History (European TV channel)

The History Channel UK launched on 1 November 1995 on the Sky Multichannels service, broadcasting on weekdays from 4:00pm-7:00pm, timesharing on the Astra satellite with Sky Travel, Sky Soap and the Sci-Fi Channel. The channel's schedule consisted of three different shows - Biography (restyled for a British audience), History Alive and Our Century. It operated as a joint-venture between A&E Television Networks and British Sky Broadcasting, and was A&E's first international venture.{{cite book |year=2000 |chapter=A & E Television Networks History |chapter-url=http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/a-e-television-networks-history/ |title=International Directory of Company Histories |volume=32 |publisher=St. James Press |access-date=4 December 2013 |via=Funding Universe.com }} The channel was also made available on cable providers.

In late-1997, Sky Sports 2, which had broadcast on the transponder at the weekend, extended its broadcast hours to include the entire day. Sky Travel also extended hours, leading to the remainder of the networks that broadcast on the transponder, including The History Channel, to move to transponder 24.{{cite newsgroup|url=http://groups.google.se/group/fido7.ru.sat.chainik/browse_thread/thread/19222ccdc3abe31b/42dc8ce44e9ad79c|title=Report from the Sat-UK mailing list: Report #98}} On 1 November 1997, the channel was removed from Telewest's analogue cable service.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=1997-10-22 |title=Telewest rewrites History |url=https://variety.com/1997/tv/news/telewest-rewrites-history-1116675469/ |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}

The launch of Sky Digital in October 1998 allowed the channel to significantly increase its broadcast hours.

In May 2002, Telewest and The History Channel (UK) Limited failed to reach an agreement to broadcast the network, with Telewest announcing that they would remove the channel from their Active Digital cable service at the end of the month.{{Cite web |date=2002-05-30 |title=UPDATED: Telewest to drop History Channel |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tech/a7532/font-colorcc0000updatedfont-telewest-to-drop-history-channel/ |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=Digital Spy |language=en-GB}} On 1 June, the two companies successfully renegotiated and The History Channel was restored.{{Cite web |date=2002-06-01 |title=History Channel strikes deal with Telewest |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tech/a7538/history-channel-strikes-deal-with-telewest/ |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=Digital Spy |language=en-GB}}

On 26 October 2006, History Channel HD launched in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The channel broadcasts content in 1080p HD, and operates on a separate schedule from the SD feed.

In November 2008 the History Channel was re-branded as History,{{cite news|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/broadcasting/news/a136120/history-channel-rebranded-history.html|title=History Channel rebranded 'History'|last=Wilkes|first=Neil|work=Digital Spy|date=19 November 2008}}

The company behind the channel was known as The History Channel (UK) Limited until July 2009, when it was renamed AETN UK (a short form of "A&E Television Networks").{{cite web|url=http://www.aetninternational.com/news.jsp?id=35949548|title=The History Channel UK Changes Name to AETN UK|publisher=AETN International|date=2 July 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707092514/http://www.aetninternational.com/news.jsp?id=35949548|archive-date=7 July 2011|df=dmy-all}}

In 2010, History HD became a simulcast service.

On 22 September 2011, AETN UK was re-branded A&E Networks UK.{{cite web|url=http://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2011/09/22/aetn-uk-rebrands-as-ae-networks-uk/|title=AETN UK rebrands as A+E Networks UK|publisher=Broadband TV News|date=22 September 2011}}

The channel launched on BT on 15 August 2013, and on TalkTalk on 28 August 2014.

