An inside look at 'History Now,' History's new digital series and (real) time capsule
Matthias Puschmann is the Managing Director of VAST MEDIA, a media research and consulting company based in Berlin that provides international television industry leaders with qualitative competitive market analysis of digital entertainment and content marketing.
On February 16th, 2016, A+E Networks-owned cable net HISTORY launched its new multi-platform digital series 'History NOW'. Available on the 'History NOW' digital platform and across its various social media outlets, the series will cover 2016's timely and relevant stories in short-form episodes that are each between two and four minutes in length. The stories capture important events from the perspective of the people who are experiencing them.
Today’s headlines will be tomorrow’s historical turning points. We – and you – are History NOW #HistoryNOW https://t.co/ogNQEAtYcX
— HistoryNow (@GetHistoryNow) February 16, 2016
Each month, 'History NOW' will introduce new characters and topics which will cover themes including gun rights, legalization of recreational marijuana, the Presidential Election and hackers fighting ISIS. New content for each topic is then being uploaded nearly every day. That way, 'a living capsule' of 2016's transformative events will be created.
The multi-platform series kicked off with the release of four digital stories. One of them follows the Al-Teibawis, a family fleeing the Syrian civil war and starting a new life in the United States.
Another story covers the life of Sheyna Gifford, who is one of six 'Earthstronauts' living in an enclosed 1,200 square-foot space as part of a year-long NASA-affiliated Mars simulation.
'History NOW' also follows Matthew VanDyke, the founder of 'Sons of Liberty International', a security firm that advises, trains, and supplies vulnerable populations to defend themselves against terrorists. The episodes chronicle his independent mission to Iraq during which he trains Iraqis to fight back against the Islamic State.
Produced by Punched in the Head Productions, 'History NOW' is available on the dedicated digital platform and across social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. Biographical information of the featured characters is also provided.
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