A&E Television Networks – Max Redinger

Posted on December 2, 2015 by Maxwell Redinger

Max Redinger

A+E Television Networks Logo / Source: aframe.com [1]

A+E NETWORKS

235 E 45th St
New York, NY 10017
(212) 210-1400

http://www.aenetworks.com/

COMPANY OVERVIEW

“cultivating…the human experience” – A+E

ABOUT

A majority of A+E Networks portfolio of over ten original cable channel brands / Source: Hearst.com [4]

Founded in 1984 as The Arts & Entertainment Network, A+E Networks is an award-winning, global media company whose programming reaches more than 330 million homes in 160 markets and 39 languages with its diverse 62 channel feeds. [3] When it began broadcasting on February 1, 1984, the network was seen on 1,500 cable systems with nine million subscribers.[5] Celebrating its tenth anniversary in 1994, the company officially changed its name to A+E and redefined its range of programming. It would focus on three themes: original biographies, mysteries, and specials. [5] [6] The company is a joint venture between Hearst Corporation and Disney-ABC Television Group. The content is distributed through its portfolio of channel brands, History, A&E, Lifetime, LMN, H2, Crime + Investigation, FYI, LRW, BIO, Military History, History en Espanõl and is licensed to third party broadcast television clients. [1] [3] By 1999 the A+E Network reached more than 78 million cable subscribers, while The History Channel was viewed by more than 70 million households in over 50 countries, making it the fastest growing cable network since its launch. [5] As of 2014 A+E Networks is valued at $26 billion. [7] A+E Networks main competitors are Discovery Communications, AMC Networks, and Turner Broadcasting System. [19]

KEY LEADERSHIP

Nancy Dubuc – President and Chief Executive Officer, A+E Networks / Source: aenetworks.com [2]

Robert DeBitetto – President, Brand Strategy, Business Development and A+E Studios, A+E Networks / Source: aenetworks.com [2]

Melvin Berning – President, Chief Revenue Officer / Source: aenetworks.com [2]

David Granville-Smith – Executive Vice President And Chief Financial Officer, A+E Networks / Source: aenetworks.com [2]

Michael Feeney – Executive Vice President, Corporate Communications / Source: aenetworks.com [2]

FALL 2015 COMPANY NEWS

VICELAND JOINT VENTURE

Vice Media LLC logo / Source: adweek.com [10]

A+E Networks will turn its H2 channel into Viceland, a 24-hour cable network programmed by multimedia company Vice Media. [8] Launching in early 2016, Viceland will be distributed in approximately 70 million homes, and will feature hundreds of hours of new lifestyle and documentary programming developed by the youth-centric brand. [9] Oscar-winning writer/director and Vice creative director, Spike Jonze, will oversee all aspects of the new channel’s development. Over a year ago, A+E Networks made a $250 million investment in Vice, bringing its stake in the company to 15%. [11] A+E Networks will handle distribution and technical operations and have put complete trust in Vice, handing over all programming rights. A+E has suffered an audience decline over the last year as ratings from reality TV hits, such as Duck Dynasty, have fallen to moderate numbers. [8] A+E is making smart decisions utilizing Vice to win back and incentivize younger audiences with new original programming. Viceland will launch with a full slate of prime-time shows, including Gaycation (with Ellen Page) and Huang’s World (with Eddie Huang). [10] A+E is committed to expanding H2 internationally, distributing it into over 68 territories, as well as its production of informational-based historical content. [9]

NEW PLATFORM: *ASTERISK

A+E’s new digital content brand Asterisk’s logo / Source: realscreen.com

A+E launched new digital brand called Asterisk, a website featuring stories examining contemporary culture through a historical lens. The site is aimed at a younger millennial demo, posting articles that include videos, photos, quizzes and BuzzFeed-esque lists etc. [13] According to A+E, the brand features premium content “created for sharing across the social web,” [14] and also offers marketing partners “native advertising” solutions customizable for specific products. The site analyzes 10 cultural categories: life skills, sports, food and drink, people, ideas, arts and entertainment, work, style, travel and tech. [13]

Check out this fun article exemplifying Asterisk’s take on history comparing Southern Democrats LBJ and Frank Underwood, the devious politician from Netflix’s House of Cards, which reveals the real American president as the bigger badass.

President LBJ and Spacey’s Francis Underwood battle for the title of most “badass” president on A+E’s new digital platform, Asterisk / Source: theasterisktoday.com

LIBERTY GLOBAL DISTRIBUTION DEAL

The communications giant, Liberty Global’s, logo / Source: libertyglobal.com [17]

A+E Networks has signed an extended distribution deal with British-based telecommunications and television company, Liberty Global, for exclusive carriage of its channels across Europe. A+E Networks branded content can now be located on Liberty Global networks in the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Poland, Romania, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. [15] Liberty Global is the largest cable company in the world, with 27 million customers across 14 countries. [16] Lifetime and H2 will be available in the UK and Ireland for the first time. Also under the terms of the new deal, all current A+E Networks UK channels have to remain on their existing Liberty Global platforms, which already reach over 15.5 million subscribers regularly. [15] Ultimately, this deal gives A+E Networks channels and content across all platforms greater access to new subscribers and markets. [16]

CRITICS’ CHOICE AWARDS

Critics’ Choice Movie Awards and Critics’ Choice Television Awards respective show logos before combing into one award show / Source: Deadline.com

Beginning next year, A+E Networks will combine the Critics’ Choice Movie Awards and the Critics’ Choice Television Awards into one three-hour event. A+E partnered with the Broadcast Film Critics Association and the Broadcast Television Journalists Association in 2014 to obtain exclusive broadcast rights for the 2015 and 2016 awards. [12] The new show, the 21st Annual Critics’ Choice Awards, will be cast live January 17 on A+E Networks’ A&E, Lifetime and LMN simultaneously. Last year, The Critics’ Choice Movie Awards drew 1.92 million total viewers and the Television Awards, after moving from the CW, drew 522,000 total viewers. Bob Bain Productions and Berlin Entertainment will produce the new show. [12]

COMPANY REORGANIZATION

Over the last few fall months, A+E Networks has experienced significant corporate restructuring, promoting valued executives and ushering in a new president.