File:Sky History Logo 2020.png

On 27 May 2020, History, History +1 and History 2 were renamed Sky History, Sky History +1, and Sky History 2 respectively, alongside the launch of Sky Documentaries and Sky Nature.{{cite web |title=Launch of Sky Documentaries, Sky Nature and Sky HISTORY |url=https://www.skygroup.sky/en-gb/article/launch-of-sky-documentaries-sky-nature-and-sky-history |website=Sky Group Newsroom |access-date=16 April 2020 |date=16 April 2020}} The networks retained their strong ties with AETN, and the network's logos kept the network's insignia, being co-marketed with Sky.{{cite web|url=https://www.digitaltveurope.com/2020/02/20/aes-history-channel-to-be-rebranded-sky-history/|title=A+E's History channel to be rebranded Sky History|date=20 February 2020|website=Digital TV Europe}}{{cite web|url=https://www.skygroup.sky/en-gb/article/sky-and-a-e-networks-uk-strengthen-joint-venture-with-launch-of-sky-history|title=Sky History|date=20 February 2020|website=Sky Group}} The network also took a new channel position formerly held by E!.{{cite web |title=Sky_Factual_Channels_Press_Pack_08.1.pdf |url=https://static.skyassets.com/contentstack/assets/bltdc2476c7b6b194dd/blt0abd3f8bac8bceba/5eb41c367e251a2d4a46f796/Sky_Factual_Channels_Press_Pack_08.1.pdf |website=Sky Group Newsroom |publisher=Sky |access-date=7 May 2020}}

On 12 September 2024 AETN UK was renamed as Hearst Networks UK.

The HD version was launching across Europe from October 2007,{{cite web|url=http://www.totaaltv.nl/nieuws/358/A&E_Television_Network_breidt_uit_in_Europa.html|title=A&E Television Network breidt uit in Europa|publisher=Totaal TV|author=Jarco Kriek|date=17 October 2007}} beginning in the Nordic region on 13 December 2007, offering a schedule separate from the standard-definition version.{{cite press release|url=http://www.aetninternational.com/news.jsp?id=17891982|title=THE HISTORY CHANNEL HD TO LAUNCH IN SCANDINAVIA|publisher=AETN International|date=8 October 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120219030452/http://www.aetninternational.com/news.jsp?id=17891982|archive-date=19 February 2012|df=dmy-all}} In January 2008, History Channel HD launched in the Netherlands.{{cite news|url=http://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2007/11/14/history-channel-hd-to-launch-in-holland/|title=History Channel HD to launch in Holland|publisher=Broadband TV News|author=Robert Briel|date=14 November 2007}}

Like with the UK channel, the International networks were rebranded in November 2008.{{cite news|url=http://www.totaaltv.nl/nieuws/1567/History_Channel_heet_nu_HISTORY%E2%84%A2.html|title=History Channel heet nu History|publisher=Totaal TV|author=Jan-Hein Visser|date=19 December 2008}} and the high-definition channel became History HD.

A+E Networks EMEA was renamed Hearst Networks EMEA on 12 September 2024.

File:Historia logo.jpg

Since 1998,{{Cite web |date=2018-12-17 |title=El canal que ha hecho Historia en España |url=https://www.elmundo.es/television/2018/12/17/5c0a991e21efa054298b45c4.html |access-date=2023-08-31 |website=ELMUNDO |language=es}} History has been distributed under the name Canal Historia—and, more recently, Historia—in Spain and Portugal by AMC Networks International Southern Europe in a joint venture with A&E Networks (owner of History), called The History Channel Iberia.{{cite web |title=The History Channel Iberia |url=http://www.thehistorychanneliberia.com/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130813182548/http://www.thehistorychanneliberia.com/ |archive-date=2013-08-13 |access-date=10 November 2015}} The channel has Spanish and Portuguese feeds with dubbed English programs and locally produced programming. On 14 June 2021 AMC Networks acquires full ownership of its Spanish channels, including Canal Historia.{{Cite web |last=REDAZIONE |date=2021-06-14 |title=AMC Networks International adquiere la totalidad de The History Channel Iberia |url=https://www.panoramaaudiovisual.com/2021/06/14/amc-networks-international-adquiere-the-history-channel-iberia/ |access-date=2023-08-31 |website=Panorama audiovisivo |language=it}}

Canal Historia is available in Spain on Movistar+, cable networks (Telecable, R, Euskaltel), IPTV providers (Vodafone, Orange TV) and streaming media (TotalChannel).{{cite web |title=Historia: Dónde vernos |url=http://canalhistoria.es/donde-vernos/ |access-date=10 November 2015}} Historia HD became available in Spain on 3 November 2015.{{cite web |title=Historia: Historia HD |url=http://canalhistoria.es/blog/historia-hd/ |access-date=10 November 2015}} In Portugal, História is available through cable providers (NOS, Cabovisão) and IPTV (MEO, Vodafone).{{cite web |title=Canal História: Dónde vernos |url=http://canalhistoria.pt/donde-vernos/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130820044004/http://canalhistoria.pt/donde-vernos/ |archive-date=20 August 2013 |access-date=10 November 2015}}

