KCETLink Presents BBC's Iconic 'House of Cards' on February 9 at 7 p.m. EST & PST

The Original Drama Series Starring Prolific Actor Ian Richardson

Explores Political Power, Deceit and Ambition

Burbank, Calif.- Jan. 6,

2014 - For the first time on public television in more than two decades, BBC's iconic political thriller, House of Cards will premiere on KCET and Link TV next month.  The original

drama, set in Great Britain, starring prolific stage and screen actor Ian

Richardson, explores the complex and maniacal political landscape of the

country following Margaret Thatcher's tenure. 

The series is also the basis for the critically acclaimed Netflix

adaptation. The original, four episode drama will debut in its entirety in one

night on KCET (Southern California) and Link TV

(DirecTV 375 and DISH Network 9410) on Feb. 9 at 7 p.m. EST &

PST.

"The American

remake of House of Cards is entertaining and brilliant. The original

production, however, is truly groundbreaking," said Bohdan Zachary, Vice

President of Broadcasting, Syndication and Production of KCETLink.  "We're excited to introduce a new generation

of fans to such a pioneering, culturally relevant series, more than 20 years

after its debut on BBC."

Adapted by Andrew

Davies from Michael

Dobbs' novel,

House of

Cards

debuted on the BBC in 1990 to popular acclaim.  The series, which consists of four, 60-minute

episodes, follows protagonist Francis Urquhart (Ian Richardson), who is

the chief whip of the Conservative party. 

When Margaret Thatcher resigns as leader, he remains neutral and after a

general election where the conservatives are returned with a reduced majority,

he fully expects the new Prime Minister, Henry Collingridge (David Lyon), to

give him his just reward: a senior Cabinet post.  When he's informed that he is to stay in his

current position, he devises a plot to unseat Collingridge and ensure his own

election as party leader and Prime Minister with encouragement from his wife, Elizabeth (Diane Fletcher).

At the same time -

with Elizabeth's blessing - Urquhart begins an affair with Mattie

Storin (Susannah HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susannah_Harker"Harker), a junior political reporter at a Conservative -leaning tabloid

newspaper called The Chronicle. The affair allows Urquhart to

manipulate Mattie and indirectly skew her coverage of the Conservative

leadership contest in his favor.

In 2000,

House of

Cards

was ranked as one of the top 100 "greatest British

television programs" by the

British Film Institute list.  Last year,

House

of Cards

was adapted in the U.S. by Netflix and has earned three Emmy®

awards.

ABOUT

KCETLINK

KCETLink

is the new national independent public transmedia organization formed by the

merger between KCET and Link Media.  A viewer-supported 501c(3)

organization, its content is distributed nationally via satellite on DirecTV

and DISH Networks, in Southern and Central California via broadcast, as well as

through various digital delivery systems.  KCET and Link TV are services

of KCETLink. For additional information about KCETLink productions,

web-exclusive content, programming schedules and events, please visit kcet.org

or linktv.org.