On DEMAND Brings History Lessons Home

On DEMAND Brings History Lessons Home

Cox Northern Virginia, History(TM) and Cable in the Classroom Launch Pilot Program to Deliver Educational Programming to the Home

HERNDON, Va., Feb. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Cox Communications Northern Virginia is partnering with History and Cable in the Classroom (CIC) -- the cable industry's education foundation -- to offer nearly 20 hours of American history programming for free to Cox Digital Cable subscribers in Fairfax County and the Fredericksburg region through Cox's On DEMAND (OD) service, located on channel 1.

This initiative represents the first instance in which a cable system is offering CIC programming On DEMAND to consumers. The Cox project, considered by CIC to be a "pilot" effort involving Cable in the Classroom programming, will be evaluated for its potential application to cable systems in other parts of the country. CIC programming is commercial-free and copyright-cleared for extended educational use.

History will provide a vast selection of compelling historical content that parents and their children can watch together and discuss. Topics will range from early American to contemporary history as well as the civil rights movement and Native American history. Among the offerings are many of History's most popular programs including Desperate Crossing: The Untold Story of the Mayflower, Washington the Warrior, First Invasion: The War of 1812, Dear Home: Letters from WWII and Modern Marvels: Television, Window to the World. The network will also offer its award-winning Save Our History programming such as Save Our History: In Search of George Washington.

In addition to these programs, History and CIC offer free discussion guides and other supplemental materials so parents can use these programs as a launching point for further family discussion and exploration. Materials can be found at History's education website: http://www.history.com/classroom/ and at CIC's home page: http://www.ciconline.org/

"This innovative partnership leverages our popular On DEMAND service to help enlighten our customers -- adults and children alike -- about our country's storied and unique history," said Cox Northern Virginia Senior Vice President and General Manager Janet Barnard. "We are truly proud to partner with History and Cable in the Classroom to be the only local cable television provider to offer this compelling content."

"We know that children are learning about American history in a myriad of ways -- in and out of the classroom," said Dr. Libby O'Connell, Senior Vice President of Corporate Outreach and Chief Historian, History. "The programs we are providing through this partnership will help bring history alive in households around Fairfax County. Whether students and parents want to know more about colonial history, U.S. presidents or civil rights, this programming will be available when it is needed at home and on demand."

Added Robin Scullin, Director, Programmer and Media Relations, Cable in the Classroom, "This effort is designed to help fill parents' need for enriching television shows targeted to children and teens. Over the last two decades, Cable in the Classroom's mission has been to provide commercial-free, educational programming to schools. This pilot offers those same choices to parents -- and acknowledges that learning about American history and other topics takes place outside the four walls of the classroom. We are excited to see how this project unfolds in Northern Virginia."

Cox Communications is a multi-service broadband communications and entertainment company with more than 6 million total residential and commercial customers. The third-largest cable television company in the United States, Cox offers an array of advanced digital video, high-speed Internet and telephony services over its own nationwide IP network, as well as integrated wireless services in affiliation with Sprint. Cox Business is a full-service, facilities-based provider of communications solutions for commercial customers, providing high-speed Internet, voice and long distance services, as well as data and video transport services for small to large- sized businesses. Cox Media offers national and local cable advertising in traditional spot and new media formats, along with promotional opportunities and production services. Cox Communications wholly owns and operates the Travel Channel. More information about the services of Cox Communications, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cox Enterprises, is available at http://www.cox.com/, http://www.coxbusiness.com/, and http://www.coxmedia.com/.

History(TM) is a leading cable television network featuring compelling original, non-fiction specials and series that bring history to life in a powerful and entertaining manner across multiple platforms. The network provides an inviting place where people experience history in new and exciting ways enabling them to connect their lives today to the great lives and events of the past that provide a blueprint for the future. History(TM) has earned four Peabody Awards, three Primetime Emmy(R) Awards, ten News & Documentary Emmy(R) Awards and received the prestigious Governor's Award from the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences for the network's Save Our History(TM) campaign dedicated to historic preservation and history education. History(TM) reaches more than 95 million Nielsen subscribers. The website is located at http://www.history.com/.

Press Only: For more information and photography, please visit us on the web at http://www.historychannelpress.com/.

Cable in the Classroom (CIC), the cable industry's education foundation, works to expand and enhance learning opportunities for children and youth. Created in 1989 to help schools take advantage of educational cable programming and technology, CIC has become a leading national advocate for media literacy education and for the use of technology and media for learning, as well as a valuable resource for educational cable content and services for policymakers, educators and industry leaders. For more information about Cable in the Classroom, please visit: http://www.ciconline.org/.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Cox Communications

CONTACT: Robin Scullin of Cable in the Classroom, +1-202-222-2345,
rscullin@ciconline.org; Alex Horwitz of Cox Communications, +1-703-480-4916,
ahorwitz@cox.com; or Cara Tocci of History(TM), +1-212-210-9083,
Cara.Tocci@aetn.com

Web site:

http://www.cox.com/
http://www.history.com/
http://www.ciconline.org/
http://www.coxbusiness.com/
http://www.coxmedia.com/
http://www.history.com/classroom

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