Jana Bennett / Source: tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com

A+E Networks has promoted Jana Bennett to President and General Manager of History. Bennet joined A+E as President of FYI and LMN in 2013 and will oversee all strategic planning, programming, marketing and brand development for History and sister, H2. Under Bennet’s leadership, FYI and LMN became two of the fastest growing networks in television. FYI experienced a double-digit ratings growth in its first year on air thanks to new series Married at First Sight, Arranged and Seven Year Switch. [24]

Arturo Interian / Source: Variety.com [22]

History promoted A+E veteran Arturo Interian to Senior Vice President, Scripted Programming. Interian recently served as Vice President, Original Movies for A+E’s sister network Lifetime, spearheading the Emmy Award nominated miniseries Bonnie & Clyde, and Marilyn. In 2002, Interian joined the company after serving as Director, Movies for Television and Miniseries for CBS. He is currently heading the upcoming series Roots and History’s hit drama series Vikings season four. [20]

Stacy Green / Source: Variety.com [23]

Stacy Green has been promoted to Executive Vice President, Global Human Resources and Facilities for A+E Networks. After joining A+E in 2013 as Senior Vice President, Human Resources, she modernized A+E Networks’ employee benefits plans and policies. [21] As the new Executive Vice President, Green will place a focus on culture and people to be reflected in the workspaces of employees, throughout all A+E Network divisions. [21]

FINANCIALS

A+E Television Networks is a privately traded company.

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE

A+E’s NEW PROGRAMMING SLATE

Highlights of A+E Networks new slate of original programming across its portfolio

A&E

A+E channel A&E’s logo / Source: aetv.com [25]

A&E Networks has slated a six-episode hour-long mystery crime drama series The Frankenstein Chronicles starring Sean Bean (Game of Thrones) premiering next year. [26]
On December 8, A&E’s new six episode hour-long original docu-series Born This Way, following a group of seven young adults born with Down syndrome, premieres. [27]

HISTORY

The History Channel logo / Source: history.com [29]

History will premiere a eight-part docu-drama series in 2016, Barbarians Rising, about the 700-year empire. The series is a global production spanning more than 185 territories. [30]
The channel has also ordered 16 episodes of Join or Die with Craig Ferguson, a half-hour comedy show in which host, Craig Ferguson, debates provocative and timely topics with a panel of guests and history experts. [31]
History, A&E and Lifetime greenlight the scripted remake series ROOTS, a historical portrait of American slavery spanning multiple generations, to be simulcast for a new generation of viewers in 2016. [32]

LIFETIME

A+E channel Liftime’s logo / Source: mylifetime.com [33]

On January 18 Lifetime will premiere the limited series even War & Peace, reimagined for a new generation, starring Paul Dano and Gillian Anderson. [34]
Premiering January 5 at 10pm, Pitch Slapped, a new eight hour-long docu-series analyzing the competitive nature of high school a cappella. [35]

FYI

A+E channel FYI’s logo / Source: fyi.tv [36]

On December 8, FYI will air its new hour-long ten episode original series #BlackLove, which follows five black women from NYC on a journey to find love. [37]
Eight one-hour episodes of Khloe Kardashian’s new non-traditional talk show, Cocktails with Khloe, is set to premiere on December 9. [38]

SOURCES:

[1] “A+E Networks Gets Content to Market Around the World Faster with Aframe.” Aframe RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Nov. 2015.

[2] “Executive Bios | A+E Networks.” Executive Bios | A+E Networks. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Nov. 2015.

[3] “About | A+E Networks.” About | A+E Networks. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Nov. 2015.

[4] “A+E Entertainment | Hearst Media.” Hearst.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2015.

[5] “A & E Television Networks History.” History of A & E Television Networks – FundingUniverse. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Nov. 2015.

[6] “A&E Television Networks, Major Television Networks.” Moviestaff. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Dec. 2015.

[7] “A+E at 30: How a Tiny Network Became a $26 Billion Success Story.” The Hollywood Reporter. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Dec. 2015.

[8] “Vice Media Gets Channel on A+E Networks.” WSJ. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Dec. 2015.

[9] “VICE AND A+E NETWORKS ANNOUNCE NEW TV NETWORK VICELAND (WORKING TITLE).” A+E Networks – Life Is Entertaining. A+E Networks – Life Is Entertaining, n.d. Web. 02 Dec. 2015.

[10] “Vice Will Take Over A+E Networks’ H2 Next Year, Rebranding It as Viceland.” AdWeek. AdWeek, n.d. Web. 28 Nov. 2015.

[11] “Vice & A+E Networks To Launch Viceland TV Channel In 2016 That Will Replace H2.” Deadline. Deadline, 03 Nov. 2015. Web. 28 Nov. 2015.

[12] “Critics’ Choice Movie & TV Awards Merge To Become One Show.” Deadline. Deadline, 30 Sept. 2015. Web. 29 Nov. 2015.

[13] “A+E Launches Asterisk Internet-Media Brand with New Spins on History (Exclusive).” Variety. N.p., 13 Apr. 2015. Web. 02 Dec. 2015.

[14] “A+E Networks Launches Digital Brand “Asterisk”.” Realscreen. Realscreen, n.d. Web. 02 Dec. 2015.

[15] “A&E Television Networks, LLC: Private Company Information.” Bloomberg.com. Bloomberg, n.d. Web. 02 Dec. 2015.

