History (European TV channel): Difference between revisions

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History (formerly known as The History Channel UK) is a pan-European television channel broadcasting programs related to historical events and persons, owned by a joint-venture between A+E Networks, owner of the American History, and British Sky Broadcasting, the UK's largest pay-TV provider. AMC Networks International DMC is responsible for the signal distribution across mainland Europe and the subsidiaries of AMC Networks International are the distribution representatives across Europe.^[3][4] Its programming is mainly in English and locally subtitled or dubbed. It is available through numerous satellite, cable, terrestrial and IPTV distributors across Europe, the Middle East and South Africa. In some countries the advertisement and the announcements between programs are localised.

There are specific versions for Germany, Italy, Netherlands and Flanders, and Spain and Portugal:

• History Germany, a joint venture between A+E Networks and NBC Universal Global Networks Germany
• History Italy, which used to be a joint venture between A+E Networks and Fox International Channels Italy; A+E gained full control of the channel in 2012
• History Netherlands, airing in the Netherlands and Flanders. RTL Nederland is handling the ad sales since 1 January 2016.^[5]
• Canal de História (also called História), the History Channel Iberia joint venture between A+E Networks and AMC Networks International Iberia

The History Channel UK started on 11 November 1995 as a week day three-hour block (4 to 7 pm) with British revamp Biography, History Alive and Our Century. The channel was A&E's first international venture^[6]

In 1997, Sky Sports 2 became a full-day channel and the channels that time-shared with it had to move. The History Channel would now share transponder 24 with Sky Soap and Sci-Fi Channel.^[7]

The History Channel launched in Scandinavia in September 1997, broadcasting for three hours per day on the Analogue Viasat platform. Initially time-sharing with TV1000 Cinema, it was later moved to the Swedish TV8 channel and continued broadcasting there until November 2004 when Viasat launched their own history channel, Viasat History, in the Nordic region and closed down the History Channel.

The launch of Sky Digital allowed the channel to increase it broadcast hours significantly. The channel was completely launched across Europe in October 2007.^[8]

On 26 October 2006, The History Channel HD launched in the United Kingdom and Ireland. A high-definition version of the History Channel was launched in the Nordic region on 13 December 2007. It offers a separate schedule to the standard-definition version.^[9] In January 2008, The History Channel HD launched in the Netherlands.^[10]

In November 2008, the channel got its current name.^[11][12] The high-definition channel became History HD in the process.

The company behind the channel was known as The History Channel ( UK ) Limited until July 2009, when it was renamed AETN UK to reflect the fact that the company now offers several channels.^[13] On 22 September 2011, AETN UK was rebranded as A+E Networks UK.^[14]

It launched on BT on 15 August 2013 and TalkTalk on 28 August 2014. It is on the Entertainment Extra Boost along with CI.

Since the launch of History, the company has extended its line-up with:

• Bio. in October 2000 until 4 November 2013
• CI on 10 July 2006
• Crime & Investigation Network Africa on 26 February 2007
• History HD on 26 October 2006
• History Africa on 1 December 2003
• Military History on 28 July 2008 until 4 May 2013
• H2 on 4 May 2013, replacing Military History
• Lifetime on 4 November 2013, replacing Bio.
• Lifetime Africa on 22 July 2014

In the German-speaking countries History is operated and run by The History Channel Germany GmbH & Co. KG, a joint venture between A+E Networks and NBC Universal Global Networks Germany. The channel launched as The History Channel on 15 November 2004 and changed its name into History on 11 January 2009.^[15]

History is available on the cable networks of Kabel Deutschland, Kabel BW/Unitymedia, Primacom and KabelKiosk in all German states. It is also available on cable in Austria and Switzerland.

On satellite, the channel was available on Arena. It was not available on Premiere, until that platform was renamed Sky on 4 July 2009. At the same time History HD, a high-definition version of the channel, was launched.

The channel also hosts the "History-Award", which has been given annually since 2005.

Since 1996, History is operated and distributed under the name of Canal de Historia and more recently Historia by AMC Networks International Iberia in Spain and Portugal through a joint venture with A+E Networks,^[16] owner of History. The channel had a feed in Spanish and another in Portuguese which includes dubbed English programs as well as locally produced programming.

Historia is available in Spain on Movistar+ (Spanish biggest digital television provider, through IPTV, satellite and streaming media), as well as cable networks (Telecable, R, Euskaltel), IPTV providers (Vodafone, Orange TV) as well streaming media (TotalChannel).^[17] Historia HD became available in Spain on 3 November 2015.^[18]

In Portugal, História is available through cable providers (NOS, Cabovisão) and IPTV (MEO, Vodafone).^[19] The Portuguese version of História is also available in Angola, Cape Verde and Mozambique.^{[citation needed]}

• Arqueólogo por un día (2015), where a local celebrity spends a day working with real archaeologists in an active archaeological excavation.
• La última cena (2014–2015)

• Combatentes do Ultramar (2003), dedicated to the Portuguese colonial war.
• A ultima ceia (2014–2015)

• Official Site