Editing History Channel

{{Short description|US-based international cable and satellite TV channel}}
{{Other uses|History (disambiguation)#Television}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{Infobox television channel
| name = History 
| logo            = History (2021).svg
| logo_size       = 150px
| launch_date     = {{Start date and age|1995|01|01}}
| closed_date     =
| logo_caption    = 
| owner           = [[A&E Networks]]
| country         = [[United States]]
| headquarters    = 235 E. 45th St., [[New York City]], [[New York (state)|New York]], U.S.
| area            = Nationwide
| picture_format  = {{plainlist|
* [[1080i]] ([[High-definition television|HDTV]])
* {{small|Downgraded to [[Letterboxing (filming)|letterboxed]] [[480i]] for [[Standard-definition television|SDTV]] feed}}}}
| former_names    = <!--The History Channel<br>{{small|(1995–2008)}}-->
| sister_channels = {{plainlist|
* [[Military History (TV channel)|Military History]]
* [[History en Español]]
* [[History TV18]]
}}
| website         = {{URL|www.history.com}}
| online_serv_1 = Service(s)
| online_chan_1   = [[Philo (company)|Philo]], [[Frndly TV]], [[Sling TV]], [[DirecTV Stream]], [[Hulu|Hulu + Live TV]], [[Vidgo]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://support.history.com/hc/en-us/articles/1500004654261-I-don-t-have-a-TV-package-Can-I-subscribe-directly-to-HISTORY-|title=I don't have a TV package. Can I subscribe directly to HISTORY? – HISTORY|access-date=December 14, 2023|archive-date=December 4, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231204161901/https://support.history.com/hc/en-us/articles/1500004654261-I-don-t-have-a-TV-package-Can-I-subscribe-directly-to-HISTORY-|url-status=live}}</ref>
}}
'''History''' (formerly and commonly known as the '''History Channel''') is an American [[pay television]] [[television broadcaster|network]] and the [[flagship channel]] of [[A&E Networks]], a [[joint venture]] between [[Hearst Communications]] and the [[Disney General Entertainment Content|General Entertainment Content]] division of [[The Walt Disney Company]]'s [[Disney Entertainment]] segment.

The network was originally focused on history-based, social/science documentaries as well as the news. During the late 2000s, the History Channel pivoted into [[reality television]] programming. In addition to this change in format, the network has been criticized by many scientists, historians, and skeptics for broadcasting [[pseudo-documentaries]] and [[pseudoscientific]], unsubstantiated, sensational investigative programming.

{{As of|2023|11}}, the History Channel is available to approximately 63,000,000 pay television households in the United States-down from its 2011 peak of 99,000,000 households.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://wrestlenomics.com/u-s-cable-network-households-universe-1990-2023-nielsen-data/|title=U.S. cable network households (universe), 1990 – 2023|website=wrestlenomics.com|date=May 14, 2024|access-date=July 28, 2019|url-status=live|archive-date=December 31, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231231073226/https://wrestlenomics.com/u-s-cable-network-households-universe-1990-2023-nielsen-data/}}</ref> International localized versions of the History Channel are available, in various forms, in India, Canada, Europe, Australia, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Latin America.

==History==
===Twentieth century===
[[File:The History Channel logo.png|thumb|upright=1.1|The History Channel's original logo used from January 1, 1995 to February 15, 2008, with the slogan "Where the past comes alive." In the station's early years, the red background was not there, and later it sometimes appeared blue (in documentaries), light green (in biographies), purple (in sitcoms), yellow (in reality shows), or orange (in short form content) instead of red.]]
The company indicated that plans for a history channel were in the works in 1993, it purchased the Lou Reda Productions documentary library and long-term rights for the Hearst Entertainment documentaries archive. The History Channel was launched on January 1, 1995, initially owned by A&E Television Networks. Its UK counterpart in a partnership with British Sky Broadcasting (''now'' [[Sky UK]]), followed on November 1, 1995.<ref name=idc>{{cite book |title=International Directory of Company Histories, Vol. 32 |date=2000 |publisher=St. James Press |via=Funding Universe.com |url=http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/a-e-television-networks-history/ |access-date=December 4, 2013 |chapter=A & E Television Networks History |archive-date=October 24, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131024082856/http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/a-e-television-networks-history/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Its original format focused entirely on historical series and [[television special|specials]].

During the 1990s, the History Channel was jokingly referred to as "The [[Hitler]] Channel" for its extensive coverage of [[World War II]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Schone |first1=Mark |title=Media Circus: All Hitler all the time |url=https://www.salon.com/test/1997/05/08/media_90/ |access-date=May 27, 2020 |work=Salon |date=May 8, 1997 |language=en |archive-date=August 1, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200801164928/https://www.salon.com/test/1997/05/08/media_90/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Since then, much of its military-themed programming has been shifted to its sister network [[Military History (TV channel)|Military History]].

A&E Networks considered the History Channel to be the driver in international expansion due to a lack of international rights to A&E international co-productions. As expected, the History Channel led A&E's overseas expansion in Brazil with TVA (April 1996), the Nordic and Baltic regions with Modern Times Group (1997), and in Canada (1997).<ref name=idc/>

The History Channel expanded in 1998 into tours of US landmarks with Mayflower Tours having an affiliated website (historytravel.com), ''History Channel Traveler'', and a planned quarterly magazine. While in October, the History Channel and [[MSG Network]] teamed up to produce several short-form sports history programs. A&E launched History International as a spin-off from the History Channel in November 1998, which was renamed H2 in 2011.<ref name=idc/>

===Twenty-first century===
[[File:History Logo 2008-2015.svg|thumb|upright=1.1|History's logo used from February 16, 2008 to May 31, 2015: The second logo does not have the triangle on the side of the H.]]
[[File:History Logo.svg|thumb|upright=1.1|History's third logo used from June 1, 2015 to December 6, 2021]]
On February 16, 2008, a new logo was launched on the U.S. network as part of a rebranding effort. While the trademark "H" was kept, the triangle shape on the left acts as a play button for animation and flyouts during commercials and shows. On March 20, 2008, as part of that same rebranding effort, the History Channel dropped "The" and "Channel" from its name to become simply "History".<ref>International Herald Tribune [http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/03/20/arts/TV-History-Channel.php Television's The History Channel Drops 'The' and 'Channel' from Its Name, Keeps History] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080804054616/http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/03/20/arts/TV-History-Channel.php |date=August 4, 2008 }} March 20, 2008</ref>

