‘History Hit’s multiplatform reach, consistent output, and expert-led storytelling make it a standout destination for passionate audiences’
Nothing gets stuck in the past with History Hit TV, which our judges described as showing “real ambition” and a “dynamic approach” to the ever-popular history genre.
“History Hit’s multiplatform reach, consistent output, and expert-led storytelling make it a standout destination for passionate audiences,” said one judge, while another described it as having “genuinely taken a 360-degree approach across YouTube, SVOD and podcasts in a way that feels digital first and impressively authentic to its audience”.
Key shows have ranged from Kate Lister delving into Georgian scandals to Dan Snow exploring early Christianity in the Middle East, with an emphasis on delivering content across all mediums that offers fresh angles on popular subjects – ranging from how dogs and humans have interacted through history, to the Incas’ approach to death.
The numbers also stack up, with SVOD viewing time up by almost 20% among subscribers and completion rates that are regularly over 70%.
And while SVOD remains at the company’s heart, History Hit TV has also notched up 2m followers on Meta and TikTok. The channel’s 1.5m subscribers on YouTube consumed more than 18.5m hours of content last year. There’s also an increasingly popular FAST channel and a podcast network, with the latter garnering more than 9.5m monthly listeners.
Shortlist
BBC Earth YouTube
With series such as Framed in Nature joining content from shows such as Blue Planet III and Asia, BBC Earth YouTube is opening up natural history programming to ever greater audiences and allowing better understanding of humans’ impact on the environment. It’s proving popular with viewers too, with 5.3bn lifetime video views and 13.4m+ subscribers.
LADbible Stories
Aimed at Gen Z and Millennials, LADbible Stories turns real-life stories into impactful narratives that resonate, with remarkable success that has driven 298m views across the judging period. This is underlined by shows such as You Saved My Life, which aims to normalise the conversation around mental health.
MORE 4
Canny scheduling and a clear commissioning strategy have helped MORE 4 to engage and entice viewers, with series that showcase the best of the UK. Programming such as National Parks from Above and Our Tiny Islands, alongside Matt Baker’s Travels with Mum and Dad, have helped deliver joy and escapism in spades.
National Geographic
From uplifting stories of friendship in Billy and Molly: An Otter Love Story to the harrowing Tsunami: Race Against Time, which reached 4.5m views on social media, Nat Geo’s factual focus has provided thought-provoking content that has opened up new audiences.
U&Yesterday
Following a rebrand in 2024, U&Yesterday used its broad content offering to drive an average 7.4m individual viewers a month and a share of 0.64% across the eligibility period. Bangers & Cash Live highlighted an ongoing embrace for brand extensions, while Canal Boat Diaries was among shows landing record viewership.
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