A&E Network

The A&E Network is a cable and satellite television network based in New York, New York, USA. The channel, which focused programming on biographies, documentaries, and drama series, and has expanded to include reality television programming, reaches more than 85 million homes in the United States. A&E is a joint venture of the Hearst Corporation 37.5%, ABC, Inc. (owned by Disney), 37.5%; and NBC Universal, 25%.

Related Topics:
Cable - Satellite television - Network - New York, New York - USA - Biographies - Documentaries - Drama - Reality television - United States - Hearst Corporation - ABC - Disney - NBC Universal

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The A&E channel is the flagship of the A&E Television Networks group, which also includes The History Channel and The Biography Channel. Unlike most other major American television networks, it has often showed programming from abroad, particularly the United Kingdom, one of the highest-profile outlets British programming has had in the United States.

Related Topics:
A&E Television Networks - The History Channel - The Biography Channel - United Kingdom

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The service is a result of a merger in 1983 between a service called ARTS, the Alpha Repertory Television Service, owned by Hearst/ABC Video Services which originally served as a companion service to Nickelodeon (which at that time was owned by Warner-Amex Satellite Entertainment, a joint venture between Warner Communications and American Express, before it was owned by Viacom's MTV Networks) and The Entertainment Channel, owned by NBC. It spun from Nickelodeon in 1985, so that Nick launched Nick at Nite.

Related Topics:
1983 - Nickelodeon - Warner-Amex Satellite Entertainment - Warner Communications - American Express - Viacom - MTV Networks - Nick at Nite

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Between 2003 and 2005, the channel gradually retired its long-running series, including Murder, She Wrote and Agatha Christie's Poirot, in favor of reality programming such as Dog The Bounty Hunter, Growing Up Gotti, Family Plots, Airline, and Criss Angel Mindfreak. The station has also cut back on its broadcast of Biography from its original twice-daily broadcasts to once-weekly showings. Notably, the station also retired its long-held slogan "Time Well Spent." The changes are aparently an attempt to lure higher ratings, as reality programs have done for other stations. A&E's traditional, more intellectual fanbase does not appear to have received the changes very well.

Related Topics:
2003 - 2005 - Murder, She Wrote - Agatha Christie's Poirot - Dog The Bounty Hunter - Growing Up Gotti - Family Plots - Airline - Criss Angel Mindfreak - Biography

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