[16] “Liberty Global And A+E Networks Expand Pan-European Partnership.” Deadline. Deadline, 02 Nov. 2015. Web. 02 Dec. 2015.

[17] “ANNUALREPORT2014.” Online Annual Report. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Dec. 2015.

[18] “LBJ Would Wipe the Floor with Frank Underwood.” Asterisk. Asterisk, 10 Apr. 2015. Web. 02 Dec. 2015.

[19] “A&E Television Networks, LLC.” |Company Profile|Vault.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Dec. 2015.

[20] “HISTORY PROMOTES TWO PROGRAMMING EXECUTIVES AND ADDS NEW VICE PRESIDENT OF DEVELOPMENT & PROGRAMMING.” A+E Networks – Life Is Entertaining. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Dec. 2015.

[21] “STACY GREEN ELEVATED TO EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, GLOBAL HUMAN RESOURCES & FACILITIES A+E NETWORKS.” A+E Networks – Life Is Entertaining. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Dec. 2015.

[22] “Arturo Interian.” Variety. N.p., 10 Sept. 2013. Web. 02 Dec. 2015.

[23] “Stacy Green.” Variety. N.p., 16 Dec. 2013. Web. 02 Dec. 2015.

[24] “A+E Networks Names Jana Bennett President & General Manager of HISTORY.” TV By The Numbers by Zap2itcom. N.p., 18 Sept. 2015. Web. 02 Dec. 2015.

[25] “A&E – Shows, Schedules, Full Episodes & Videos.” Aetv. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Dec. 2015.

[26] “A&E NETWORK SET TO AIR THE HIGHLY ANTICIPATED ORIGINAL DRAMA SERIES “THE FRANKENSTEIN CHRONICLES” IN THE US.” A+E Networks – Life Is Entertaining. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Dec. 2015.

[27] “A&E NETWORK TO PREMIERE NEW ORIGINAL DOCU-SERIES ‘BORN THIS WAY’ TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8 AT 10:00 PM ET/PT.” A+E Networks – Life Is Entertaining. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Dec. 2015.

[28] “A&E NETWORK PREMIERES SEASON FOUR OF SCRIPTED CRIME DRAMA “UNFORGETTABLE”” A+E Networks – Life Is Entertaining. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Dec. 2015.

[29] “History.com.” History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 02 Dec. 2015.

[30] “HISTORY® Greenlights Docu-Drama ‘Barbarians Rising’ Revealing the True Stories of Legendary Warriors.” A+E Networks – Life Is Entertaining. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Dec. 2015.

[31] “HISTORY® GREENLIGHTS NEW SERIES ‘JOIN OR DIE WITH CRAIG FERGUSON’.” A+E Networks – Life Is Entertaining. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Dec. 2015.

[32] “HISTORY®, A&E AND LIFETIME GREENLIGHT ROOTS.” A+E Networks – Life Is Entertaining. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Dec. 2015.

[33] “Lifetime TV & Movies, Full Episodes, Games & Sweepstakes.” Lifetime TV & Movies, Full Episodes, Games & Sweepstakes. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Dec. 2015.

[34] “WAR & PEACE REIMAGINED FOR A NEW GENERATION PREMIERES ON LIFETIME, A&E AND HISTORY JANUARY 18.” A+E Networks – Life Is Entertaining. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Dec. 2015.

[35] “GET READY TO BE PITCH SLAPPED WITH LIFETIME’S NEW A CAPPELLA DOCUSERIES PREMIERING JANUARY 5.” A+E Networks – Life Is Entertaining. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Dec. 2015.

[36] “FYI Network – Shows, Schedules, Full Episodes & Videos.” FYI.tv. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Dec. 2015.

[37] “FYI’S NEW ORIGINAL SERIES “#BLACKLOVE” PREMIERES TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8 AT 10:15PM ET.” A+E Networks – Life Is Entertaining. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Dec. 2015.

[38] “FYI™ PREMIERES PRIMETIME TALK SHOW “KOCKTAILS WITH KHLOÉ” WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9 AT 10PM ET.” A+E Networks – Life Is Entertaining. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Dec. 2015.

Hearst Television #1

Posted on September 30, 2015 by Jamaya Powell

Jamaya Powell

Logo of the Hearst Corporation Source: BounceExchange.com [9]

History

The Hearst Corporation started out as a single newspaper by William Randolf Hearst in 1887.[1]

Founder of the Hearst Corporation, William Randolph Hearst
Source: Old-Picture.com [10]

Since then, the Hearst Corporation has grown to become one of the biggest media and information companies in the world. [2] Hearst incorporated broadcasting into its company in 1928, when they purchased WSOE radio in Milwaukee. The station also became the groundwork of WISN-TV. In 1948, after acquiring various stations across markets, Hearst launched WBAL-TV in Baltimore, WLWT-TV in Cincinnati, and WDSU-TV in New Orleans. These were some of the inaugural television stations in the nation. In 1953, Baltimore’s WBAL-TV was one of the first television stations to transmit in color, as well as launching the famous children’s show “Romper Room,” [3] that ran from the early 1950s to the 1980s. Throughout the years, Hearst Broadcasting acquired more broadcasting stations across various markets. In 1981, WCVB-TV in Boston was declared “the best television station in America” by the New York Times. Hearst Broadcasting acquired Argyle Television Inc., which owned six stations at the time, for $320 million dollars,[4] forming Hearst-Argyle in 1997.[2]

Here is a clip from the popular children’s TV show, Romper Room, as mentioned above. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xq9-8ZxZ6_Y)

