First historical videogame used on television

The earliest video game to be used to re-enact historical battles on television was an upgraded version of the Rome: Total War engine. It was used in BBC2 and The History Channel’s Time Commanders production between 2003 and 2005. Both the presenters and contestants were deliberately selected for being mostly ignorant of video games, with personnel on hand to control the armies, as this was a test of generalship not of strategy game prowess. Due to the BBC’s rules against product placement, no mention was ever made of the game.