The History Channel, telling a quarter century of the past on television

At the end of the 20th century, when access to historical content for the general public was perhaps limited to books, some audiovisual content through cinema, fiction or documentaries presented by open television, Canal Historia began its programming in Spain in December 1998. Three years earlier the franchise began in the United States with The History Channel. Since then, the channel, available on the main payment platforms, has evolved from its beginnings with a more academic approach and has become a reference channel for viewers with which to learn history in an educational and entertaining way.

According to data provided by AMC Networks International, during the quarter of a century since it began broadcasting, Canal Historia has offered viewers more than 2,200 programs and 250,000 broadcasts, connected to more than fifteen and a half million people since its creation. It has also received more than fifteen awards and nominations, such as the award for Best Thematic Channel by the Academy of Television Sciences and Arts.

For Antonio Ruiz, general director of AMC Networks International Southern Europe, Canal Historia is “more than a channel” because, in his opinion, it has become a “brand and a reference” that has gone beyond the small screen. “We have managed to create a channel that is a guide for history lovers, faithful to a commitment to objectivity and rigor,” the manager emphasizes. Regarding the key to becoming a reference brand, Ruiz explains that “it is built on the basis of objectivity, so that viewers analyze the facts and reach their own conclusions.”

The manager also points out the channel’s commitment to telling the history of Spain in its programming schedule, producing more than sixty different series and documentaries, adding a total of more than 7,690 minutes of original footage. Among their most notable proposals are ‘The First Around the World’, to ‘The Templars’, ’40 Years of Democracy’ or ‘Al-Andalus, the Legacy’, going through the unknown history of the corsairs on Spanish coasts in ‘Pirates in the Balearic Islands’.

Special celebrations

Throughout the month, Canal Historia celebrates its 25 years in Spain in a special way. Starting on June 24, it will broadcast different recorded pieces in which references such as journalist Iñaki Gabilondo or Carmen Iglesias, director of the Royal Academy of History, talk about historical events they consider important, such as the Protestant Reformation, the colonization of America or the birth of Jesus Christ.

On AMC Select, special programming prepared by Canal Historia with exclusive content about World War II and the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the Normandy landings is now available on demand. In particular, the exclusive premiere of ‘D-Day: One Hundred Days to Defeat the Third Reich’ has emerged, a documentary series that reminisces about the hundred days it took the Allies to liberate Normandy, break through the German lines and pave the way to victory. Divided into two parts, the production explores lesser-known aspects of ‘Operation Overlord’ with unpublished images and first-person accounts.

The premiere of another documentary series is also launched, ‘D-Day: The Story of the Soldiers’, a format that reflects the events of June 6, 1944, where the British writer and journalist Giles Milton reveals firsthand the testimonies of the young soldiers who experienced the landing firsthand. In this sense, the channel has also prepared a series of original pieces dedicated to the Spanish spy Juan Pujol García, better known by his code name Garbo, a double agent who was key in achieving ‘Operation Overlord’.

On the other hand, Canal Historia has prepared other special content in its programming to celebrate its anniversary, including some of the most iconic titles in the channel’s catalog such as ‘Auschwitz in 33 Objects’, ‘The Bomber’, ‘The Power of Hitler’, ‘The plane that led on D-Day’ or ‘Nazi secret science’, etc.