In 2012, half of A&E would be purchased by [[The Walt Disney Company]] and the other half by [[Hearst Communications]], also putting History under their joint ownership.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lakritz |first=Talia |title=14 companies you didn't realize Disney owns |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/companies-disney-owns |access-date=2024-02-17 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US |archive-date=February 16, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240216050818/https://www.businessinsider.com/companies-disney-owns |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2015, the channel would undergo another rebranding, this time by Joseph Kiely. The slogan of this rebranding was "Make Your Mark.” The logo was slightly changed, but retained the golden letter 'H' that had become synonymous with the channel.<ref>{{Cite web |title=History Channel global rebrand & manifesto |url=https://kielydesign.com/portfolio/history-channel-rebrand-manifesto/ |access-date=2024-04-25 |website=KIELY DESIGN |language=en-US |archive-date=February 17, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240217210059/https://kielydesign.com/portfolio/history-channel-rebrand-manifesto/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

The "History 100" documentary initiative was announced in March 2018 that would produce 100 documentaries covering major events and notable figures from last 100 years.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Littleton |first1=Cynthia |title=History Sets 'History 100' Docu Film Series, Evel Knievel Stunt Special |url=https://variety.com/2018/tv/news/history-100-evel-knievel-documentary-films-werner-herzog-1202727441/ |access-date=May 27, 2020 |work=Variety |date=March 15, 2018 |language=en |archive-date=July 16, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200716210418/https://variety.com/2018/tv/news/history-100-evel-knievel-documentary-films-werner-herzog-1202727441/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

On December 7, 2021, History received a major rebrand for the first time since February 16, 2008. The logo still kept the golden letter 'H' that had been used since its launch in 1995.

==H2==
{{Infobox television channel
| name = H2
| logo = [[file:History2 logo (2022).svg|200px|frameless|class=skin-invert]]
| logo_size = 150px
| logo_caption = 
| image = 
| launch_date = {{start date|1998|11|16}}
| closed_date = {{End date|2016|2|29}}
| picture_format = [[NTSC]]<br />[[HDTV]] [[1080i]]
| owner = [[A&E Networks]]
| country = United States
| language = English
| area = Nationwide
| headquarters = [[New York City]], [[New York (state)|New York]]
| former_names = History International (1998-2011)
| replaced = 
| replaced_by = [[Vice (TV channel)|Viceland]]
}}

'''H2''' was an American [[specialty channel|specialty]] television channel that was owned by A&E Networks, available on multi-channel television providers in the United States. It was launched on November 16, 1998 as '''History International''' (abbreviated as "HI" or variations on "H-INT"), a spin-off of the History Channel that focused on international history.<ref>{{cite news|title=A&E unveils digital networks |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/98-OCR/BC-1998-11-16-OCR-Page-0136.pdf |access-date=8 August 2021 |work=[[Broadcasting & Cable]]|date=November 16, 1998 |page=56}}</ref> On launch, History International occasionally featured shows in languages other than [[English language|English]], such as [[French language|French]] or [[Spanish language|Spanish]] for use with the [[NCTA (association)|National Cable & Telecommunications Association]]'s [[Cable in the Classroom]] initiative. By 2010, this was reduced to an hour-long Spanish language program on weekday mornings titled {{Lang|es-US|El Canal de Historia}} (the English translation of ''The History Channel'').

On September 26, 2011, the network was rebranded as '''H2''', with its programming being refocused to feature documentary content from the main History channel prior to its shift towards more reality programming, along with original programs (such as the special ''The Universe: Beyond the Big Bang'' and the first-run series ''America's Book of Secrets''<ref>[http://www.history.com/shows/americas-book-of-secrets, America's Book of Secrets]</ref>), as well as exclusive new episodes of the former History series ''[[The Universe (TV series)|The Universe]]'', ''[[Ancient Aliens]]'' and ''[[Modern Marvels]]'', in addition to international-focused programming. H2 did not have plans to add reality series as its sister channel has done.<ref>[http://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/news-articles/exclusive-new-network-name-becomes-history/112395 EXCLUSIVE: New Network Name Becomes History - Additional programming planned as H2 replaces HI] ''Broadcasting & Cable'', September 2, 2011</ref> Newer documentaries more recently seen on History migrated to the network as part of the rebrand, which would rotate with the documentaries from History International that primarily span from the mid-1990s to the mid-2000s.

In August 2014, A&E Networks acquired a 10% stake in [[Vice Media]], and on November 3, 2015, A&E announced that H2 would be "replaced" by [[Vice on TV|Viceland]], a new lifestyle-focused network programmed by Vice Media.<ref name="thr-viceland">{{cite web|title=It's Official: Vice Channel to Take Over A+E Networks' History Spinoff H2|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/vice-channel-replace-historys-h2-836322|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=3 November 2015 |access-date=29 February 2016}}</ref><ref name="nyt-viceland">{{cite news|title=Viceland, a New Cable Channel, Aims to Stand Out|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/29/arts/television/viceland-a-new-cable-channel-aims-to-stand-out.html?_r=0|access-date=29 February 2016|work=The New York Times| date=28 February 2016 | last1=Hale | first1=Mike }}</ref><ref name="deadline-vicerebrand">{{cite web|title=A+E Networks' H2 To Be Rebranded As Vice|url=https://deadline.com/2015/04/h2-rebranded-vice-ae-networks-1201417766/|website=Deadline|date=29 April 2015 |access-date=29 February 2016}}</ref> H2 signed off on February 29, 2016 at 6:00&nbsp;a.m. ET, being replaced by pre-launch programming for Viceland.<ref name="variety-newspaper">{{cite news|title=To Get People To Watch Viceland On TV, Vice Uses A Newspaper|url=https://variety.com/2016/tv/news/viceland-cable-launch-vice-newspaper-advertising-1201694756/|access-date=29 February 2016|work=Variety}}</ref><ref name="multichannel-vicelandlaunch">{{cite web|title=Viceland Makes Its Cable Debut|url=http://www.multichannel.com/news/content/viceland-makes-it-cable-debut/402903|website=Multichannel News|date=29 February 2016 |access-date=29 February 2016}}</ref>

{{As of|January 2016}}, H2 was available to 70.1 million households in the United States.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/content/cable-network-coverage-area-household-universe-estimates-january-2016/153590 |title=Cable Network Coverage Area Household Universe Estimates: January 2016 |access-date=2019-02-28 |archive-date=2016-10-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161014042010/http://www.broadcastingcable.com/content/cable-network-coverage-area-household-universe-estimates-january-2016/153590 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