One of the Hearst-Argyle’s stations, WISN-TV in Milwaukee, was the first station within its market to create their very own website, based off its weather segment.The website, which was started in 1997, offers snow closing information, around the clock. In that same year, KITV-TV in Honolulu was the first American digital commercially licensed TV station, which meant that they could provide digital high-definition television or HDTV, for short. Television Broadcast magazine named KITV “Broadcaster of the Year” in 1997. Later in 1999, New England’s WCVB-TV station was the first stations, local and nationwide, to produce an high-definition (HD) TV episode. The TV episode was of its renowned public-affairs program “Chronicle.” [2]

One of the first HD television programs created Source: Constant Contact Archive [11]

That same year, the Hearst-Argyle company acquired the Pulitzer Publishing Co, which owned nine TV stations and five radio stations. They also bought the television properties to Kelly Broadcasting Co. out of Sacramento, California. By the end of the year 1999, Hearst-Argyle owned 26 TV stations, which reached about 17.5 percent of U.S. households, and they acquired seven radio stations. [2]

Hearst-Argyle became one of the first major station groups to release a policy about not airing R-rated movies during prime time television, which is also family viewing time. They announced this policy in 2000, which was a very busy year for the company. They also partnered with the Belo Corporation and LIN Television and launched Broadcast Sales Academy, in order to train future sales professionals and they later launched the Producer Academy in 2002, a training program for the companies’ news producers. Hearst-Argyle had a joint venture with Gannett Broadcasting, the NBC station group and NBC Enterprises to develop and carry syndicated programs on their stations, reaching 60% of U.S. households. Hearst-Argyle was also the first large TV station group to commit at least 5 minutes of on-air time every night to focus on election coverage, starting 30 days leading up to the elections. This charge became the foundation of the company’s “Commitment 2000” effort, which worked to provide comprehensive political-news coverage through the election cycles and this effort later earned them a consecutive number of Walter Cronkite Awards, awarded by the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School for Communication. In 2004, the former president and CEO, David J. Barrett is named by Broadcasting & Cable magazine as “Broadcaster of the Year.” This year, every single Hearst-Argyle television station completed their transition into digital television broadcasting and some of them were the first to offer video on demand for local programming. [2]

One of Hearst’s college partnerships
Source: NCAT.edu [12]

In 2006, Hearst-Argyle partnered with North Carolina A&T University or NCAT for short, to train journalism students and it was one of many internship/ training programs partnerships the company has.[2]

Financials

Hearst Corporation is #33 of Forbes List of America’s Largest Private Companies and the company has produced over $10.3 billion in revenue. [5]

Key Executives

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Jordan Wertlieb President of Hearst Television Source: Hearst.com [13]

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Frank Biancuzzo Senior Vice President of Hearst Television Inc. Source: Hearst.com [14]

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John J. Drain Senior Vice President of Finance at Hearst Television Inc. Source: Hearst.com [15]

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Micheal J. Hayes Senior Vice President of Hearst Television Inc. Source: Hearst.com [16]

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Rodger Keating Senior Vice President of Hearst Television Inc. Source: Hearst.com [17]

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Neeraj Khemlani Co-President of Hearst Entertainment & Syndication & President of Hearst Digital Studios [18]

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George Kliavkoff Co-President of Hearst Entertainment & Syndication & President of Hearst Ventures [19]

Entertainment & Syndication

One of Hearst’s Entertainment & Syndication brands Source: Facebook [20]

Hearst Entertainment and Syndication is a combination of cable network partnerships, television programming activities, and newspaper syndication as well as merchandise licensing operations. Their brands include A&E Networks, Awesomeness TV, Complex, Cosmopolitan Television, ESPN, Hearst Digital Studios, Hearst Entertainment, King Features, NorthSouth Productions, Reed Brennan, and United Artists Media Group.[6]

One of A&E’s popular television shows
Source: Gstatic.com [21]

One of their television brands, A&E Networks, is an award-winning, global media content company. It consists of three brands: A&E Network, HISTORY, and Lifetime. [6] Some of their most popular shows on A&E Networks are Duck Dynasty, Married At First Sight, Storage Wars, The First 48, and Intervention. [7]

United Arts Media Group

The United Arts Media Group creates programming for all media platforms offered by Hearst, including on screen, online and on-the-go. [8]

Current Programming

The Voice Promo Flyer
Source: NBC [22]

United Arts Media Group (UAMG) has created many popular programming including The Voice, Shark Tank, and Survivor. The Voice is currently in its 6th season and has crushed its show rival, American Idol, by having higher viewers and its ability to hold the attention of their key demographic of Americans aged 18-49.

Their other show, Shark Tank, is steadily growing in viewership and in the young adult segment. One of their oldest shows, Survivor, has an average of 9.5 million viewers and has just entered its 29th season. They also produced a feature film called Son of God, which generated $60 million in revenue through U.S. box office sales alone. The film also sold over 700,000 DVDs. [8]

Just this year, they released a follow-up program to the mini TV series, The Bible, called A.D., a 12-hour series that premiered on Easter. They also released a new game show on ABC called 500 Questions. FOX has purchased episodes of UAMG’s hit show, Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader? Due to the popularity of the original show, Shark Tank, they released a spin-off called Beyond The Tank, which follows up with the startup companies after they launch. They also teamed up with MGM and Paramount to create a remake of the movie, Ben-Hur. They also worked with Open Road to create the film, Little Boy. [8]

Works Cited

History. Hearst. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2015.
Hearst Television History. Hearst. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Nov. 2015.
Romper Room. TV Party. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2015.
Gilpin, Kenneth N. Hearst to Buy Argyle TV In a Rare Public Venture. The New York Times. The New York Times, 26 Mar. 1997. Web. 01 Dec. 2015.
America’s Largest Private Companies. Forbes. Forbes Magazine, n.d. Web. 29 Nov. 2015.
A+E Networks. Hearst. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2015.
All Television Shows – A&E. AETV. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2015.
Entertainment. Hearst. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Nov. 2015.
Unlock Your Highest Conversion Revenue. Bounce Exchange. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2015.
William Randolph Hearst. Old Picture. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2015.
Weekly News Update. Downtown Boston. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2015.
STUDENT SCHEDULE. NCAT. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2015.
Jordan Wertlieb. Hearst. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Dec. 2015.
Frank Biancuzzo. Hearst. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2015.
Bios. Hearst. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2015.
Bios. Hearst. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2015.
Rodger Keating. Hearst. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2015.
Neeraj Khemlani. Hearst. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2015.
George Kliavkoff. Hearst. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2015.
CosmoTV. Facebook. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2015.
Gstatic. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Nov. 2015.
The Voice. NBC. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2015.

