HISTORY(TM) Announces Partnership Event With The People Speak Multi-Tiered Marketing and Programming Initiative

HISTORY(TM) Announces Partnership Event With The People Speak Multi-Tiered Marketing and Programming Initiative

Documentary Film The People Speak premieres in 2009 Featuring a roster of celebrities including Matt Damon, Josh Brolin and Eddie Vedder

Co-branded Educational Outreach Campaign Planned Creation of Short Form Content for Multiple Platforms

NEW YORK, April 16 /PRNewswire/ -- HISTORY(TM) and The People Speak organization, VOICES OF A PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES, have entered into a multi-tiered marketing and programming event, it was announced today by Nancy Dubuc, EVP/GM, HISTORY. As part of this broad initiative, the network will premiere in 2009 THE PEOPLE SPEAK, a film which focuses on the concept of democracy, based on the lives and experiences of ordinary Americans who, through their words and actions, changed the course of history. The film will take viewers on a journey from the founding of this country to the civil rights movement and beyond.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080416/NYW113LOGO )

THE PEOPLE SPEAK will feature dramatic performances chronicling the history of this country, including charter documents, letters, diaries and more, from such celebrities as Matt Damon, Josh Brolin, Viggo Mortensen, David Strathairn, Marisa Tomei, Don Cheadle, Jasmine Guy, Q'orianka Kilcher, Michael Ealy, Kerry Washington, and musical performances from Bruce Springsteen, Eddie Vedder, Allison Moorer and John Legend. These slices of life will be woven together with archival footage and interviews.

HISTORY will also partner with nonprofit organization VOICES OF A PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES to develop enhanced, co-branded curriculums for a countrywide educational initiative. In addition, HISTORY will support this outreach with national on-air campaigns and live webcasting to further generate awareness.

Reinforcing that History is Made Every Day, the network will engage in a wide-ranging, interstitial branding campaign, producing at least 24 shorts surrounding the concept of democracy for viral, VOD and online dissemination.

"This is a partnership that was destined to be. Together we are bringing forth a national conversation about democracy and the unforgettable, everyday stories that made America. It's the very essence of what we mean when we say History Made Every Day," says Dubuc. "The innovative style and A-list auspices of all those involved, including the passionate commitment of Matt Damon and Chris Moore, promise to make this a core initiative hopefully for years to come."

"HISTORY, a leader in the media landscape, is the perfect home for The People Speak and we are thrilled to launch this partnership," said Chris Moore, Co-Director, The People Speak. "Not only will the film strongly resonate with viewers and with our constituents, but the dedication of the talent to this cause, coupled with the educational and content initiatives, makes this an incredible win."

Says Matt Damon, "I am a firm believer in this project, proud to be part of it and proud that we are working jointly with History. The message that is so critical to disseminate is that change doesn't come from the top, but rather from the bottom, and that without everyday citizens pushing to make a difference, there would be no America."

THE PEOPLE SPEAK (www.thepeoplespeak.com) is produced for HISTORY by First Tuesday Media, ArtFire Films, Cross River Pictures, The Johnson/Roessler Company, Membrane, and Brolin Productions. Matt Damon, Josh Brolin, Chris Moore, Anthony Arnove and Howard Zinn are Executive Producers. For History, David McKillop and Russ McCarroll are the Executive Producers.

VOICES OF A PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES (www.peopleshistory.us) seeks to bring to light little known voices from U.S. history, including those of women, African Americans, Native Americans, immigrants, and laborers. The goal of Voices of a People's History of the United States is to encourage civic engagement and to further history education by bringing the rich history of the United States to life through public readings of primary-source materials.

HISTORY(TM) and HISTORY HD(TM) are the leading destinations for revealing, award-winning original non-fiction series and event-driven specials that connect history with viewers in an informative, immersive and entertaining manner across multiple platforms. Programming covers a diverse variety of historical genres ranging from military history to contemporary history, technology to natural history, as well as science, archaeology and pop culture. Among the network's program offerings are hit series such as Ax Men, Battle 360, The Universe, Cities of The Underworld and Ice Road Truckers, as well as acclaimed specials including 102 Minutes That Changed America, King, Life After People, 1968 with Tom Brokaw, Nostradamus:2012 and Star Wars: The Legacy Revealed. HISTORY has earned four Peabody Awards, four Primetime Emmy(R) Awards, 12 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(R) campaign dedicated to historic preservation and history education. Take a Veteran to School Day is the network's latest initiative connecting America's schools and communities with veterans from all wars. The HISTORY web site, located at www.history.com, is the definitive historical online source that delivers entertaining and informative content featuring broadband video, interactive timelines, maps, games, podcasts and more.

Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080416/NYW113LOGO
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: HISTORY

CONTACT: Vicky Kahn for HISTORY, +1-212-210-9743, vicky.kahn@aetn.com

Web Site: http://www.history.com/

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