== Programming ==
{{Main|List of programs broadcast by the History Channel}}
Programming on the History Channel has covered a wide range of [[History by period|historical periods]] and topics, while similar themed topics are often organized into themed weeks or daily marathons. Subjects include [[warfare]], [[invention]]s, [[aviation]], [[mechanical engineering|mechanical]] and [[civil engineering]], [[technology]], [[science]], [[nature]], [[artist]]s, [[composer]]s, [[author]]s, [[mythical creatures]], [[monster]]s, [[unidentified flying object]]s, [[conspiracy theory|conspiracy theories]], [[Extraterrestrials in fiction|aliens]], [[religion|religious beliefs]], [[disaster]] scenarios, [[apocalypse|apocalyptic]] "after man" scenarios, [[survivalist|survival]] scenarios, [[alternate history]], [[dinosaurs]], [[Human extinction|doomsday]], [[organized crime]], [[secret societies]], and [[2012 Phenomenon|2012]] superstitions. Occasionally, some programs compare contemporary culture and technology with that of the past.<ref name="EdgertonRollins2001">Gary Richard Edgerton; Peter C. Rollins. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=0QMpg0GGnDQC&pg=PA261 Television Histories: Shaping Collective Memory in the Media Age]''. University Press of Kentucky; 2001. {{ISBN|0-8131-7111-3}}. pp. 261 ff.</ref>

The channel's programming would expand into scripted dramas with the premiere [[Vikings (2013 TV series)|''Vikings'']] in 2013.<ref name="Irish Film Board March 5, 2013">{{cite web | url=http://www.irishfilmboard.ie/irish_film_industry/news/VIKINGS_Tops_The_Ratings_With_83_Million_Viewers/2149 | title=VIKINGS Tops The Ratings With 8.3 Million Viewers | publisher=Irish Film Board | date=March 5, 2013 | access-date=March 11, 2015 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130328133730/http://www.irishfilmboard.ie/irish_film_industry/news/VIKINGS_Tops_The_Ratings_With_83_Million_Viewers/2149 | archive-date=March 28, 2013 | df=mdy-all }}</ref>

== Criticism and evaluations ==
Initially, the network received mixed reviews.  In an article from the American Historical Association released about a year into the channel's lifespan, the channel's historical consultant Libby Haight O' Connell noted that professional historians have been enlisted to work on the channel's programs and many letters have come in from viewers both pointing out historical errors and opening up discussion with the channel creators about the events portrayed in the channel's programs.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The History Channel and History Education {{!}} Perspectives on History {{!}} AHA |url=https://www.historians.org/research-and-publications/perspectives-on-history/october-1995/the-history-channel-and-history-education |access-date=2024-04-25 |website=www.historians.org |archive-date=February 17, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240217210057/https://www.historians.org/research-and-publications/perspectives-on-history/october-1995/the-history-channel-and-history-education |url-status=live }}</ref>

However, in recent years the network has been criticized for having a bias towards [[history of the United States|US history]]. Another former sister network, [[Vice on TV|History International]], more extensively covered history outside the US until 2011, when it was re-branded as [[H2 (American TV channel)|H2]] and started broadcasting more material that had to do with US history.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.channel4.com/history/microsites/H/history/guide03/explore1.html|title=Time traveler's guide to the Roman Empire|publisher=Channel4.com|quote=The History Channel: The website of the American cable channel has a bias towards American history, as evidenced by Extreme History with Roger Daltrey|access-date=August 4, 2007|archive-date=December 30, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091230162415/http://www.channel4.com/history/microsites/H/history/guide03/explore1.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Stanley Kutner criticized the network for the series ''[[The Men Who Killed Kennedy]]'' in 2003. Kutner was one of three historians commissioned to review the documentary, which the channel disavowed and never aired again.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hnn.us/articles/4504.html|title=Why the History Channel Had to Apologize for the Documentary that Blamed LBJ for JFK's Murder|first=Stanley|last=Kutner|publisher=History News Network|date=July 4, 2004|access-date=August 4, 2007|quote=The History Channel has made a start in the right direction as it has totally disavowed the program and publicly promised it never will be shown again.|archive-date=August 30, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110830105854/http://hnn.us/articles/4504.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Programs such as ''[[Modern Marvels]]'' have been praised for their presentation of detailed information in an entertaining format.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/read.php?ID=28158|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120729141847/http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/read.php?ID=28158|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 29, 2012|title=Modern Marvels: Technology|first=Scott|last=Weinberg|work=DVD Talk|date=May 29, 2007|access-date=August 4, 2007|quote=If you're trying to throw your kids a little education, but in a fast-paced and colorful presentation, these "Modern Marvels" series come pretty highly recommended. Then again, I'm a mid-30s guy and I'm learning tons of new stuff from these programs.}}</ref>

Some of the network's series, including ''[[Ice Road Truckers]]'', ''[[Ax Men]]'', and ''[[Pawn Stars]]'', garnered increased viewership ratings in the United States, while receiving criticism over the series' [[Channel drift|nonhistorical nature]]. US Senator [[Chuck Grassley]] is a critic of the channel and its lack of historical or educational programming, showing particular disdain for the latter two programs.<ref>Malone, Noreen (March 20, 2012). [http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2012/03/brief-history-of-chuck-grassleys-history-with-the-history-channel.html A brief history of Chuck Grassley's history with the History Channel] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120322225624/http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2012/03/brief-history-of-chuck-grassleys-history-with-the-history-channel.html |date=March 22, 2012 }}. ''New York'' magazine. Retrieved April 2, 2012.</ref>

Professor Jeremy Stoddard, in his article published in 2010, raised the concern that the productions of the network presented value-laden perspectives which may mislead audiences, a phenomenon he termed "the History Channel effect".<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal |last=Stoddard |first=Jeremy D. |date=2010 |title=The History Channel Effect |url=http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/003172171009100420 |journal=Phi Delta Kappan |language=en |volume=91 |issue=4 |pages=80 |doi=10.1177/003172171009100420 |s2cid=143989861 |issn=0031-7217 |access-date=July 5, 2022 |archive-date=July 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220705224428/https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/003172171009100420 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription }}</ref> Stoddard also claimed that the History Channel did not contribute to this phenomenon alone, but rather, it was caused by the misperception that [[Documentary film|documentaries]] are "objective sources of history".<ref name=":1" />

