CI HD, BIO HD Expand into Europe

NEW YORK/LONDON, October 13: Crime & Investigation
Network HD (CI HD) and The Biography Channel HD (BIO HD) will now be carried on
Sky’s high-definition platform in the U.K. and Ireland, and will be operated by
The History Channel UK, a joint venture between A&E Television Networks
(AETN) and Sky.

Both CI HD and BIO HD will offer separate schedules from the
standard-definition services. CI HD will feature series such as Rookies, Crime 360, Gangland and Mobsters, as well as locally produced and acquired programs.
BIO is home to the Emmy Award-winning Biography series, as well as I Survived and Parking Wars. Locally produced and acquired programs will also be featured on BIO
HD.

With the addition of CI HD and BIO HD on November 5, Sky
will offer a total of 28 dedicated high-definition channels and broadcast more
than 10,000 hours of HD entertainment a month.

“We’re passionate about HD and the benefits it brings our
subscribers, and we are delighted to be able to capitalize on the success of
History HD on Sky with the launch of these two great channels,” said Richard
Melman, the acting managing director of The History Channel UK.

“We are very excited about the launch of Crime &
Investigation Network and BIO HD in the U.K., marking HD service firsts for
both brands outside the U.S.,” added Sean Cohan, the senior VP of international
for AETN. “These launches are yet another milestone reached this year by our
U.K. joint venture, which launched the first international Military History
over the summer and launched the first international History HD. We expect that
CI and BIO HD will captivate viewers with great storytelling and a truly
enhanced viewing experience.”

Hilary Perchard, the head of advanced products at Sky,
commented, “We’re extremely pleased to welcome CI HD and BIO HD to Sky+HD.
Since launching Sky+HD the service has continued to go from strength to
strength and remains the most successful HD service anywhere in Europe. We have
a commitment to offer our customers the best lineup of quality HD content right
across the platform. Clearly the addition of innovative channels such as CI HD
and Bio HD will only serve to deliver even more value to our growing base of
Sky+HD homes.”

—By Kristin Brzoznowski