C-SPAN is planning to launch a weekend programming block dedicated to U.S. history on its C-SPAN3 network.

The “network within a network,” which it is calling American History TV, will launch January 8-9, and will feature historic speeches from the C-SPAN archives, classes and lectures from history professors, tours of museums and collections, as well as eyewitness accounts from important moments in history.

American History TV follows in the footsteps of C-SPAN2′s weekend block Book TV, which launched in 1998.

“American History TV will provide American history lovers with original programming, done C-SPAN style,” said C-SPAN co-president Susan Swain in a statement. “Look for C-SPAN’s trademark original source and first-person accounts of the American story. We’re hoping American History TV does for history enthusiasts what Book TV has done for non-fiction book lovers.”

More information, after the jump.

C-SPAN Launches American History TV

Experience American History TV: All Weekend, Every Weekend. On C-SPAN3

C-SPAN’s first “network in a network” launch since BookTV in 1998

Covering American history C-SPAN style: Event coverage, discussions with authors, historians and teachers, and eyewitness accounts

(January 6, 2011, Washington, D.C.) – C-SPAN, cable’s public affairs network, is expanding its programming offerings with a new history-based service airing weekends on C-SPAN3. Launching the weekend of January 8-9, 2011, American History TV (AHTV), a “network in a network,” features programming geared toward history lovers with 48 hours every weekend of people and events that document the American story.

The C-SPAN Networks last launched a “network within a network” in 1998 with Book TV, which airs weekends on C-SPAN2. C-SPAN began C-SPAN3 operations ten years ago this month (January 22, 2001) as a digital service. C-SPAN3 is currently available in 41 million digital cable TV households and is streamed live online at C-SPAN.org.

American History TV offers history lovers these experience-for-yourself programs:

* Key political archives of historic speeches of former presidents and other leaders;
* Classes and lectures with some of the country’s top history professors;
* Exclusive eyewitness accounts of events that have shaped our nation;
* Intimate tours of museums and private collections;
* Speeches and seminars with leading historians; and
* Coverage of recent books written by the nation’s best-known and expert authors.

“American History TV will provide American history lovers with original programming, done C-SPAN style,” says C-SPAN co-president Susan Swain. “Look for C-SPAN’s trademark original source and first-person accounts of the American story. We’re hoping American History TV does for history enthusiasts what Book TV has done for non-fiction book lovers.”

The 48 hours of history programs every weekend will include six hours of original programming, produced by AHTV staff for AHTV.

Key programs each weekend on AHTV will include:

AMERICAN ARTIFACTS (Sundays 8 am, 7pm, and 10 pm ET)

Curators, collectors and historians take you behind- the- scenes at museum exhibits and historic sites to show you significant pieces from their collections.

LECTURES IN HISTORY (Saturdays 8 pm, midnight, and Sundays 1 pm ET)

Get a front-row seat in college classrooms across the country to hear top professors on topics ranging from the American Revolution to 9/11.

THE CIVIL WAR (Saturdays 6 pm, 10 pm, and Sundays 11 am ET)

For the next four years, the nation marks the 150th Anniversary of the Civil War. Travel with us to important battlefields, and hear compelling discussions and debates about key events and figures who shaped that era.

THE PRESIDENCY (Sundays 8:30AM, 7:30PM, and 10:30PM ET)

American Presidents, their policies, and legacies are the special focus of this time block, featuring historic speeches and the personal insights of former administration officials and presidential experts.

ORAL HISTORIES (Saturdays 8 am; Sundays 3 pm; Mondays 4 am ET)

Hear first- person accounts from people who have shaped modern American history, from World War II to recent Presidents.

HISTORY BOOKSHELF (Saturdays noon; Sundays 5 am; and Mondays 1 am ET)

Tune in as the country’s best-known American history writers of the past decade talk about their books
***See video previews of these programs here http://www.c-span.org/ahtvpromo/ ***

AHTV is being co-executive produced by C-SPAN veteran Susan Bundock and Luke Nichter, a Ph.D. in History from Bowling Green State University, who says, “American History TV will serve viewers of all ages and interests. We will take you to historical sites and events, show you historical discussions and debates, and take you to college history classrooms. There’s nothing else quite like it, and we do it each weekend on C-SPAN 3.”

AHTV will have a robust online presence, including:

* A video rich website: http://www.c-span.org/americanhistorytv
* Twitter feed: http://twitter.com/#!/cspanhistory
* Facebook tab: http://www.facebook.com/CSPAN
* YouTube playlist: http://www.youtube.com/user/cspan#p/c/068960351DA37ADA

About C-SPAN C-SPAN was created by America’s cable companies in 1979 as a public service and programs three public affairs television networks in both SD and HD; C-SPAN Radio, heard in Washington DC and nationwide via XM Satellite Radio; and a video-rich website which hosts the C-SPAN Video Library. Visit http://www.c-span.org/.