In 2011, ''[[Forbes]]'' staffer Alex Knapp wrote, "The History Channel shouldn't run stuff like this 'ancient astronaut' nonsense."<ref name="Knapp">[https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexknapp/2011/09/19/an-archaeologist-watches-the-history-channel-and-questions-the-part-about-the-aliens/#7ab97e483e65 An archaeologist watches the History Channel and questions the part about Ancient Aliens] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210825212211/https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexknapp/2011/09/19/an-archaeologist-watches-the-history-channel-and-questions-the-part-about-the-aliens/#7ab97e483e65 |date=August 25, 2021 }}, ''[[Forbes]]'', Alex Knapp, September 19, 2011. Retrieved July 12, 2017.</ref> ''Forbes'' contributor Brad Lockwood criticized the channel's addition of "programs devoted to monsters, aliens, and conspiracies", attributing a perceived intent of boosting ratings to the network's decision to focus on [[pseudoarchaeology]] instead of documented facts.<ref name="Forbes">{{cite news|last=Lockwood|first=Brad|title=High Ratings Aside, Where's the History on History?|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/bradlockwood/2011/10/17/high-ratings-aside-wheres-the-history-on-history/|work=Forbes|access-date=March 21, 2012|archive-date=October 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171019222158/https://www.forbes.com/sites/bradlockwood/2011/10/17/high-ratings-aside-wheres-the-history-on-history/|url-status=live}}</ref> Knapp refers readers to the ''Bad Archaeology'' website's founder Keith Fitzpatrick-Matthews who comments, "I find it incredible and frightening that a worldwide distributed television channel ...can broadcast such rubbish as ''[[Ancient Aliens]]''."<ref name="Knapp" /> Archaeologist [[Kenneth Feder]], author of ''Frauds, Myths, and Mysteries: Science and Pseudoscience in Archaeology'',<ref>Feder, K. (1990). ''Frauds, Myths, and Mysteries: Science and Pseudoscience in Archaeology''. New York, McGraw-Hill Humanities/Social Sciences/Languages {{ISBN|978-0078116971}}</ref> called the channel's hosting the [[Ancient astronauts|ancient astronaut]] theory "execrable bullshit".<ref>"[http://www.skeptic.com/podcasts/monstertalk/11/07/27/transcript/ Ancient Alien Astronauts: Interview with Ken Feder] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190831113940/https://www.skeptic.com/podcasts/monstertalk/11/07/27/transcript/ |date=August 31, 2019 }}." Retrieved July 17, 2017.</ref>

In his book ''2012: It's Not the End of the World'', Peter Lemesurier describes the channel's ''[[Nostradamus]]'' series, in which he was invited to participate, as "largely fiction" and "lurid nonsense".<ref name="Lemesurier2011">{{citation|first=Peter|last=Lemesurier|title=2012: It's Not the End of the World|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Fi_QygAACAAJ|date=July 2011|publisher=Derwen Publishing|isbn=978-1-907084-15-7|page=91|access-date=January 17, 2020|archive-date=June 6, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240606003323/https://books.google.com/books?id=Fi_QygAACAAJ|url-status=live}}</ref> He also lists numerous allusions made in its films to the alleged Mayan "end of the world" and the "rare" galactic alignment that was supposed by [[John Major Jenkins]] to accompany it in [[2012 Phenomenon|2012]],<ref name="Lemesurier2011" /> while Jenkins himself has described ''[[Decoding the Past]]'' as "45 minutes of unabashed doomsday hype and the worst kind of inane [[sensationalism]]."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.alignment2012.com/historychannel.html|title=How Not to Make a 2012 Documentary|date=July 28, 2006|access-date=September 22, 2006|archive-date=November 5, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061105013745/http://www.alignment2012.com/historychannel.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In December 2011, [[Politifact]] gave the History Channel's claim that the [[United States Congress]] stayed open on [[Christmas Day]] for most of its first 67 years of existence a "pants on fire" rating, the lowest of its ratings, noting that its own research showed that both the [[United States Senate|Senate]] and the [[United States House|House]] had only convened once in those 67 years on a Christmas Day. It noted that because one in seven Christmases falls on a Sunday (when Congress does not meet to allow members  to attend church), the claim is "ridiculous".<ref name="Pf">{{cite web|title=Comic Jon Stewart says Congress met most Christmas Days in its early years|url=http://www.politifact.com/rhode-island/statements/2011/dec/09/jon-stewart/comic-jon-stewart-says-early-congress-met-most-chr/|publisher=[[Politifact]]|access-date=January 21, 2012|date=December 11, 2011|archive-date=January 21, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120121193402/http://www.politifact.com/rhode-island/statements/2011/dec/09/jon-stewart/comic-jon-stewart-says-early-congress-met-most-chr/|url-status=live}}</ref> The claim had first been broadcast on the History Channel program ''Christmas Unwrapped – The History of Christmas'' before being subsequently picked up by the [[American Civil Liberties Union]]'s website on the "Origins of Christmas" and by the [[Comedy Central]] series ''[[The Daily Show]]''.<ref name="Pf" /> ''Daily Show'' host [[Jon Stewart]] responded the next day by stating it was their fault for trusting the History Channel and satirized a clip from the History Channel about UFOs and Nazis by stating, "The next thing you know we'll all find out the Nazis did not employ alien technology in their quest for world domination."<ref name="HP">{{cite news|title=Jon Stewart Fires Back At Politifact Over War On Christmas|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/13/jon-stewart-politifact-war-on-christmas_n_1146118.html|work=Huffington Post|access-date=January 21, 2012|date=December 13, 2011|first=Katherine|last=Fung|archive-date=June 6, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240606003407/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/jon-stewart-politifact-war-on-christmas_n_1146118|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Daily">{{cite web|last=Stewart|first=Jon|title=War on Christmas - Historical Fact-Checking|url=http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/mon-december-12-2011/war-on-christmas-historical-fact-checking|work=[[The Daily Show with Jon Stewart]]|publisher=[[Comedy Central]]|access-date=March 24, 2013|date=December 12, 2011|archive-date=June 6, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240606003340/https://www.cc.com/shows/the-daily-show-with-trevor-noah|url-status=live}}</ref>

