History sharpens focus on docs

US cablenet History has greenlit more than 100 hours of documentary programming that will premiere in 2017.

Jana Bennett

The slate includes event series and specials that focus on people and significant moments that have impacted the course of the world and modern US history.

The “increased investment” in documentary programming comes on the back of the network’s push into commissioning scripted series in recent years.

Greenlit projects include America’s War on Drugs (4×120′), produced by Talos Films; America: Journey of the Brave (2×120′), produced by Nutopia; and The Cars that Made America (working title, 3×120′), from Magilla Entertainment.

History has also ordered Superheroes Decoded (working title, 2×120′), from Warrior Poets; How the 90s Changed the World (working title, 2×120′), produced by RadicalMedia; and Age of Terror (working title, 2×120′), from Pulse Films.

“The network’s increased focus on documentary programming, collaborating with some of the best storytellers in the genre, along with our commitment to sustainable, premium non-fiction and scripted series, will continue to drive the ongoing success of the History brand,” said Jana Bennett, who joined History from FYI as president and general manager in 2015.

A+E Networks holds worldwide distribution rights for all of the above programming.