NEW YORK — NOVEMBER 6, 2019 – In an overarching campaign that spans its portfolio of brands, including HISTORY®, A&E and Lifetime, A+E Networks today announced an extension of its long-standing campaign to honor veterans. The cornerstone of the initiative is HISTORY’s new star-studded public service announcement (PSA), “Thank Our Veterans,” supported by and featuring talent such as Kevin Bacon, Simone Biles, Ciara, Terry Crews, Jon Hamm, Scarlett Johansson, Toby Keith, Matthew McConaughey, Olivia Munn, Gen. Colin Powell, Andy Samberg, Tom Selleck and Russell Wilson. The 30-second PSAs aim to bring awareness to the ways in which viewers can support veterans by visiting Veterans.com to learn more and get involved.
“A+E Networks is proud to bring together such an incredible and esteemed collection of well-known and respected voices from across sports, entertainment and the military to help honor our veterans,” said Paul Buccieri, president, A+E Networks. “We hold a deep respect for our military – heroes who fought to preserve the values we all hold dear – and strive to support them today and every day through our ongoing commitment to ensure their stories are told.”
In addition to the star-studded PSAs which salute U.S. Veterans, and as part of A+E networks’ long-term, deep commitment to Veterans, the company is engaged in numerous other initiatives/programs:
MISSION TO HONOR
HISTORY has an ongoing commitment to mobilizing public support for veterans and military families through the award-winning “Mission to Honor” campaign which collaborates with some of the most effective and inspirational organizations that work with and support military veterans and their families, including Team Rubicon, Headstrong, TAPS and others. As part of the overarching initiative, the network continues its “Take A Veteran To School” program that encourages schools to connect young people with veterans to hear their stories of service and learn more about Veterans Day. This year-long program is available in 50+ markets, with facilitation materials provided by HISTORY, and is supported by regional distribution partners. Additionally, the ongoing Honor A Vet digital campaign encourages viewers to share a photo and a story of a veteran in their life through Instagram at #HonorAVet and @HISTORY on Twitter.
HISTORY will again host and sponsor Variety’s annual “Salute to Service” event and luncheon in New York City on November 6 to celebrate the notable efforts and contributions by various individuals shining light on military services and related organizations.
ON-AIR
HERO on HISTORY, a branded military-themed programming block, taps the network’s deep library of long-form content to share stories of valor told against the backdrop of the country’s watershed moments and events, from the attack on Pearl Harbor to the rise of the Superbombs. The block also features original short-form series that profile veterans as they return home from deployment, improve their communities and help others, and share their unique experiences and perspectives. HERO on HISTORY will air Saturdays, 9a – 11a ET, beginning November 9.
Viewers will see custom on-air content and promotions across A+E Networks to celebrate the national holiday. A&E will air special Biography vignettes featuring well-known veterans like Adam Driver and Ice-T and will also air “A Little Good Along the Way,” custom promotions which showcase veterans. A+E Networks will also roll-out “Mission to Honor” IDs and bugs, along with specialized creative featuring veterans’ voice-over talent throughout all promotions beginning Sunday, November 10 on HISTORY and continuing Monday, November 11 across all A+E Networks.
AD SUPPORT / SPONSORSHIPS
A+E Networks has partnered with several brands sponsoring custom short-form content to run across networks, digital and social platforms.
Lionsgate will run a custom promotion in support of the upcoming feature film, Midway, directed by Roland Emmerich, which premieres in theaters November 8. Along with cross-network branded tune-ins, digital and social activation, four two-minute mini-documentaries will feature movie talent such as Darren Criss, Luke Kleintank, Dennis Quaid, Ed Skrein and Patrick Wilson.
USAA will sponsor HISTORY’s “Mission to Honor” short-form, running custom creative that features HISTORY’s Wil Willis who is a military veteran. On Lifetime, USAA will celebrate female veterans through custom vignettes as part of the Association of National Advertisers’ (ANA) SeeHer campaign, the leading global movement to increase accurate portrayals of women and girls in advertising and media. USAA’s promotion will run through the end of year, commemorating all veteran military holidays and bring attention to veterans’ issues.
Quicken Loans will focus its custom campaign on the fight to help end veteran and chronic homelessness. Through vignettes running across linear, HISTORY.com, and social platforms, their pieces shine a spotlight on the important issue and feature cities that have successfully tackled and continue to combat this nationwide problem.
USS Midway Museum will run custom short-form featuring those who helped shape the unprecedented legacy of the longest-serving U.S. Navy carrier of the 20th century.
ABOUT A+E NETWORKS
A+E Networks® is a global content company comprised of some of the most popular and culturally relevant brands in media including A&E®, Lifetime®, HISTORY®, Lifetime Movies, FYI™, VICELAND®, Blaze™ and Crime+Investigation®. A+E Networks’ portfolio extends across platforms and genres, with the A+E International division; A+E Studios®, a long-form production unit; A+E Originals, a long-form unscripted division; A&E IndieFilms®; and A+E Digital®, encompassing websites, watch apps, games and SVOD initiatives including Lifetime Movie Club and HISTORY Vault. A+E Networks’ channels and branded programming reach more than 335 million households in over 200 territories in 42 languages. A+E Networks is a joint venture of Disney-ABC Television Group and Hearst. Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/aenetworks and Facebook at facebook.com/AENetworks
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Media Contacts:
Vicky Kahn (212) 210-9743 vicky.kahn@aenetworks.com
Deborah McBride (212) 857-6789 deborah.mcbride@aenetworks.com