The History Channel was also singled out in a post for ''[[Smithsonian (magazine)|Smithsonian]]'' magazine. Science writer Riley Black took issue with the show ''[[Ancient Aliens]]'' for postulating the "idea that aliens caused the [[Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event|extinction of non-avian dinosaurs]]."<ref>{{Cite web|last=Black|first=Riley|date=2012-05-11|title=The Idiocy, Fabrications and Lies of Ancient Aliens|url=https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/the-idiocy-fabrications-and-lies-of-ancient-aliens-86294030/|access-date=2021-05-24|website=[[Smithsonian Institution|Smithsonian]]|archive-date=May 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210517220721/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/the-idiocy-fabrications-and-lies-of-ancient-aliens-86294030/|url-status=live}}</ref> The online magazine ''[[Cracked.com|Cracked]]'' also lampooned the channel for its strange definition of history. ''Cracked'' singled out the programs ''[[UFO Hunters]]'' and ''Ancient Aliens'' as being the very definition of non-history by presenting [[pseudoscience]] and [[pseudohistory]].<ref>{{cite web |last=West |first=Zach |date=June 30, 2010 |title=The History Channel |url=http://www.cracked.com/funny-5720-the-history-channel/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201126040750/https://www.cracked.com/funny-5720-the-history-channel/ |archive-date=November 26, 2020 |access-date=March 13, 2016 |website=Cracked}}</ref> In 2015, skeptic [[Brian Dunning (author)|Brian Dunning]] listed it at #2 on a "Top 10 Worst Anti-Science Websites" list.<ref>{{Skeptoid|id=4495|number=495|title= Updated: Top 10 Worst Anti-Science Websites |access-date=October 23, 2020|date=December 1, 2015|quote=2. History.com (...promoting flagrant pseudohistory...)}}</ref>

=== Amelia Earhart documentary controversy ===
{{Main|Amelia Earhart: The Lost Evidence}}
In 2017, a History Channel documentary, ''[[Amelia Earhart: The Lost Evidence]]'', proposed that a photograph in the National Archives of [[Jaluit Atoll]] in the [[Marshall Islands]] was actually a picture of a captured [[Amelia Earhart]] and [[Fred Noonan]]. The picture showed a Caucasian male on a dock who appeared to look like Noonan and a woman sitting on the dock, but facing away from the camera, who was judged to have a physique and haircut resembling Earhart's. The documentary theorizes that the photo was taken after Earhart and Noonan crashed at [[Mili Atoll]]. The documentary also said that physical evidence recovered from Mili matches pieces that could have fallen off an Electra during a crash or subsequent overland move to a barge. ''The Lost Evidence'' proposed that a Japanese ship seen in the photograph was the ''Koshu Maru'', a Japanese military ship.

''The Lost Evidence'' was soon discredited after Japanese blogger Kota Yamano found the original source of the photograph in the archives in the [[National Diet Library]] Digital Collection.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2017/07/amelia-earhart-lost-photograph-discredited-spd/| title=Amelia Earhart 'Lost Photograph' Discredited| last=Greshko| first=Michael| website=nationalgeographic.com| date=July 11, 2017| access-date=August 14, 2018|url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171223131301/https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2017/07/amelia-earhart-lost-photograph-discredited-spd/| archive-date=December 23, 2017}}</ref> The original source of the photo was a Japanese travel guide published in October 1935, implying that the photograph was taken in 1935 or before, thus it would be unrelated to Earhart and Noonan's 1937 disappearance. Additionally, the researcher who discovered the photo also identified the ship in the right of the photo as another ship called ''[[Kōshū (survey ship)|Koshu]]'' seized by [[Allies of World War I|Allied]] Japanese forces in World War I and not the ''Koshu Maru''.<ref name="nprdebunk">{{cite news|last1=Domonoske|first1=Camila|title=Japanese Blogger Points Out Timeline Flaw In Supposed Earhart Photo|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/07/11/536620463/japanese-blogger-points-out-timeline-flaw-in-supposed-earhart-photo|access-date=July 11, 2017|publisher=NPR|language=en|archive-date=July 11, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170711162559/http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/07/11/536620463/japanese-blogger-points-out-timeline-flaw-in-supposed-earhart-photo|url-status=live}}</ref>

Researcher [[Ben Radford]] performed a detailed analysis of the mistakes made by ''The History Channel'' in building their documentary on bad photographic evidence. In his ''[[Skeptical Inquirer]]'' article "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Emmys: An Amelia Earhart Special (Non) Mystery Post-Mortem", critiquing the network's lack of professionalism, Radford said: "Given that the photograph's provenance was established and thus the key premise of the show discredited in about half an hour of Google searching, it will be interesting to see what world class expertise... the History Channel will bring to their reinvestigation of Earhart's disappearance."<ref>{{cite web|last1=Radford|first1=Ben|author-link1=Benjamin Radford|title=A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Emmys: An Amelia Earhart Special (Non)Mystery Post-Mortem|url=https://www.csicop.org/specialarticles/show/an_amelia_earhart_special_mystery |website=Csicop.org|publisher=CFI|access-date=December 9, 2017|archive-date=December 9, 2017|date=July 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171209222238/https://www.csicop.org/specialarticles/show/an_amelia_earhart_special_mystery|url-status=live}}</ref> On episode 82 of his ''Squaring the Strange'' podcast, released January 4, 2019, Radford reminded listeners that in excess of 18 months had passed without an apology or explanation from the History Channel as to "how their research went so horribly wrong."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Radford |first1=Ben |author-link=Ben Radford |title=Episode 82 - Grab Bag 2018 |url=http://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/id/8129540/tdest_id/607796 |publisher=Libsyn |access-date=January 12, 2019 |archive-date=February 7, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190207072548/https://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/id/8129540/tdest_id/607796 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="csicop-robpalmer">{{cite web |last1=Palmer |first1=Rob |title=Squaring the Skeptic with Celestia Ward (Part 2) |url=https://www.csicop.org/specialarticles/show/squaring_the_skeptic_with_celestia_ward_part_2 |website=Skeptical Inquirer |date=January 25, 2019 |publisher=Committee for Skeptical Inquiry |access-date=February 5, 2019 |archive-date=January 29, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190129032708/https://www.csicop.org/specialarticles/show/squaring_the_skeptic_with_celestia_ward_part_2 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Military History Channel==
{{Infobox television channel
| name = Military History
| logo = [[file:Mhistory.png|class=skin-invert]]
| logo_size = 100px
| launch_date = {{Start date and age|2005|01|05}}
| closed_date =
| picture_format = [[480i]] ([[Standard-definition television|SDTV]])<br />(most current-day programming presented in widescreen [[letterboxing (filming)|letterbox]])
| owner = [[A&E Networks]]
| country = United States
| language = English
| headquarters = [[New York, New York|New York]], New York
| former_names = Military History Channel (2005–08)
| online_serv_1 = Services
| online_chan_1 = [[Hulu|Hulu + Live TV]], [[Frndly TV]], [[Philo (company)|Philo]]
| website =
}}

'''Military History''' is a niche spin-off from the History channel that features reruns of programs about the [[military history|history of the military]] and significant combat events. The channel's main competitor is Warner Bros. Discovery's [[American Heroes Channel]], formerly the Military Channel.<ref name=vty/>

===History===
Military History was launched on January 5, 2005, after demand for more military history programs. Beginning on March 27, 2004, a military-history programming block started on now defunct network [[History International]] as a prologue. The launch was an open preview, or soft launch, as no cable operators were signed up. Dan Davids, president of the History Channel USA, planned to push for digital basic level cable carriage. Its initial programming library drew from A&E and History's programs. The channel's initial prime time shows were under an umbrella banner of “Battle History”, which consisted of five documentary miniseries featuring each of the US military services. In the second quarter of 2005, the channel had its hard launch.<ref name=vty>{{cite news|last1=Dempsey|first1=John|title=Joining cable ranks|url=https://variety.com/2005/scene/markets-festivals/joining-cable-ranks-1117915595/|access-date=July 15, 2017|work=Variety|date=January 2, 2005}}</ref>

Like its parent channel, the channel dropped the word "Channel" from its name on March 20, 2008. Its carriage is limited to expanded tier and add-on pay-TV packages as a niche offering, and it is one of the few mainstream American cable channels in English still carried only in standard definition.

