A+E Networks UK & Sky Align for Sky HISTORY

A+E Networks UK and Sky are set to launch Sky HISTORY in the spring of this year, re-branding the successful HISTORY channel in the U.K.

In 2019, HISTORY’s audience share was up by 11 percent, owed in part to such franchises as Curse of Oak Island and the new hit series UnXplained with William Shatner. New local commissions have included Damian Lewis: Spy Wars, James Nesbitt: Disasters That Changed Britain and Al Murray: Why Does Everyone Hate the English. Sky HISTORY will continue the investment in locally commissioned original programming.

Sky HISTORY will be available on linear TV and on-demand in the U.K. and Ireland and will also be available on streaming service NOW TV for the first time. The channel will continue to be managed and operated by the A+E Networks UK team from their Hammersmith offices.

Dean Possenniskie, managing director of A+E Networks UK, said: “We are delighted to be deepening our partnership with Sky. It is exciting to be taking the HISTORY brand to a new level in the U.K. with greater commissioning investment and broader reach. Our joint venture with Sky has been a long-standing success—this innovative brand partnership further strengthens its future.”

Zai Bennett, managing director of content at Sky, added: “The launch of Sky HISTORY will build on our existing channel portfolio and complement new channel brands Sky Documentaries and Sky Nature, which will also be coming in spring 2020. The continuation of our strong partnership with A+E Networks UK will mean more investment in premium original content and make it easier for our customers to find the shows they want to watch.”