US media company A+E Networks will launch its pay-TV channel A&E in German-speaking Europe, Iberia and Africa this autumn.
The channel will premiere to 10 million households across Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal and Portuguese-speaking Africa, replacing sister service BIO, Dean Possenniskie, managing director EMEA of A+E Networks, announced in New York.
A&E offers a mix of non-fictional original productions such as Wahlburgers, Duck Dynasty, Storage Wars, Barry’d Treasure, Bad Ink and Big Smo. The channel will also feature locally commissioned productions and local acquisitions.
“These A&E launches will significantly strengthen our channel portfolio across German-speaking Europe, Iberia and Africa,” said Possenniskie. “In the US, A&E is recognised as a leading creator of quality content that features one-of-a-kind characters and fresh, innovative storytelling. We are very pleased to bring this acclaimed programming to a wider audience in EMEA.”
The launch marks the debut of A&E in Africa and follows the brand’s European debut in France in November 2013. The changeover of BIO to A&E in German-speaking Europe is scheduled for late September with Iberia and Africa to follow in early October.
A&E launched in the US in February 1984 and is currently available in over 75 countries around the world. The channel family of A+E Networks, a joint-venture between Disney-ABC Television Group and Hearst Corporation, also includes, for example, History, Crime + Investigation and Lifetime.