===Programming===
{{Main|List of programs broadcast by the History Channel}}
Military History features programs that focus on historical battles and wars, as well as programs that profile key individuals such as generals, soldiers and spies. It also airs documentaries and series that provide insight into how these wars were fought and the lives of those who served in them.

Its programming library draws from A&E and History's program libraries<ref name=vty/> with an emphasis on [[World War II]].

==History en Español==
{{Infobox television channel
| name = History en Español
| country = United States and [[Latin America]]
| logo = [[file:History en Español 2022.png|100px|class=skin-invert]]
| logo_size = 150px
| language = [[Spanish language|Spanish]]
| launch_date = {{Start date and age|2004|06|24}}
| picture_format = [[480i]] SDTV
| former_names = The History Channel en Español (2004–08)
| website = [http://www.historyenespanol.com/ www.historyenespanol.com]
| online_serv_1 = Services
| online_chan_1 = Sling TV, Hulu + Live TV, [[Vidgo]], [[FuboTV]]
}}
'''History en Español''' is an American [[Spanish-language]] pay television channel. The network launched on June 24, 2004, as a counterpart to History focusing mainly on [[Hispanic America]] and world history. The network shows original programming, as well as Spanish-dubbed programs from the English-language version.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.filmaffinity.com/es/name.php?name-id=425232749|title=History Channel Español|website=filmaffinity.com}}</ref>

== Other media ==
=== DVD ===
* ''The Unknown Hitler'' DVD collection,<ref>The History Channel Online Store: [http://store.aetv.com/html/product/index.jhtml?id=76782 The Unknown Hitler DVD Collection] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071106023116/http://store.aetv.com/html/product/index.jhtml?id=76782 |date=November 6, 2007 }}</ref> including ''[[Hitler and the Occult]]''
* ''Dogfight: Season 1'' DVD set
* ''The Great Depression'' DVD collection
* ''The Making of Trump'' 2015 DVD<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5239180/|title=The Making of Trump (TV Movie 2015) - IMDb|via=www.imdb.com|access-date=March 20, 2021|archive-date=March 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308062124/https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5239180/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Video serials===
* ''Legend of the Superstition Mountains'' six episodes in 2015
* ''History Legends of War: Patton''
* ''The History Channel: Lost Worlds''
* ''The History Channel: Battle of Britain 1940''
* ''The History Channel: Crusades – Quest for Power''
* ''The History Channel: Alamo – Fight for Independence''
* ''The History Channel: Civil War – Great Battles''
* ''The History Channel: Digging for Truth''
* ''The History Channel: Great Battles Medieval''
* ''The History Channel: Civil War The Battle of Bull Run Take Command: 1861''
* ''The History Channel: American Civil War Take Command: 2nd Manassas''

===Video games===
* ''[[The History Channel: Civil War – A Nation Divided]]'' (2006)
* ''[[Kuma Reality Games|''The History Channel: ShootOut! – The Game'']]'' (2006)
* ''[[Dogfights: The Game|''The History Channel: Dogfights – The Game'']]'' (2007)
* ''[[The History Channel: Great Battles of Rome]]'' (2007)
* ''[[The History Channel: Battle for the Pacific]]'' (2007)
* ''[[History Civil War: Secret Missions]]'' (2008)
* ''History: Great Empires – Rome'' (2009)<ref>{{cite web |last1=Naser |first1=Bodo |title=Test: Great Empires: Rome |url=https://www.4players.de/4players.php/dispbericht/NDS/Test/17493/64178/0/Great_Empires_Rome.html |website=[[4Players]] |access-date=3 March 2023 |language=German |date=19 June 2009 |archive-date=March 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230306170340/https://www.4players.de/4players.php/dispbericht/NDS/Test/17493/64178/0/Great_Empires_Rome.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Thomas |first1=Lucas M. |title=History's Great Empires: Rome Review |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2009/07/01/historys-great-empires-rome-review |website=[[IGN]] |publisher=[[Ziff Davis]] |access-date=3 March 2023 |date=1 July 2009 |archive-date=February 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230214070529/https://www.ign.com/articles/2009/07/01/historys-great-empires-rome-review |url-status=live }}</ref>
* ''History: Ice Road Truckers'' (2010)<ref>{{cite web |title=HISTORY Ice Road Truckers |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/history-ice-road-truckers-psp-minis-release-involving-taking-18-wheelers-into-the-arctic-circle |website=[[GamesIndustry.biz]] |publisher=[[Gamer Network]] |access-date=5 March 2023 |date=11 March 2010 |archive-date=March 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230305124559/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/history-ice-road-truckers-psp-minis-release-involving-taking-18-wheelers-into-the-arctic-circle |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=History -- Ice Road Truckers |url=http://psp.gamespy.com/playstation-portable/history-ice-road-truckers/ |website=[[GameSpy]] |publisher=[[IGN Entertainment]] |access-date=5 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150910004142/http://psp.gamespy.com/playstation-portable/history-ice-road-truckers/ |archive-date=10 September 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref>
* ''History: Egypt – Engineering an Empire'' (2010)<ref>{{cite web |last1=Moreno |first1=Jim H. |title=HISTORY Egypt: Engineering an Empire – PC Game Review |url=http://armchairgeneral.com/history-egypt-engineering-an-empire-pc-game-review.htm |website=[[Armchair General (magazine)|Armchair General]] |publisher=[[Weider History Group]] |access-date=5 March 2023 |date=16 September 2010 |archive-date=March 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230305122726/http://armchairgeneral.com/history-egypt-engineering-an-empire-pc-game-review.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=HISTORY™ Egypt : Engineering an Empire |url=http://www.slitherine.com/games/EEaE_ipad |website=Slitherine Software |access-date=5 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110412001357/http://www.slitherine.com/games/EEaE_ipad |archive-date=12 April 2011}}</ref>
* ''History: Great Battles – Medieval'' (2010)<ref>{{cite web |title=History Great Battles Medieval Gets a New Partner and an October UK Release Date |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2010/09/17/history-great-battles-medieval-gets-a-new-partner-and-an-october-uk-release-date |website=[[IGN]] |publisher=[[Ziff Davis]] |access-date=6 March 2023 |date=17 September 2010 |archive-date=March 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230306132508/https://www.ign.com/articles/2010/09/17/history-great-battles-medieval-gets-a-new-partner-and-an-october-uk-release-date |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=History Great Battles Medieval is Headed to Android |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2011/04/25/history-great-battles-medieval-is-headed-to-android |website=[[IGN]] |publisher=[[Ziff Davis]] |access-date=6 March 2023 |date=25 April 2011 |archive-date=March 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230306125530/https://www.ign.com/articles/2011/04/25/history-great-battles-medieval-is-headed-to-android |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Schilling |first1=Chris |title=Great Battles Medieval |url=https://www.pocketgamer.com/great-battles-medieval/great-battles-medieval/ |website=[[Pocket Gamer]] |publisher=Steel Media |access-date=6 March 2023 |date=3 July 2013 |archive-date=March 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230306125717/https://www.pocketgamer.com/great-battles-medieval/great-battles-medieval/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* ''History Legends of War: Patton'' (2013)<ref>{{Cite web |title=History -- Legends of War: Patton |url=https://www.ign.com/games/legends-of-war-patton |access-date=2025-03-10 |website=[[IGN]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Gillett |first=Nick |date=2013-03-16 |title=History: Legends Of War – review |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2013/mar/16/god-of-war-ascension-review |access-date=2025-03-10 |work=[[The Guardian]] |language=en-GB |issn=}}</ref>

