History Hit hunts originals head

History-focused media company History Hit, part of All3Media-owned Little Dot Studios, is looking for a head of original programming as it aims to ramp up investment in original series for its streaming service.

Dan Snow

Co-founded by broadcaster and historian Dan Snow and acquired by Little Dot last year, History Hit is set to increase its original programming investment beyond 60 hours per year.

The content will be made available on SVoD service History Hit TV, which was launched in November 2017 and focuses on original history programming.

As part of the push, History Hit plans to hire a head of original programming to take charge of the increased investment, overseeing development and executive producing the delivery of series and singles.

History Hit TV has committed to at least six original series helmed by established talent, with the first being Suzannah Lipscomb’s Six Wives of Henry VIII and Ancient Britain with Ray Mears.

In addition, History Hit said it would continue to offer opportunities to diverse new history talent via single documentaries and series, building on Luke Pepera’s Africa: Written Out of History, Alice Loxton’s Women of the Second World War and Tristan Hughes’ Boudica: Death to Rome.

The SVoD service sits alongside History Hit output across podcasts, online editorial, social, live events, publishing and branded content.

Dan Jones

Dan Snow, co-founder and creative director of History Hit, said: “When I started History Hit, it was an epic undertaking. Back then, the idea we would commission this scale of quality original content was just a wild dream. Our basic premise that the world was ready for a subscription-supported TV channel for real history fans has proved correct. Tens of thousands of people from an array of countries are subscribing to, renewing and watching History Hit.

“We choose unfashionable subjects as well as the big, popular crowd-pleasers. We have a culture of trust in our on- and off-screen talent. We commission months ahead or hours ahead.

“That freedom, the ability to develop ideas and get them into production the same day, makes the head of original programming the most exciting role in TV. A dream job for someone passionate about history, it will take our output to another level and push our quality up to the gold standard of history broadcasting. We’re looking for someone who wants to join the adventure and make some history.”

Dan Jones, CEO of Little Dot Studios, added: “It is incredibly exciting to be building on the fantastic work of the History Hit team to commit to this level of original production. History Hit subscriber numbers have doubled year-on-year, alongside podcasts topping four million listens each month, with a live tour planned in 2022, more brand partnerships and even merchandise selling out.”