Great Lakes Television (GLTV), the documentary television service of Michigan Public Media at the University of Michigan, won two local Emmy Awards on Sunday, June 9, 2002. The Michigan Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences awarded the GLTV twice for its first broadcast effort, the locally produced two-part documentary The Sprawling of America.

The two-hour series examines the social, economic, and environmental impacts of urban sprawl in the United States. Both segments, Inner City Blues and Fat of the Land, document how America grew from cities to suburbs, how that movement changed society, and how suburban communities are now re-evaluating their quality of life. Inner City Blues received its Emmy for editing, while Fat of the Land achieved top honors in the competitive public affairs category. Emmy Award winner Christopher Cook produced, directed, and wrote both segments.

“The Sprawling of America is exactly the kind of programming we want to produce in the future – an in-depth, important series examining meaningful issues facing communities,” said Donovan Reynolds, Director of Michigan Public Media. “We are delighted that the success of our first effort in television proves that audiences want, and will watch, quality programs.”

Initial broadcasts of the series received tremendous ratings in Detroit, capturing one of the largest-ever audiences for a public television program. The documentary has also aired on public television stations across Michigan, including Flint and Grand Rapids, and major regional markets such as Minneapolis, Cleveland, and Buffalo.

Great Lakes Television is a service of Michigan Public Media. Michigan Public Media is Michigan Radio (91.7 FM Ann Arbor / Detroit, 104.1 FM Grand Rapids, 91.1 FM Flint), Michigan Television (formerly University of Michigan Public Television), Great Lakes Television, and the Great Lakes Radio Consortium.