With the monumental popularity of Vikings, Canada’s #1 specialty program*, HISTORY is proud to bring viewers two exclusive, forward-thinking digital experiences that will satisfy their curiosity through fiction and non-fiction enriched content.
Available starting today on HISTORY.ca and the HISTORY Go App, Athelstan’s Journal revisits the series to date through the unique personal lens of Athelstan, the popular Christian character played by George Blagden, and gives glimpses of what’s to come in Season 3.
In addition, the six-part Canadian original documentary series Secrets of the Vikings launches Thursday, February 5 on HISTORY.ca and on the HISTORY Go App and offers viewers a revealing look at Viking culture through the archaeological treasures they left behind.
“In Secrets of the Vikings, we’re bringing in-depth research and perspective to what life was really like for these Vikings through a wholly unique digital experience. It’s exactly the kind of exclusive content our viewers want,’ said Christine Shipton, Senior Vice President, Content, Shaw Media. “Together with Athelstan’s Journal, these two web series will enrich Vikings fans’ overall viewing experience and get them even more excited for the new season.”
Filmed on location in Scandinavia and featuring Vikings series creator Michael Hirst as well as leading archaeologists, Secrets of the Vikings employs the tangible historical treasures the Vikings left behind to tell their story. Each of the six episodes explores a different aspect of Viking life: the sources of Ragnar’s saga; the might of the Viking longships; new discoveries that illuminate the lives of shield maidens; inside the Great Halls; rumours of the West; and the relationship between Viking spirituality and Christianity. Secrets of the Vikings is produced by Take 5 Productions in association with Shaw Media and is written and directed by Kenton Vaughan (Museum Secrets, The Devil You Know: Inside The Mind Of Todd McFarlane).
Further extending the Vikings story through digital video is the 13-part fictional web series Athelstan’s Journal. The first eight webisodes retell the story of the first two seasons from Athelstan’s unique perspective and will lead into the season’s linear broadcast premiere. The remaining five vignettes give sneak peeks of season three and will be released weekly. The series will be compiled into one, hour long episode that will air linearly on HISTORY at a later date.
Athelstan’s Journal is produced by Hoodlum for A+E Networks.
Don’t miss the new season of Vikings, premiering February 19th at 10pm ET/PT on HISTORY. Catch up on season two with a day-of-premiere marathon on HISTORY and two episodes of season two each Saturday night on Global from 8-10pm ET/PT. Both seasons are currently available on shomi and season two is currently available on History.ca, HISTORY on Demand, the HISTORY Go App, the Global Go App and globaltv.com.
* Source: Numeris (BBM Canada) PPM Data: All Cdn Specialty 12/30/13 ‘ 6/1/14, Ind2+, A2554, W2554, M2554, M1849, and A50+ excluding sports