History (European TV channel)
History (known as Sky History in the UK and Ireland) is a European documentary television channel which broadcasts programs related to historical events and persons. There are also reality television, ufology and paranormal programs.
Country
- Hammersmith, London (UK and Pan-Europe)
- Munich (Germany, Austria & Switzerland)
- Rome (Italy & San Marino)
- Amsterdam (Netherlands & Flanders)
- Madrid (Spain & Portugal)
History +1 (as Sky History +1 in the UK)
1 November 1995
The History Channel (1995–2008)
History (2000–2020, UK & Ireland)
Channel 123 (Sky History HD)
Channel 223 (Sky History +1)
Channel 825 (Sky History)
Channel 186 (HD)
Channel 412
Channel 191
It is a joint venture between A&E Networks UK and Sky Group with localized channels across Europe. TVT Media is responsible for signal distribution in Europe, with local subsidiaries of A&E Networks as distribution representatives on the continent.[1][2]
Programming across the channels is primarily in English and where available subtitled or dubbed into regional languages. The channel is available through a number of satellite, cable, terrestrial and IPTV distributors across Europe, the Middle East and South Africa. In some countries, advertisements and announcements between programs are localized.
On 6 November 2018, in the wake of the Disney-Fox merger, the European Commission required The Walt Disney Company to sell A&E's European channels, including History.[3]
History has separate versions for Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Portugal:
Other International Territories[edit]
The HD version was launching across Europe from October 2007,[16] beginning in the Nordic region on 13 December 2007, offering a schedule separate from the standard-definition version.[17] In January 2008, History Channel HD launched in the Netherlands.[18]
Like with the UK channel, the International networks were rebranded in November 2008.[19] and the high-definition channel became History HD.
[edit]
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).
History Germany[edit]
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.[26] Since 1 June 2017 the channel is fully owned by A&E Networks Germany.[27]
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.
History Netherlands and Flanders[edit]
History Channel launched in the Netherlands and Flanders on 1 May 2007.[28][29]
RTL Nederland (now Ad Alliance) became responsible for advertising sales on 1 January 2016.[30] 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.[31]