Aaron Franklin Is Getting a Barbecue TV Show With PBS

Austin, Texas pitmaster Aaron Franklin is getting a TV show of his own. Stemming from his web series BBQ With Franklin, the show will be produced by Austin's public television station KLRU and will air on PBS stations across the country this time next year. KLRU's Sara Robertson tells Eater the TV show will also be called BBQ With Franklin and will "expand on the educational content of the web series but also spotlight the cult and culture of Texas BBQ and the exciting Austin food scene." (She notes that they also intend to continue producing the web series.)

Franklin tells Eater he's "super excited about the show" and in the video below calls it a "barbecue variety show...we're gonna learn how to weld, we're gonna learn how to cook beef ribs." Franklin Barbecue is currently rated the best barbecue in Texas by Texas Monthly and has been called the best barbecue in America by Bon Appetit. Check out the announcement video.

UPDATE: A press release has been added below.

Video: Big News for BBQ with Franklin!

KLRU Announces BBQ with Franklin Television Show Inspired by popular YouTube series
RetailMeNot signs on a first sponsor of TV series YouTube channel exceeds a million views

Austin, TX -­‐ KLRU-­‐TV, Austin PBS, is pleased to announce that the station will create and distribute a television show based on its popular BBQ with Franklin YouTube series. The television series will air on KLRU in early 2015 and be distributed nationally to PBS stations. RetailMeNot www.retailmenot.com, the leading marketplace for digital coupons and deals, committed funds to become the first sponsor of the TV series.

The TV show will be developed concurrently with the YouTube channel, which exceeded a million views last week and was launched in October 2012. The television program will explore the history and culture of BBQ while the online videos continue to focus on instruction.

"BBQ with Franklin explores the counterculture of BBQ, where old school meets new school," said Sara Robertson, KLRU's Creative Director and Executive Producer of the series. "It's the tried-­‐and-­‐true methods passed down over years, the joys of showcasing local ingredients and the folks who say "Brisket is my Spirit Animal."

Renowned brisket genius Aaron Franklin and star of the show said, "Working on the YouTube series with KLRU has allowed me to show people how to make BBQ in their own backyards and its been a blast. Now I'm excited to be able to showcase the people behind the BBQ."

Aaron is as likely to visit with an old-­‐timer pit-­‐boss as he is a tattooed 25 year old revitalizing charcuterie. The show will also go behind the kitchen at Franklin BBQ. When people start lining up at 8am to eat your food, it takes a lot of work to make them happy. The show will also highlight the DIY ethos of Austin. KLRU will work with Austin-­‐ based Rocket Science Video to help produce and direct the series.


RetailMeNot has signed on as the first national sponsor for the new television series. KLRU is currently seeking additional funding to support the production.

"RetailMeNot is really excited to sponsor this program about Aaron Franklin that will showcase one of the most important chefs and entrepreneurs that make the City of Austin such a great place to live," said Cotter Cunningham, CEO & Founder, RetailMeNot, Inc. "Austin is also our hometown, and we look forward to our association and partnership with BBQ with Franklin and KLRU."

All current videos can be viewed at youtube.com/BBQwithfranklin

· Big News for BBQ with Franklin! [YouTube]
· All Aaron Franklin Coverage on Eater[-E-]