History to Promote Big Apple Tourism

The History Channel Wednesday announced a multiyear corporate-marketing partnership with New York City officials to promote tourism, as well as the city’s history and heritage.

History president Dan Davids and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg launched the $19.5 million marketing collaboration, which calls for History to develop and air an advertising campaign to help attract potential tourists to the city, as well as to sponsor the soon-to-be-created New York City Official History Center, network officials said.

The network will also develop a bus tour promoting visits to key New York historic sites and sponsor, in association with the Department of Parks & Recreation, the restoration and refurbishment of key monuments across the city.

“The History Channel is delighted to enter into this collaboration with New York City,” Davids said. “Through this new effort, we now have the opportunity to help showcase the city’s rich heritage, while furthering our mission of enhancing historical education and encouraging historical preservation.”

R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.