A+E Television Networks

Posted on October 5, 2014 by cewilder

by Caley Wildermuth

A+E Network Logo – photo courtesy of C21Media (1)

HEADQUARTERS
235 E. 45th Street
New York, NY 1001
www.aenetworks.com

KEY EXECUTIVES

Abbe Raven – Chairman and Past President/CEO, A+E Networks – photo courtesy of A+E Networks (2)

Nancy Dubuc - President and CEO, A+E Networks (2)

Nancy Dubuc – President and CEO, A+E Networks – photo courtesy of A+E Networks (3)

Robert DeBitetto –
President, Brand Strategy, Business Development and A+E Studios, A+E Networks – A+E Courtesy of A+E Networks (4)

ABOUT

Beginning in 1984 as a joint venture between The Hearst Corporation and The Walt Disney Company, A+E Television Networks is now an international media company with over ten channels, six original brands, and owner and operator of the informative historical website Bio (5). Standing for “Arts and Entertainment” Television, the company reaches over 330 million homes of 160 markets in over 60 different languages and a variety of genres, including both reality and scripted shows. Their ten channels include A&E, Lifetime, Lifetime Movie Network, History, H2, Military History, FYI, Crime and Investigation, History en Español, and Lifetime Real Women (6). Top shows across all channels include History’s Vikings and Pawn Stars, Lifetime’s Devious Maids and Dance Moms, and A+E’s Duck Dynasty and Bate’s Motel (3).

Logos of all A+E Network Channels – photo courtesy of A+E Networks (5)

HISTORY

Created in 1984, the company only consisted of one channel: The Arts and Entertainment Channel. Although small in the beginning, the channel’s first-ever original programming propelled the company to new heights. Beginning with only 9 million subscribers, the company began to stray away from their original theme of fine art content into content more accustomed for a younger audience. This included historical documentaries and sitcoms that helped boost subscriptions. One of their most popular series was the show Biography, a docuseries that chronicled the lives and stories of famous celebrities and societal figures and brought the channel its first Emmy nomination in 1990. (7)

As subscriptions skyrocketed, the channel officially changed its name to A & E on its 10th anniversary and began to refocus its image into three themes: “biographies, mysteries, and specials” (7). With this rebranding, the company launched three new channels including the History Channel, the History International Channel (now known as H2), and the Biography Channel, which was recently rebranded as the new channel, FYI. By 2001, the History Channel hit 70 million subscribers, making it the fastest cable network to hit those numbers since launch. Continuing their expansion, in 2009 A+E Networks combined with Lifetime Entertainment Services to add the various Lifetime channels (6). The company is now just celebrating their 30th year anniversary and is considered to be worth $26 billion (8).

FINANCIALS

A+E Television Networks is not a publicly traded company, therefore no information regarding financials could be found.

CHANNEL NEWS AND HIGHLIGHTS OF FALL SEASON

A+E Networks saw many high points with the close of the fall and 2014. Twelve of its shows broke the list of top 50 most watched shows for age group 25-54 (3). Listed below are some of those highlights.

History Channel Logo – photo courtesy of A+E Networks (9)

History Channel
Houdini Sparks Big
Starring Academy Award winner, Adrien Brody, the miniseries chronicled the life of the ever-mysterious and famous magician, Houdini. The show reached over 3.7 million viewers on its first night, “making it cable’s number one miniseries premiere of 2014” (10).

FYI Channel Logo – photo courtesy of A+E Networks (11)

FYI
New Channel Fares Well
Rebranded in summer 2014, the Bio Channel is now FYI, a lifestyle network with a contemporary twist (12). With high hopes for the new channel, their original show Married at First Sight fared well, setting records among both the FYI and Bio network brands, reaching 903,000 viewers during the season finale (13).

Married at First Sight Advertisement – photo courtesy of A+E Networks (14)

Lifetime Channel Logo – photo courtesy of A+E Networks (15)

Lifetime
Devious Maids and Project Runway Soar
After finishing up season two this past summer as the number one cable show for its time slot for women 18-49, Lifetime has officially announced there will be a third season soon for Devious Maids (16). Project Runway also continues its legacy after finishing its 13th season finale in October and immediately rolling into a spin-off show, Project Runway: Threads, featuring teen designers (17).

A&E Channel Logo – photo courtesy of A+E Networks (18)

A&E
Past Hits Continue On, Others Canceled
Two hits for the channel, Bates Motel and Duck Dynasty, were renewed for their third and seventh seasons respectively (19). Duck Dynasty’s season premiere launched November 19th, but many fans fear the show will be cancelled due to recent drops in ratings (20). On the other hand, this past fall, A&E cancelled their hit show, Longmire, to the shock of most fans as show was one of A&E’s most watched original dramas. Speculators believe the show was pulled as it appealed to too old an audience and A&E didn’t have a stake in the production as the show is produced by Time Warner (21).