• Arqueólogo Por Un Día (2015), where a local celebrity spends a day working with archaeologists on an excavation
• La Última Cena (2014–2015)

• Combatentes do Ultramar (2003), dedicated to the Portuguese Colonial War
• A Última Ceia (2014–2015)

{{Clear}}

The History Channel began in Scandinavia in September 1997, broadcasting for three hours daily on the analogue Viasat platform. Initially time-sharing with TV1000 Cinema, it was later moved to the Swedish TV8 channel until November 2004 (when Viasat launched Viasat History).

In German-speaking countries, History is operated by History Channel Germany, which was a joint venture of A&E Networks and NBC Universal Global Networks Germany. The channel began as the History Channel on 15 November 2004, and changed its name to History on 11 January 2009.{{cite news|url=http://www.digitalfernsehen.de/news/news_694813.html|title=The History Channel ab Januar in neuem Gewand|publisher=Digital Fernsehen|date=19 December 2008}} Since 1 June 2017 the channel is fully owned by A&E Networks Germany.{{cite news|url=https://variety.com/2017/tv/global/ae-buys-nbcuniversal-out-of-german-channels-history-roots-1202450259/|title=A+E Buys Out NBCUniversal From Its German Channels|publisher=Variety.com|date=1 June 2017}}

History is available on the Kabel Deutschland, Kabel BW-Unitymedia, Primacom and KabelKiosk cable networks in all German states, and is also available on cable in Austria and Switzerland. Although the channel was available on satellite on Arena, it was not available on Premiere until the latter was renamed Sky on 4 July 2009. At that time, History HD (a high-definition version of the channel) was introduced. The channel hosts the annual History Award, which has been given since 2005.{{citation needed|date=November 2017}}

History Channel launched in the Netherlands and Flanders on 1 May 2007.{{cite news |author=Robert Briel |date=5 April 2007 |title=History Channel komt naar de Benelux |publisher=Broadband TV News |url=https://nederland.broadbandtvnews.com/2007/04/05/history-channel-komt-naar-de-benelux/}}{{cite news |author=Robert Briel |date=5 April 2007 |title=UPC digital met vier nieuwe kanalen |publisher=Broadband TV News |url=https://nederland.broadbandtvnews.com/2007/04/05/upc-digital-met-vier-nieuwe-kanalen/}}

RTL Nederland (now Ad Alliance) became responsible for advertising sales on 1 January 2016.{{cite web |author=Robert Briel |date=3 December 2015 |title=RTL Netherlands to handle A+E ad sales |url=http://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2015/12/03/rtl-netherlands-to-handle-ae-ad-sales/ |publisher=BroadbandTVNews.com}} On 15 January 2021 Belgian provider Telenet moved the channel from their premium packages to the basic subscription. One day later, their subsidiary SBS Belgium announced they would handle Belgian advertising sales for the channel starting 1 February 2021.{{cite web |date=19 January 2021 |title=SBS breidt zijn zenderportfolio uit met The HISTORY Channel |url=https://www.sbsbelgium.be/nieuws/sbs-breidt-zijn-zenderportfolio-uit-met-history-channel |publisher=SBS Belgium |language=Dutch}}

{{Reflist}}

• [https://www.european-television.eu/ European Television Stream Online]

• [http://www.history.com Official Site]
• [https://www.european-television.eu/ European Television Stream Online]

{{A+E Networks}}

{{AMC Networks}}

{{BSkyB}}

{{Television in the Netherlands}}

{{Television in Romania}}

{{Media in the United Kingdom|television}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1995 establishments in the United Kingdom

Category:A&E Networks

Category:AMC Networks International

Category:Pan-Nordic television channels

Category:Sky television channels

Category:Television channels and stations established in 1995

Category:Television channels and networks about history

Category:Television channels in Belgium

Category:Television stations in Denmark

Category:Television channels in Flanders

Category:Television stations in Germany

Category:Television channels in Italy

Category:Television channels in the Netherlands

Category:Television channels in North Macedonia

Category:Television stations in Portugal

Category:Television stations in Spain

Category:Television channels in the United Kingdom