 50 European travel books, he encourages Americans to travel as "temporary locals." He helps American travelers connect much more intimately and authentically with Europe — and Europeans — for a fraction of what mainstream tourists pay.

Over the past 20 years, Rick has hosted over 100 travel shows for public television, and numerous pledge specials (raising millions of dollars for local stations). His Rick Steves' Europe TV series is carried by over 300 stations, reaching 95 percent of U.S. markets. Rick has also created two award-winning specials for public television: Rick Steves' European Christmas and the ground-breaking Rick Steves' Iran. Rick writes and co-produces his television programs through his company, Back Door Productions.

Rick Steves also hosts a weekly public radio program, Travel with Rick Steves. With a broader approach to travel everywhere, in each hour-long program Rick interviews guest travel expert, followed by listener call-ins. Travel with Rick Steves airs across the country and has spawned a popular podcast. Rick has also created a series of audio walking tour podcasts for museums and neighborhoods in Paris, Rome, Florence, Venice, London and Athens.

Rick self-published the first edition of his travel skills book, Europe Through the Back Door (now updated annually), in 1980. He has also written more than 50 other country, city and regional guidebooks, phrase books, and "snapshot" guides. For several years, Rick Steves' Italy has been the bestselling international guidebook sold in the U.S. In 2009, Rick tackled a new genre of travel writing with Travel as a Political Act, reflecting on how a life of travel has broadened his own perspectives, and travel can be a significant force for peace and understanding in the world. Rick's books are published by Avalon Travel, a member of the Perseus Books Group.

In addition to his guidebooks, TV and radio work, Rick is a syndicated newspaper columnist with the Tribune Media Services. He appears frequently on television, radio, and online as the leading authority on European travel.

Rick took his first trip to Europe in 1969, visiting piano factories with his father, a piano importer. By the time he reached 18, Rick jokes, "I realized I didn't need my parents to travel!" He began traveling on his own, funding his trips by teaching piano lessons. In 1976, he started Europe Through the Back Door (ETBD), a business which has grown from a one-man operation to a company with a well-traveled staff of 80 full-time employees. ETBD offers free travel information through its travel center, website, European Railpass Guide, and free travel newsletters. ETBD also runs a successful European tour program with more than 450 departures — attracting around 12,000 travelers — annually.

Rick is outspoken on the need for Americans to fit better into our planet by broadening their perspectives through travel. He is also committed to his own neighborhood. He's an active member of the Lutheran church (and has hosted the ELCA's national video productions). He's a board member of NORML (The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws). And Rick has provided his local YWCA with a 24-unit apartment building with which to house homeless mothers.

Rick Steves spends about a third of every year in Europe, researching guidebooks, filming TV shows, and making new discoveries for travelers. Rick was divorced in March, 2010. He lives and works in his hometown of Edmonds, Washington, where his office window overlooks his old junior high school.

Program Description

Rick Steves, America's leading authority on European travel, teams up with the Cascade Symphony Orchestra and maestro Michael Miropolsky for a musical journey that begins in the United States, and touches down in seven different European countries. The special, taped at the Edmonds Center for the Arts near Seattle, Wash., celebrates music's power to stir the patriotic soul. Playing musical tour guide, Steves utilizes his extensive knowledge of European history and culture to help set the context for each piece. Then, the orchestra performs a selection of stirring 19th-century anthems by Romantic-era composers, including Grieg, Smetana, Strauss, Berlioz, Elgar, Wagner and Verdi. Each selection honors a particular nationality, while the finale, Beethoven's "Ode to Joy" (Europe's official anthem) pays homage to the continent's motto of "United in Diversity." The music is accompanied by a montage of evocative video images from each country.

Broadcast Information

Offer Reference: September Teleconference
Release Date: January 24, 2013
Broadcast Rights: Unlimited Use/3 Years

Operations:
Available Formats: HD

NOLA Code:
RKEE 102 BASE REVISION 001

*Additional feed details will be posted by APT Exchange

Tape Liby. Avail: 
BetaSP
HDCAM

On-Air Promos: :30 promo is available

Genre: Travel
NOLA: RKEE
Program Service: Exchange
Supplier: KCTS Television
Rights: Unlimited Use/3 Years, School Rerecord, Noncommercial Cable
Offered: September Teleconference - January 24, 2016

Thank You Gifts for Pledge Supporters

Read a full description of the items offered.

$60 Level

• Rick Steves’ Europe: A Symphonic Journey DVD and CD
  • Station Cost: $8.00
  • Market Value: $19.99
  • Item #: ZZ-SYMPHONIC-60

$60 Level

• Rick Steves’ Europe 101 book
  • Station Kit Cost: $10.00
  • Market Value: $24.95
  • Item #: ZZ-HISTORY-60

$96 Level

• Rick Steves’ Europe: A Symphonic Journey DVD and CD
• Rick Steves’ Europe 101 book
  • Station Kit Cost: $17.00
  • Market Value: $44.94
  • Item #: ZZ-SYMPHONIC-96

$180 Level

• Rick Steves’ Europe: A Symphonic Journey DVD and CD
• Rick Steves’ Europe 101 book
• Rick Steves' 100 Shows DVD Box Set 2000-2014
  • Station Kit Cost: $41.00
  • Retail Value: $144.93
  • Item #: ZZ-SYMPHONIC-180

All levels will include Travel Skills DVD and Best Destinations Newsletter.

Stations pay all shipping charges.

Questions: Angie@ricksteves.com

To order, please contact:

pledge@ricksteves.com
Rick Steves' Europe Through the Back Door
130 Fourth Avenue North
P.O. Box 2009
Edmonds, WA 98020
Tel: 425-771-8303
Fax: 425-771-0833

Here you will find everything you will need to make your promotion of Rick Steves' Europe: A Symphonic Journey visually pleasing. If you would like assistance in downloading these files, or prefer another format, please email Ashley Sytsma at ashley@ricksteves.com, or call 425-608-4293.

Rick Steves' Symphonic Journey Photos: High-resolution photos for viewer guides, websites, and other publications.

Rick Steves' Symphonic Journey Pledge Premium Images: Completed Screenshots or composite images to create your own.

Rick Steves' Symphonic Journey Preview Video

A Rick Steves' European Travel Skills preview is available for download and can be used directly on your public television website.

• Download the 30-second promo (please right click and select "Save Target As")

Rick Steves' Symphonic Journey Photos

Click on the images to view the full-sized JPGs. Once they've loaded onto the page, right-click on the image to save to your disk. The graphic title at the end is an EPS file that can be scaled. For additional publicity shots of Rick, view our Downloads page in the Media Kit.

Pledge Premium Images

Below are composite JPEGs of each of the pledge levels shown below, formatted for a 1920 x 1080 screen.

You can download a zipped archive that contains high resolution JPEGs of all six pledge premiums, flat or 3-dimensional, for use in your own layouts.

A layered Photoshop file containing each pledge level as an editable group (with rasterized type) is also available for download.