History and BIO recorded their highest-ever ratings in 2012. The factual channels, part of the A+E Networks and BSkyB joint venture saw overall ratings to History climb by 35% on 2011. BIO’s ratings were equally impressive, rising by 34% on the previous year.
Tom Davidson, managing director at A+E Networks UK, commented: “With such impressive ratings the real challenge will be to break our records again, but I believe we have the right team and the right content to continue our impressive growth.”
History UK’s success was matched in Poland and South Africa with the flagship channel recording its best-ever year in both territories. In Poland the channel’s ratings increased a massive 219% on the previous year with the now iconic Pawn Stars (pictured) series proving the biggest draw for viewers. In South Africa it was Storage Wars again that drew the channel’s biggest audience and helped increase ratings across the network by 45%.
Crime & Investigation Network is also pulling in bigger audiences in South Africa after the channel was able to secure the top spot in the Factual section of the MultiChoice EPG, increasing its ratings 32% in the last quarter of 2012.