Bates Motel Advertisement – photo courtesy of deadline.com (22)

Duck Dynasty Logo – photo courtesy of popsugar.com (23)

COMPANY NEWS

A+E Purchases 10% Stake in Vice Media

Vice Media Logo – photo courtesy of advice.com (24)

This past fall, A+E Networks beat out Time Warner and purchased a 10% stake in Vice Media in exchange for $250 million. Vice Media is a digital news organization that targets the young male demographic through its informative website, YouTube Channel, and popular HBO-owned TV show, Vice. CEO, Nancy Dubuc managed the deal, stating it was a good move for the company as Vice Media’s demographic reach complimented A+E’s own History channel (25).

Carlton Cuse Signs First-Look Deal with A+E Studios

Carlton Cuse – photo courtesy of nab.org (26)

Famous producer and writer of popular shows such as Lost, The Strain, and A+E’s own Bates Motel, Carlton Cuse has just signed a “three-year first-look deal with A+E Studios,” the first ever production deal with a writer in the history of the network (27). The deal requires Cuse to work closely with A+E Studios EVP, Barry Jessen, to develop quality original content for the channel over the next three years (28).

History Channel Offers 1st Ever TV-Branded Online Course for Credit

On October 28th, History officially launched open enrollment for the first-ever TV-branded online course, United States 1865 to Present. The channel teamed up with University of Oklahoma to offer this unique and interactive course for transferrable credit and it will be taught by renowned OU professor and scholar-in-residence at the History Channel, Steve Gillon. The course is expected to use interactive video lectures, quizzes, and discussions all intermixed with History Channel content to strengthen and deepen one’s understanding of American history and will last for 16 weeks during Spring 2015 (29).

A+E Networks Named 2015 Company of Distinction at Banff World Media Festival

Banff World Media Festival Logo and Advertisement – photo courtesy of film button.com (30)

The Banff World Media Festival recently announced their decision to choose A+E Networks as their 2015 Company of Distinction to be honored at the festival from June 7-10, 2015 in Banff, Canada (31). The festival is a three day long conference bringing together top media leaders and companies internationally to discuss issues facing the industry and to serve as a platform for creative development, networking, and production (32). According the festival itself, the award is given to media companies “demonstrating significant leadership in the world of screen-based entertainment.” Previous winners of the award include CBS Corporation and Lionsgate Entertainment (31).

Sources

(1) “A+E Networks“, C21Media, RT: 11/30/14

(2) Abbe Raven, A+E Networks, RT: 11/30/14

(3) Nancy Dubuc, A+E Networks, RT: 11/30/14

(4) Robert DiBitetto, A+E Networks, RT:11/30/14

(5) A+E Television Networks, LLC Company Profile, Hoovers, RT: 11/30/14

(6) About Us, A+E Networks, RT: 11/30/2014

(7) A & E Television Networks History, FundingUniverse, RT: 11/30/14

(8) “A+E at 30: How a Tiny Network Became a $26 Billion Success Story,” The Hollywood Reporter, 3/28/14, RT: 11/30/14

(9) HISTORY, A+E Networks, RT: 11/30/2014

(10) “Houdini Mesmerizes 3.7 Million Viewers,” A+E Networks, 9/2/2014, RT: 11/30/14

(11) FYI, A+E Networks, RT: 11/30/2014

(12) “Bio to Rebrand as FYI, a ‘Contemporary Lifestyle’ Network,” Adweek, 12/11/13, RT: 11/30/14

(13) “FYI’s ‘Married at First Sight’ Season One Finale Becomes Most-Watched Telecast in Network History,” A+E Networks, 9/10/14, RT: 11/30/14

(14) Married at First Sight, A+E Networks, RT: 11/30/14

(15) Lifetime, A+E Networks, RT: 11/30/14

(16) “Lifetime Renews Devious Maids for Third Season,” A+E Networks, 9/26/14, RT: 11/30/14

(17) “Lifetime’s All New Fashion Competition Series Project Runway: Threads, Tailor-Made for Teen Fashionistas, Premieres October 23,” A+E Networks, 9/16/14, RT: 11/30/14

(18) A&E, A+E Networks, RT: 11/30/14

(19) Recent News, A+E Networks, RT: 11/30/14

(20) “‘Duck Dynasty’ Cancelled? Willie Robertson Talks Ratings Drop, Duck Commander Plans,” Inquisitir, 8/21/14, RT: 11/30/14

(21) “Why TV Hit ‘Longmire’ Got Canceled: Fans Too Old,” The Wall Street Journal, 9/11/14, RT: 11/30/14

(22) “A&E’s ‘Bates Motel’ Renewed For Third Season,” Deadline, 4/7/14, RT: 11/30/14

(23) Duck Dynasty Logo, PopSugar, RT: 11/30/14

(24) “Vice Won an Emmy Award” Advice, 8/18/14, RT: 11/30/14

(25) “A+E Networks Outbids Time Warner For 10% Vice Media Stake,” Deadline, 8/29/14, RT: 11/30/14

(26) “Executive Producers of ‘Lost’ on Tap at NAB Show,” NAB, 2/14/2008, RT: 11/30/14

(27) “Cuse Signs First-Look Deal With A+E,” Broadcasting & Cable, 10/10/14, RT: 11/30/14

(28) “Carlton Cuse, A&E Sign First-Look Development Deal,” Variety, 10/10/14, RT: 11/30/14

(29) “History Launches Online Course for Credit,” A+E Networks, 10/28/14, RT: 11/30/14

(30) “Banff World Media Festival Registration Open,” FILMbutton, 2/6/12, RT: 11/30/14

(31) “A+E Networks Named 2015 Company of Distinction at Banff World Media Festival,” A+E Networks, 10/15/14, RT: 11/30/14

(32) About the Banff World Media Festival, BANFF, RT: 11/30/14

A+E Television Networks

Posted on April 8, 2013 by Aaron Goldsmith

by Aaron Goldsmith

A+E Networks (1)

A+E Television Networks
235 East 45th Street
New York, NY 10017
(212) 210-1400

Mission Statement:

“At A+E Networks, we are passionate about bringing human stories to life, knowing that it is in life itself that those stories originate. We are committed to empowering our employees, strengthening our partnerships and engaging audiences across the globe.