== International ==
=== North America ===
==== Canada ====
{{Main|History (Canadian TV channel)}}
History Television launched in 1997 and was not initially related to its then similarly named American counterpart. During History Television's first several years of operation, despite sharing a similar programming focus, it rarely, if ever, acquired programming from the American channel. The phrase "Not available in Canada" was used heavily during The History Channel's early years in promotional ads on American channels that were imported to Canadian pay television providers, particularly A&E.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lisnews.com/index.pl?issue=20040722&mode=|title=Librarian and Information Science News|publisher=LIS News|access-date=August 4, 2007|quote=I always wondered why the History Channel commercials said not available in Canada.}}{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

Beginning in the late 2000s, several History (US) shows were acquired for Canadian broadcast on History Television. On May 30, 2012, then-parent company [[Shaw Media]] announced that it would rebrand History Channel as a Canadian version of the US History channel in the fall of 2012, through a licensing agreement with A+E Networks.<ref>[http://www.broadcastermagazine.com/news/shaw-media-and-a-e-to-launch-two-new-specialty-channels/1001418951/ Shaw Media and A&E to Launch Two New Specialty Channels] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121210161801/http://www.broadcastermagazine.com/news/shaw-media-and-a-e-to-launch-two-new-specialty-channels/1001418951/ |date=December 10, 2012 }}, ''Broadcaster Magazine'', May 30, 2012.</ref> History Television would be relaunched on August 12, 2012, with another Shaw-owned specialty channel relaunched as a [[History2 (Canadian TV channel)|Canadian version of H2]] soon after.

On October 21, 2014, [[Corus Entertainment]] reached an agreement to acquire [[Canadian French]]-language rights to History programming for its own channel, [[Historia (TV channel)|Historia]]. On March 9, 2015, the network was relaunched under History's logo and branding, although the network still carries the Historia name.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.corusent.com/home/Corporate/PressReleases/tabid/1697/Default.aspx?Id=2936 |title=Historia: new logo, new look, new shows! |publisher=Corus Entertainment |date=March 9, 2015 |access-date=March 9, 2014 |archive-date=April 2, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402205215/http://www.corusent.com/home/Corporate/PressReleases/tabid/1697/Default.aspx?Id=2936 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Historia was previously owned as a joint venture between Shaw and [[Astral Media]], which made it a sister to History; Corus purchased the network in 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.corusent.com/home/Corporate/PressReleases/tabid/1697/Default.aspx?Id=2455|title=Corus Entertainment Expands Interests in French-language Specialty Television Market through Major Deals with Bell and Shaw Media|author=Corus Entertainment|author-link=Corus Entertainment|date=March 4, 2013|access-date=March 31, 2013|archive-date=March 23, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130323074811/http://www.corusent.com/home/Corporate/PressReleases/tabid/1697/Default.aspx?Id=2455|url-status=dead}}</ref>

On April 1, 2016, Corus Entertainment merged with Shaw Media, and as a result, now holds the [[Canadian English]] and French-language rights to History programming.{{Citation needed|date=October 2017}}

=== Europe ===
{{Main|History (European TV channel)}}

==== UK and Ireland ====
The British version launched in November 1995, and arrived in Ireland on November 1, 1999. The UK channel is a joint venture with [[Sky UK]] and was renamed Sky History on May 27, 2020, incorporating content from [[Sky Documentaries]] and [[Sky Nature]].

==== Germany ====
The German version launched on November 14, 2004, and is operated by The History Channel Germany GmbH & Co. KG, a joint venture between A+E Networks and [[NBCUniversal International Networks]].

==== Italy ====
The Italian version was launched on July 31, 2003, as a joint venture of A&E Networks and the local office division of [[Fox Networks Group]]; then it became a sole venture of A&E Networks in 2012.

==== Spain and Portugal ====
The History Channel is available in Spain and Portugal though cable, satellite, and IPTV platforms, as well as streaming media under the brand Canal de Historia. The History Channel Iberia is a joint venture between A+E Networks and [[AMC Networks International Southern Europe]].

==== Benelux ====
The Dutch version launched on May 1, 2007.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2007/04/05/history-channel-comes-to-benelux/|title=History Channel comes to Benelux|date=April 5, 2007|publisher=Broadband TV News|first=Robert|last=Briel|access-date=February 1, 2012|archive-date=June 25, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120625180640/http://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2007/04/05/history-channel-comes-to-benelux/|url-status=live}}</ref> This version is distributed by A&E Networks Benelux. In January 2008, History HD was launched in the Netherlands.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2007/11/14/history-channel-hd-to-launch-in-holland/|title=History Channel HD to launch in Holland|date=November 14, 2007|publisher=Broadband TV News|first=Robert|last=Briel|access-date=February 1, 2012|archive-date=June 25, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120625123751/http://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2007/11/14/history-channel-hd-to-launch-in-holland/|url-status=live}}</ref> It is available on cable providers [[Telenet]] and [[Ziggo]]. It is also available on the IPTV service [[KPN]].

