Another Season of America in Color for Smithsonian

Smithsonian Channel has commissioned Arrow Media to produce a third installment of America in Color.

American in Color features themed episodes that tell stories about immigrants who arrived in the country during the late 19th century; natural disasters that have occurred; the industrial growth of the U.S.; and more. The 6×60-minute season brings the franchise to 15 hours of programming.

David Royle, the executive VP and chief programming officer at Smithsonian Networks, said: “America in Color is one of the most ambitious colorizing projects ever undertaken and it brings history alive by putting the color back into it. It has become one of our most iconic shows and it’s no surprise that it has sold around the world. We are delighted to be working with Arrow Media, who continue to uncover the rare, high-quality footage that makes this series so special.”

Tom Brisley, joint creative director at Arrow Media, noted: “Smithsonian Channel is the perfect partner for America in Color and we are delighted to be growing our relationship with them. Uncovering rare, high-quality footage to make forgotten history accessible and enthralling is a real privilege. Sam Starbuck, exec producer, and her team continue to find rare footage—some never broadcast or seen before—and delivering accurate colorization using painstaking and detailed research to ensure authenticity. The In Color brand strikes a really powerful chord with audiences across the world.”

“America in Color has done tremendously well in the international marketplace,” added Loren Syer-Willoughby, head of acquisitions at Off the Fence. “Season one now has been licensed, to date, 28 times by various broadcasters around the world, including the likes of France Télévisions, Foxtel, Welt24, NHK, YLE, DR, NRK, A&E Latin America and more, with season two following a similar path. There’s always a strong appetite for history shows internationally and America in Color, with its groundbreaking colorization techniques, has set the bar for future shows of this nature.”