Life is what you make it. We make it entertaining,” (1).

The Executives:

Abbe Raven, President and Chief Executive Officer, A+E Networks (1)

Nancy Dubac, President, Entertainment and Media, A+E Networks (1)

Robert DeBitetto, President and General Manager, A&E Network and BIO (1)

Melvin Berning, President, Ad Sales (1)

About A+E Television Networks:

Beginning in 1984, A+E Television Networks is an “award-winning global media content company,” that serves the consumer base through primarily television networks as well as websites, DVD and Blu-Ray distribution, and education programming and software. With their headquarters based out of New York and offices in London and Singapore, A+E Television Networks prides itself on being a “Global Brand” with channels and branded programming in over 150 countries and 37 different languages, with over 300 million viewers. A+E Networks in divided into 10 different television networks as well as A+E Networks International, A+E Networks Digital, A&E IndieFilms, and A+E Networks Consumer Products (1).

Their Networks and Now:

A&E (1)

“A&E is Real Life. Drama.” This A+E Networks channel provides top-rated content from reality shows to scripted dramas (1). Current Top Shows: Duck Dynasty, Bates Motel, Storage Wars, The First 48, American Hoggers, and Intervention (4).

What’s Happening Now:

April 2, 2013: A&E reports its best quarter in network history due to its high ratings for Bates Motel, Duck Dynasty, and Storage Wars. This past March was the networks highest rated month since in network history (3).
March 19, 2013: Bates Motel, A&E’s newest scripted drama, premiered March 18 with a viewership of 3.0 million people making it A&E’s “most-watched original drama series debut among the key 18-49 and 25-54 demos.” The show serves as a prequel to Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho (3).
February 28, 2013: The season three premiere of A&E’s nonfiction series Duck Dynasty on February 27 had a total viewership of 8.6 million. Duck Dynasty is now the network’s #1 telecast in the history of the network and “the #1 nonfiction series on cable in 2013,” (3).
January 4, 2013: Pre-production has begun on A&E’s newest reality series, Rodeo Girls. The show reveals the “chic and cutthroat” lives of professional woman rodeo competitors. A&E is working with The Weinstein Company for the eight one-hour episode order (3).
January 4, 2013: A&E is to premiere a new real life series, The Governor’s Wife, on February 27 after ordering 12 episodes from Leftfield Pictures. The series shows the life of former Louisiana Governor Edwin Edwards who is 85 years old, his wife Trina who is 34 years old, and the family they have joined together (3).

Lifetime (1)

Lifetime is A+E Television Networks’ premiere network made especially for women. The network features award-winning shows of different genres, targeting different demographics of women, including reality shows, dramas, and comedies (1). Current Top Shows: Army Wives, Dance Moms, Project Runway, Preachers’ Daughters, and The Client List (5).

What’s Happening Now:

March 21, 2013: After a judge issued an injunction four days before its premiere, Lifetime won the rights to Romeo Killer: The Chris Porco Story, and premiered it as originally scheduled on March 23 (3).
February 21, 2013: Lifetime announced the lineup of March season premieres, including hit shows Army Wives and The Client List, as well as the series premiere of Preachers’ Daughters (1).
January 23, 2013: Lifetime’s world premiere of its original movie, Prosecuting Casey Anthony, had a viewership of 3.3 million people, making it that night’s “number one telecast across ad-supported cable,” (1).
January 2, 2013: The series three premiere of Dance Moms reached a series best in ratings with 2.8 million viewers, an increase of 33% from its summer premiere in June 2012 (1).

Movies to be premiered on Lifetime:

Stalkers – April 13; Lifetime Original (3)
Call Me Crazy: A Five Film – April 20; Lifetime Original (3)
Dear Mom, Love Cher – May 6 (3)
Ring of Fire – May 27; Lifetime Original (3)

HISTORY (1)

A+E Television Networks’ HISTORY channel provides original content, combining entertainment and history to deliver programming across multiple platforms (1). Current Top Shows: Vikings, Pawn Stars, Swamp People, The Bible, and American Pickers (6).

What’s Happening Now:

April 2, 2013: HISTORY had the most total viewers out of all cable networks this past months, and this past quarter was the highest in the network’s history. These are due to the network’s shows’ high ratings including The Bible having 11.4 million viewers for its whole running, and both Vikings and Pawn Stars having 5.0 million viewers (1).
March 4, 2013: Vikings, HISTORY’s first scripted series, premiered March 3 with 6.2 million viewers. Its premiere made the show cable’s #1 series launch so far this year (1).
March 4, 2013: Averaging out with 14.8 million viewers over two telecasts, HISTORY’s premiere of The Bible was “the #1 cable entertainment telecast of the year,” (1).

H2 (1)

H2 offers a different view of the HISTORY channel, delivering history with more entertainment and “more to explore, more to understand, More 2 History™,” (1). Top Current Shows: Ancient Aliens, America Unearthed, Mankind Decoded, and Modern Marvels (7).

What’s Happening Now:

January 25, 2013: A+E Networks’ H2 is premiering Miracle Rising: South Africa on February 17. The film is about South Africa’s politics throughout the years since April 1994, and the story of how the country went from apartheid to a democracy (1).

bio. (1)

Bio. is all about the truth. With shows like I Killed My BFF, I Survived…, and Celebrity Ghost Stories (9), bio. “delivers an honest portrayal of stories that will leave you amazed,” (1).