==== Poland ====
A Polish version was launched on April 9, 2008. It is available on cable providers Aster, Dialog, Toya, and [[UPC Poland]], and also through satellite television (with its HD version carried on the [[n (Poland)|n]] platform since June 1, 2012) and an SD version on Cyfra+ (''now'' [[Canal+ (Polish TV provider)|Canal+]]), the latter since November 2, 2009.

==== Scandinavia ====
A Scandinavian version was first launched in September 1997, broadcasting for three and later four hours a day on the analogue [[Viasat (Nordic television service)|Viasat]] platform. Initially time-sharing with TV1000 Cinema, it was later moved to the Swedish [[TV8 (Swedish TV channel)|TV8]] channel and continued broadcasting there until November 2004. When History channel announced their own 24-hour pan-European channel, Viasat launched its own history-oriented channel, [[Viasat History]], in the Nordic region, but with no original programming. On February 1, 2007, the History Channel returned to Sweden and also Denmark, Norway, Finland when the pan-European version was launched as a standalone channel on the [[Canal Digital]] satellite platform and later through cable operator Com hem. <!-- In 2008 History was also launched as An HD channel. -->The History Channel launched on February 1, 2007, on the Canal Digital DTH satellite package for viewers in Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland. The channel is being launched by The History Channel UK, A&E's joint venture with BSkyB. Although it broadcasts in English with local subtitles, the channel is scheduled separately from the UK version.

=== Asia ===
==== India ====
The History Channel started its operations in [[India]] in late 2003 with [[21st Century Fox]]'s [[Star India|STAR TV]] as its sales partner, managed by [[National Geographic Channel|National Geographic]] until November 21, 2008.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.indiantelevision.com/interviews/y2k3/executive/zubin.htm | title = Indiantelevision.com's interview with NGC India managing director (South Asia) Zubin Jehanbux Gandevia | date = December 20, 2003 | access-date = October 15, 2007 | publisher = Indiantelevision.com | archive-date = June 4, 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110604034505/http://www.indiantelevision.com/interviews/y2k3/executive/zubin.htm | url-status = live }}</ref> [[History TV18|The History Channel India]] closed down on November 21, 2008. In 2011, History was granted permission to relaunch services in India. A joint venture of A&E Networks and TV18 relaunched [[History TV18]] in India in eight languages in 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.historyindia.com/contact-us|title=Contact Us - History TV18 India|author=History TV 18|access-date=January 11, 2016|archive-date=April 7, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160407103937/https://www.historyindia.com/contact-us|url-status=live}}</ref>

==== Southeast Asia ====
{{Main|History (Southeast Asian TV channel)}}
A joint venture of AETN and [[Astro Malaysia Holdings]] launched the History Channel in [[Singapore]], [[Hong Kong]], [[Thailand]], the [[Philippines]], [[Malaysia]], [[Indonesia]], [[Vietnam]] and [[Brunei]] in the second and third quarters of 2007, and in [[Taiwan]] and [[China]] by the end of the year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aetninternational.com/news.jsp?id=17683138|title=A&E Television Networks & Astro Form Joint Venture|date=April 16, 2007|access-date=June 8, 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070522150853/http://www.aetninternational.com/news.jsp?id=17683138|archive-date=May 22, 2007}}<br />{{cite web|url=http://www.aetninternational.com/news.jsp?id=9992256|title=The History Channel Expands Through Asia|date=February 10, 2003|access-date=June 16, 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060106090500/http://www.aetninternational.com/news.jsp?id=9992256|archive-date=January 6, 2006}}</ref> Some other Asian countries, such as [[Kuwait]], [[Israel]], and [[Japan]], have their own versions of the network. On September 1, 2008, History Channel Asia was officially launched in Singapore and Hong Kong followed by the Philippines.<ref>[http://www.medianewsline.com/news/146/ARTICLE/4477/2009-05-05.html History HD channel launched on SkyLife in Korea] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714064859/http://www.medianewsline.com/news/146/ARTICLE/4477/2009-05-05.html |date=July 14, 2011 }} retrieved via medianewsline.com May 5, 2009</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090511150702/http://www.skycable.com/packages.aspx?id=11&pkg=HD&pg=Description&subid=1&cid=40 History Channel Asia HD launched on SkyCable Philippines] retrieved via skycable.com September 6, 2009</ref><ref>[http://www.aetninternational.com/news.jsp?id=35483863 The History Channel HD to launch in Singapore and Hong Kong] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090130063424/http://www.aetninternational.com/news.jsp?id=35483863 |date=January 30, 2009 }} retrieved via aetninternational.com August 26, 2008</ref>

==== South Korea ====
The South Korean version of History Channel was launched on September 22, 2017, replacing the Southeast version that was previously transmitted. After the launch, A+E networks Korea launched an original series program called History in the Bottle (말술클럽).

=== Latin America ===
The Latin American version was launched in 2001. It is owned by [[A&E (TV channel)|A&E]] and controlled in the region by [[Ole Distribution]]. It airs US programming, translated to [[Spanish language|Spanish]] or [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]] or in English with Spanish or Portuguese subtitles. Also, it develops some Latin American programming in Spanish.

=== Oceania ===
==== Australia and New Zealand ====
{{Main|Real History}}
The channel is operated by [[Foxtel]] and the programming and name of the channel is licensed to them by [[A&E Networks]].

=== Africa ===

The History Channel was launched on December 1, 2003, on the [[DStv]] satellite TV platform provided by [[MultiChoice]] in South Africa for Sub-Saharran Africa; it is currently on the ''DStv Compact Plus'' package.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.dstv.com/channels |title=DSTV Channels &#124; M-Net &#124; Sport &#124; Movies &#124; Series &#124; Music &#124; News |access-date=December 9, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131117034731/http://www.dstv.com/channels/ |archive-date=November 17, 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of programs broadcast by the History Channel]]
* [[Vice TV#As Viceland|Viceland]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{commons category}}
*{{official website}}

{{History shows}}
{{History films}}
{{A&E Networks}}
{{VOD services}}
{{Authority control}}

<!-- Please respect alphabetical order -->

[[Category:A&E Networks]]
[[Category:English-language television stations in the United States]]
[[Category:Peabody Award winners]]
[[Category:Pseudoarchaeology]]
[[Category:Pseudohistory]]
[[Category:Television channels and networks about history]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 1995]]
[[Category:Television networks in the United States]]