• by David Kaplan , April 22, 2005

The channel that claims to "makes the past come alive" asked media buyers to look to the future Thursday, unveiling eight new series and specials during its upfront presentation in New York. The History Channel did take a look back at its recent past, noting that 2004 was the most successful year in its, er, history.

"Primetime ratings are up for the third straight year, to an all time high 1.1[average audience] household rating," said Dan Davids, the network's president, speaking at Rockefeller Center, where the presentation was held. "This is up 10 percent versus 2004 and up 38 percent since 2002."

Among the new series coming to the channel are "Man Moment Machine," which premieres in the fall and explores "a dynamic leader, a significant moment in time, and important technology" with host and former Navy "Top Gun" fighter pilot Hunter Ellis going on location to relive the moment and operate the machinery that came together to make history; "Weird U.S.; Shootout!" which examines unexplained shootings that never made the history books; "Declassified" a series about secret government archives; "Where Did It Come From?" featuring former ABC science reporter Michael Guillen looking into the historical origins of things used in everyday life - from razors to ketchup, public toilets to fast food; and "The American Revolution And Pacific: The Lost Evidence."

As for specials, there's the usual History Channel fare of "Rome: Engineering An Empire," "The Crusades: Crescent And The Cross," and one about Lincoln. Then there's the unusual fare: such as the playfully titled "Da Vinci And The Code He Lived By," and "How Star Trek Changed The World."