| Year |
Winner |
Other Nominees |
1984–1985
(1st) |
Ted Koppel – Nightline (ABC) |
|
1985–1986
(2nd) |
Ted Koppel – Nightline (ABC)
and
Bill Moyers – The Vanishing Family: Crisis in Black America (CBS) |
|
1986–1987
(3rd) |
Eyes on the Prize (PBS) |
|
1987–1988
(4th) |
CNN
and
Nightline (ABC) |
|
1988–1989
(5th) |
CNN |
|
1989–1990
(6th) |
CNN |
|
1990–1991
(7th) |
Gulf War coverage (CNN) |
|
1991–1992
(8th) |
Frontline (PBS) |
|
1992–1993
(9th) |
Frontline (PBS) |
|
1993–1994
(10th) |
Nightline (ABC) |
|
1994–1995
(11th) |
Frontline (PBS)
and
Nightline (ABC) |
|
1995–1996
(12th) |
Frontline (PBS) |
|
1996–1997
(13th) |
The American Experience (PBS) |
|
1997–1998
(14th) |
The American Experience (PBS) |
|
1998–1999
(15th) |
Cold War (CNN) |
|
1999–2000
(16th) |
ABC 2000: The Millennium (ABC) |
|
2000–2001
(17th) |
Jazz (PBS) |
|
2001–2002
(18th) |
Frontline (PBS) |
|
2002–2003
(19th) |
Frontline (PBS) |
|
2003–2004
(20th) |
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart (Comedy Central) |
|
2004–2005
(21st) |
Frontline (PBS) |
|
2005–2006
(22nd) |
Frontline (PBS) |
|
2006–2007
(23rd) |
Planet Earth (Discovery Channel) |
|
2007–2008
(24th) |
The War (PBS) |
|
2008–2009
(25th) |
The Alzheimer's Project (HBO) |
|
2009–2010
(26th) |
Life (Discovery Channel) |
|
2010–2011
(27th) |
Restrepo (National Geographic Channel) |
|
2011–2012
(28th) |
60 Minutes (CBS) |
|
2012–2013
(29th) |
The Central Park Five (PBS) |
|
2013–2014
(30th) |
Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey (Fox / National Geographic Channel) |
|
2014–2015
(31st) |
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO) |
|
2015–2016
(32nd) |
Full Frontal with Samantha Bee (TBS) |
|
2016–2017
(33rd) |
O.J.: Made in America (ESPN) |
|
2017–2018
(34th) |
Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown (CNN) |
|
2018–2019
(35th)[2][3] |
Leaving Neverland (HBO) |
|
2019–2020
(36th)[4][5] |
The Last Dance (ESPN) |
|
2020–2021
(37th)[6] |
Framing Britney Spears (FX/FX on Hulu) |
|
2021–2022
(38th)[7][8] |
The Beatles: Get Back (Disney+) |
|
2022–2023
(39th)[9] |
The U.S. and the Holocaust (PBS) |
|
2023-2024
(40th)[10] |
Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV (Investigation Discovery) |
|