Crime & Investigation Network to Launch in Sub-Saharan Africa

NEW YORK/LONDON/JOHANNESBURG, February 16: The History Channel U.K.—a joint venture of A&E Television Networks and BSkyB—will launch Crime & Investigation Network in Sub-Saharan Africa, including South Africa, with MultiChoice Africa on February 26.

Crime & Investigation Network is the second channel from The History Channel U.K. and AETN available on MultiChoice; The History Channel rolled out on the service in December 2003.

Crime & Investigation Network will be carried on DStv to more than 1.4 million subscribers in 55 countries. The channel will be transmitted in English, and programming, marketing and operations will be managed by The History Channel U.K.

The network strives to become the ultimate destination for viewers looking to unearth the “real story” behind the headlines, opening doors to crime labs, police archives, and courtrooms; providing a behind-the scenes look at criminal investigations; and probing unexplained mysteries while examining the lives of infamous murders and villains through investigative series, documentaries and specials from AETN, along with locally acquired and produced programming. Among the series that will air on the channel in Africa are The Criminal Mind, Cold Case Files, Crime Central and Diagnosis Unknown. Local content will include series such as South African Stranger: Moses Sithole.

Aletta Alberts, MultiChoice South Africa’s general manager for content, commented, “The History Channel has enjoyed unprecedented success in our market and we are confident that the Crime and Investigation Network will enjoy the same success. We believe that the addition of the Crime and Investigation Network will be a great asset to our bouquet as we continually strive to provide our viewers with high quality content that is both entertaining and informative.”