Fueled by Explosive Growth Over the Last Two Years, HISTORY(TM) Makes Largest Content Commitment in Its History for 2009-2010

Fueled by Explosive Growth Over the Last Two Years, HISTORY(TM) Makes Largest Content Commitment in Its History for 2009-2010

UNPRECEDENTED NEW SERIES AND EVENT SPECIALS GREENLIT AND IN DEVELOPMENT

BIGGEST SLATE OF RETURNING SERIES

BRINGING AN EPIC SCOPE AND AUTHENTIC VOICE TO ALL THINGS HISTORY

NEW YORK, May 13 /PRNewswire/ -- On the heels of its record-breaking ratings success of 2008 and first quarter 2009, HISTORY(TM) announces an ambitious lineup of new original series and event specials that add to the network's already robust programming lineup and reinforce the network's status as the preeminent destination for all things history. It will be the network's most substantial programming investment ever, one that promises to bring an epic scope and an innovative, entertaining and eye-opening perspective to history. The announcement was made by Nancy Dubuc, Executive Vice President and General Manager of HISTORY.

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

Among HISTORY's bold programming commitments for 2009 and 2010 are such projects as AMERICA THE STORY OF US, an expansive, twelve-part project, the likes of which has never been done, from Emmy Award-winning producer/director Jane Root. As well as a multi-tiered marketing and programming partnership with THE PEOPLE SPEAK, Voices of a People's History of the United States, including an interstitial marketing and educational outreach initiative as well as a film celebrating democracy, which boasts Matt Damon and Josh Brolin as performers/executive producers and featuring other celebrities such as Viggo Mortensen, Marisa Tomei, Don Cheadle and musical performances from Bruce Springsteen, Pink and Eddie Vedder.

"The network's goal is to establish itself as the #1 non-fiction cable network in Adults 25-54," said Dubuc. "We are proud to take HISTORY on a journey of vast proportions. With today's mass of options, brand is key, and we sit atop one of the best in the media landscape. We are honored to work with top talent such as Mark Burnett, Thom Beers, Chris Moore (Project Greenlight and Good Will Hunting), Matt Damon, Josh Brolin, famed producer Jane Root, and many others. Together we are partnering on innovative, game-changing television."

By making history engaging and entertaining, and by creating water cooler-type buzz, HISTORY's median age continues to get younger as new viewers embrace the network's unique storytelling ability that is extremely relevant and powerfully relatable to them. The network ended 2008 enjoying its best year ever among Adults 25-54 and Adults 18-49, closing the year as the #1 non-sports, non-fiction network for Men 25-54 and climbing to the top five among all ad-supported networks in that demo. To date, the network is up 7% in Adults 25-54 and up 8% in Adults 18-49 versus 2008.

"It is critical that as a brand we continue to redefine what history means for a new generation, to broaden the boundaries of HISTORY. Our viewers come to us with a passion for knowledge as they search for their place in the world. HISTORY continues to stand out in the sea of choices, particularly in these challenging, history-making times, as the critical, authentic voice that viewers demand." said Dubuc.

Advertisers have responded to HISTORY as enthusiastically as viewers have - with new categories and advertisers joining the ranks of the long-standing categories. HISTORY continues to be a major destination for hard-to-reach men, finishing first quarter 2009 #5 among Men 25-54 and #7 among Men 18-49, among all cable networks. HISTORY delivers upscale viewers with a 110 index among households with $75,000 income. The network has been fortunate to retain its previous advertising categories, while bringing in new clients eager to be associated with the hit series and specials across all content platforms.

Among the series and specials in production and development, below is a sample of upcoming projects:

GREENLIT SERIES

AMERICA THE STORY OF US

The epic 12-part series called, AMERICA THE STORY OF US, is an exuberant, unprecedented look at the invention of America - how events small and large are intrinsically linked to the exploration and innovation, leading us from the frontier to 21st century cities, from the Mississippi to the moon, from Jamestown to 9/11 up to present day. AMERICA THE STORY OF US will move though time and space linking key events, people and locations, capturing the vast sweep of American history-- bringing viewers on a journey through the forces that shaped the destiny of America. 12-part series; Produced by Nutopia, a new production company started by Jane Root, former President of Discovery Channel

PAWNING HISTORY

It's one of the oldest forms of banking, and until the 1950's, it was the leading form of consumer credit in the U.S. Now, the fascinating world and history of the pawn shop is revealed in the new character-driven series, PAWNING HISTORY. The 13 episode long series centers on the only family-owned pawn shop in Las Vegas, where three generations of men -- grandfather, father and son -- entertainingly clash while running the business together, using their sharp-eyed skills to carefully assess the value of items their colorful customers bring in, objects ranging from the obscure to the truly historic. 13 episodes; Produced by Leftfield Pictures.

MADHOUSE (wt) (American Original)

It's the Hatfields & McCoys on hot asphalt. Ramming, spin-outs and fistfights are not unheard-of at the "Madhouse," a quarter-mile racetrack in Winston-Salem, NC. There, daring local drivers show their love of cars and savvy ingenuity as they retool, redesign, rebuild and re-customize their cars for the big race on Saturday night. The new series with its colorful characters shows us a historic slice of culture, in a racing tradition that dates back to the days of running moonshine. 13 episodes; Produced by Triage Entertainment.

