At the Discovery Communications upfront today (more on that later), Military Channel will announce a programming shift that adds more shows focusing on U.S. and world history.
One of those shows will be “The Brokaw Files,” a program hosted by legendary NBC News anchor Tom Brokaw, and featuring some of his most famous reports and interviews. Brokaw will reflect on those moments in new discussions, and add context, analysis and new information. “The Brokaw Files” will be produced by NBC’s Peacock Productions.
“Tom Brokaw is synonymous with basically everything we are talking about doing here,” Ed Hersh, senior VP of content strategy for Military Channel tells TVNewser. ” He has done shows about the Greatest Generation, he has covered the Presidents, he has covered all the key events from civil rights to Vietnam, he almost embodies what we want to do with the channel.”
As en example of the type of story that may be featured, Hersh noted that President Reagan’s last on-camera interview was with Brokaw. “The Brokaw Files” could take that interview, with Brokaw adding context relevant to the current election, or behind the scenes information about his discussion with the President. The Wrap has more information on the program.
“The Brokaw Files” may just be the beginning of a larger relationship between Brokaw and Military Channel.
“It opens a wonderful door for us to collaborate with him in a number of areas, and we have already started that conversation,” Hersh said.
As for the programming shift taking place at Military Channel, Hersh says that the move is a logical one, and that current viewers should be happy with the result, even as new viewers come in.
“We look at this whole notion of expanding Military Channel beyond simply the military and into history,” Hersh says. “There is an organic expansion there from military into history, when you think about the Cold War, the space race, the struggle for civil rights, all of those things touch on the military, and if you are interested in military or military history, you will be interested in that as well.”