New York Inks Tourism Deal with History Channel

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NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York on Wednesday entered into a co-branding deal with cable TV's History Channel, aimed at boosting the Big Apple as a tourist destination.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg said the $19.5 million deal will see the city gain $15 million in free ads on The History Channel, $3.5 million toward the creation of an official New York History Center and $1 million in free programming.

The television station will also develop walking tours of New York and contribute to the preservation of historic monuments and landmarks visited by tourists.

In return, the History Channel -- which is owned by A&E Television Networks, a joint venture of the Hearst Corporation, ABC and NBC -- will gain free use of ad space on city bus shelters, street pole banners and phone kiosks among other things during the 3-1/2-year deal.
More: http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20041208/media_nm/media_newyork_dc