WWII in HD

Using advanced HD technology, History has preserved and restored thousands of hours of color archival footage, never seen by most Americans. For the first time, we show the war as it looked and sounded, through the eyes of Americans who fought in it. Unpublished diaries, journals, interviews and Dolby "soundscape" create one of the most ambitious, visually stunning war experiences ever witnessed. 10-part series; Produced by Lou Reda Productions.

NOSTRADAMUS EFFECT

This series presents the most chilling prophecies generated over time by closely examining today's global events and relating them back to a particular prophecy. A number of experts will deconstruct the prophecies of Nostradamus and of others contained in the Bible, within mythology, hieroglyphs and other ancient texts to identify remarkable correlations between today's unfolding events and a particular prediction from history. 12 episodes; Produced by Workaholic Productions.

MYSTERYQUEST

The world is filled with mysteries and stories of the unexplained -- from the Bermuda Triangle to the lost city of Atlantis. But, can modern science answer the questions surrounding these phenomenons? In the new series, MYSTERYQUEST, HISTORY will embark on expeditions across the globe to explore the unexplained -- examining historical evidence, reviewing eyewitness accounts and using expert analysis in search of answers. 10 episodes; Produced by KPI Productions.

GREENLIT SPECIALS

THE PEOPLE SPEAK

HISTORY 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, including a documentary film, co-branded nationwide educational outreach and a wide-ranging interstitial branding campaign. THE PEOPLE SPEAK focuses on the concept of democracy, based on the lives and experiences of everyday Americans who, through their words and actions, changed the course of history. The film features dramatic performances from such celebrities as Matt Damon, Josh Brolin and Viggo Mortensen, as well as musical appearances by Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen and Eddie Vedder. Two-hour special; Produced by First Tuesday Media, ArtFire Films, Cross River Pictures, The Johnson/Roessler Company, Membrane, and Brolin Productions.

THE NATURALIZED

This film follows the lives of six adults from six different countries who all share one goal: to be what those born in the U.S. often take for granted: American. Viewers will see the entire naturalization process - dramatic, emotional and at times funny - woven together with the diverse stories of the individuals who are profiled. Along the way viewers also will meet undocumented and deported immigrants who want nothing more than to become U.S. citizens. And, we'll hear from naturalized citizens including movie stars, musicians, athletes and writers. Two-hour special; Produced by Jon Stewart's Bubulah Productions.

HOLY GRAIL IN AMERICA

In the late 19th century, a Minnesota farmer clearing trees uprooted a large stone covered with mysterious runes. Now known as the Kensington Rune Stone, it details a journey of land acquisition and murder, in the year 1362. Thought by some to be a hoax, new evidence suggests it could be real, and a clue that the Knights Templar discovered America 100 years before Columbus, perhaps bringing with them history's greatest treasure-- The Holy Grail. HOLY GRAIL IN AMERICA investigates a story that begins in medieval Europe and culminates in a present day search for answers. Two-hour special; Produced by Committee Films.

SURVIVING THE HOLIDAYS WITH LEWIS BLACK

Based on the highly successful 2008 special History of the Joke with Lewis Black, he's back with his inimitable take on the holidays. The holiday season is the most joyous time of the year... unless you're comedian Lewis Black. Then it's an avalanche of anxiety. The 35 days between Thanksgiving and New Year's are weighed down with stress enough to keep even Santa's sleigh from getting off the ground -- with the shopping, the wrapping, the eating, the drinking, the card-writing, the family obligations, the office parties, the year-end pressures and the bills! Armed with history and humor, Lewis takes up a holiday crusade to find out how it all got to this point. Two-hour special; Produced by Triage Entertainment.

24 HOURS AFTER: THE KENNEDY ASSASSINATION

While the moments and hours after John F. Kennedy's tragic assassination were some of the most formative and important for our country, that story has rarely, and only partially, been told. Using a ticking clock as a central storytelling device, HISTORY re-examines this pivotal day in history, using stunning details found in newly public documents to reveal a vice president thrust into the role of commander-in-chief and left to make critical decisions with limited information. From the moment Lyndon B. Johnson was told of JFK's death, to his decision to take the oath of office on Air Force One alongside the former First Lady, to the return to his home for a full briefing of what happened that day, 24 HOURS AFTER: THE KENNEDY ASSASSINATION uncovers an unfamiliar story born out of one of the most critical days in American history. Two-hour special; Produced by Time Travel Unlimited.

AMONG THE RETURNING SERIES:

ICE ROAD TRUCKERS - produced by Original Productions.

AX MEN - produced by Original Productions.

HOW THE EARTH WAS MADE - produced by Pioneer Productions.

THE UNIVERSE - produced by Flight 33 Productions

MONSTERQUEST - produced by Whitewolf Entertainment.

ANCIENT DISCOVERIES - produced by Wild Dream Films.

MODERN MARVELS - produced by Actuality Productions

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 and Modern Marvels 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
Source: HISTORY

CONTACT: Lynn Gardner, +1-212-850-9322, lynn.gardner@aetn.com, or Vicky
Kahn, +1-212-210-9743, vicky.kahn@aetn.com

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

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