Today, the cable industry joins the rest of the country in honoring the military veterans who have made tremendous sacrifices in their efforts to serve the United States. The internet and television community has long hosted and promoted a variety of initiatives and programs year-round that are dedicated to supporting veterans and their families as they transition to civilian life. Their work ethic, talents, and skills are incredibly valuable and necessary to the success of the industry, and cable companies especially recognize and celebrate their achievements in a myriad of ways every year on Veterans Day. While the COVID-19 pandemic has prevented most in-person events, many of these tributes and programs for veterans have shifted online and on-air to showcase the stories of these brave men and women who have served the United States, as have programs geared at supporting them in the next chapter of their lives.
A unique special worth checking out includes the HISTORY Channel’s ‘Salute to Service,’ co-produced with Variety, and set to air tonight at 10 p.m. ET. The one-hour special will feature celebrities who are advocates for veterans and who will present on-air tributes to service men and women. The special will also highlight philanthropic organizations that focus on improving the lives of veterans and that have been delivering COVID-19 relief for this population during this tenuous time. More importantly, the program will spotlight a roster of veterans and military personnel, including a retired hero who was severely injured during one of his posts in Afghanistan. “Honoring veterans and highlighting the many ways they contribute to our communities is an effort we pursue all year,” said Paul Buccieri, president of A+E Networks Groups and the parent company of the HISTORY Channel.
ESPN is also celebrating Veterans Day with a week of programming and initiatives, which started on November 7. Highlights include ESPN's First Take program virtually visiting active bases, special military-related features in SportsCenter, NFL Live and College GameDay, and a collection of military-related content available on ESPN+. The Undefeated, which is the network's multi-platform content initiative exploring the intersection of sports, race and culture, is also airing a feature today on SportsCenter:AM on the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen.
“At ESPN, we salute America’s Heroes for their incredible sacrifice and service to our country,” said Kevin Martinez, vice president of ESPN Corporate Citizenship. “We are not only proud to showcase their inspiring stories during our annual Veterans Week programming, but honored to help support veterans find employment opportunities as they transition to the civilian workforce through partnerships with DAV and ACP.” [ESPN teams up with Disabled American Vets (DAV) and American Corporate Partners (ACP) to support virtual career fairs and mentorship programs for veterans and their families.]
Notably, Comcast NBCUniversal and ViacomCBS, along with other entertainment companies, recently collaborated with the nonprofit Veterans in Media & Entertainment to sponsor a two-day virtual event in late October for veterans interested in pursuing a career in the entertainment industry. The event featured keynote speakers and live panels with actors, creators and production executives, and breakout sessions led by recruiters and hiring managers. The goal behind the event was to connect veterans with key players in media and entertainment and to provide them with educational opportunities.
The work to honor and support veterans has always been a priority for the cable industry, no matter what else is going on in the world. The industry’s commitment to honor, recognize, and support veterans continues, today and every day.
Happy Veterans Day!