What’s Happening Now:

April 4, 2013: Bio.’s newest documentary, Citizen Hearst, is planned to premiere on April 23. It is about William Randolph Hearst and the story of the Hearst Corporation, directed by Leslie Iwerks (1).

Crime & Investigation Network (1)

Crime & Investigation Network offers viewers with entertainment from behind-the-scenes looks at investigations, crimes, and mysteries (1). Its site features original webisodes, such as “Female Forces” and “Watching the Detectives,” while the television channel plays re-runs of popular dramas including Cold Case Files, SWAT, and The First 48 (8).

A+E Networks Recent Ratings:

Cable’s Top 25 Viewership – Ending March 31, 2013 (3)

Rank	Shows	Net	Viewers Live + SD (000)
2	The Bible	HIST	11745
3	Duck Dynasty	A&E	8497
6	Duck Dynasty	A&E	5282
9	Vikings	HIST	4741
14	Swamp People	HIST	4557
16	Duck Dynasty	A&E	3909
21	Duck Dynasty	A&E	3470
24	Duck Dynasty	A&E	3404

Cable’s Top 25 Viewership – Ending March 24, 2013 (3)

Rank Shows Net Viewers Live + SD (000)

2 The Bible HIST 10267

3 Duck Dynasty A&E 7839

4 Duck Dynasty A&E 7671

6 Swamp People HIST 4815

7 Vikings HIST 4538

Cable’s Top 25 Viewership – Ending March 17, 2013 (3)

Rank	Shows	Net	Viewers Live + SD (000)
1	The Bible	HIST	10872
3	Duck Dynasty	A&E	8285
4	Duck Dynasty	A&E	7943
6	Pawn Stars	HIST	5059
7	Pawn Stars	HIST	5041
10	Vikings	HIST	4834
15	American Pickers	HIST	4352
16	Swamp People	HIST	4196
17	Duck Dynasty	HIST	4156
25	Duck Dynasty	A&E	3648

Sources

“A+E Networks.” A+E Networks. A&E Television Networks, LLC., 2013. Web. 06 Apr. 2013. <http://www.aenetworks.com/>.
“A+E Networks – Brand Identity.” YouTube. YouTube, 22 May 2012. Web. 06 Apr. 2013. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egQzFdDYfXE>.
“TV News.” TVbytheNumbers. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Apr. 2013. <http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/>.
“A&E TV.” A&E TV. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Apr. 2013. <http://www.aetv.com/>.
“MyLifetime.com.” Lifetime. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Apr. 2013. <http://www.mylifetime.com/>.
“History.com.” HISTORY. A+E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 08 Apr. 2013. <http://www.history.com/>.
“About H2 – Historical Television Network from the History Channel.” History.com. A+E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 08 Apr. 2013. <http://www.history.com/h2>.
“Crime & Investigation.” Crime & Investigation. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Apr. 2013. <http://www.crimeandinvestigationnetwork.com/crime-and-investigation/>.
“Bio.” Bio.com. A+E Networks Television, n.d. Web. 08 Apr. 2013. <http://www.biography.com/>.

A+E Television Networks

Posted on April 4, 2013 by Jacqueline Grossman

by Jacqueline Grossman

Courtesy of www.aenetworks.com

A&E Overview

A&E Television Networks is a privately held media company located in New York City that owns and operates 10 channels that are available by both cable and satellite. The network’s channels reach more than 300 million households in 150 countries, producing content in 35 different languages [1]. Its mission involves bringing human stories to life, knowing full well that quality entertainment can come straight from real-world experiences. Lifetime Television, its flagship network, is the most powerful media brand targeted to women, with shows such as Dance Moms and Project Runway. Since its launch in February, 1984, Lifetime has grown significantly, reaching nearly 98 million households today [2]. In addition to this station, the A&E television channel itself offers a mix of reality-based programming and documentaries while its History, Military History, and History 2 channels air original programs on historical topics. The company also operates sister networks such as Crime & Investigation Network and The Biography Channel. It has international networks in the UK and Asia. [3].

History

AETN was formed in 1983 as a joint venture between Hearst, Walt Disney, and NBCUniversal (NBCU). The company launched Lifetime in 1984, followed by the History Channel, History Channel International, and The Biography Channel in 1995 and 1998, respectively. Throughout its history, the network has achieved incredible success, for instance in 2004 when it won 24 Emmy nominations and in 2008, when HISTORY (renamed from The History Channel) became the #1 cable network in primetime among the target demographic: adults 18-49. A&E continues to demonstrate success through its new reality television shows Duck Dynasty, Storage Wars, and Hoarders. In July of last year, NBC sold its 15.8 percent stake of A&E to Hearst and Walt Disney for $3.03 billion. [1]

Key Executives

Abbe Raven, courtesy of www.aenetworks.com

Abbe Raven has been the President and CEO of A&E Television Networks since March 2005. Before overseeing all A&E holdings, she was part of the original team that launched the History Channel and reinvented A&E (channel) in 2003. Ms. Raven is a firm believer in the motto “slow and steady wins the race,” having started as a secretary for A&E and learned the business from the bottom up. Today, she is an award-winning President and CEO who has been named one of the Top 5 Most Powerful Women in Entertainment by The Hollywood Reporter. [1]

Gerard Gruosso, courtesy of www.aenetworks.com

As, Executive VP, Finance and CFO, Gerard Gruosso is responsible for the management of A&E’s accounts, budgets, and strategic planning. He also oversees the network’s facilities and information management. Mr. Gruosso has been with A&E since 1985, beginning as Assistant Controller, working his way up to Controller and Vice President, and eventually reaching his current position. [1]

Nancy Dubuc, courtesy of www.aenetworks.com

President, Entertainment and Media Nancy Dubuc oversees the creation and development of A&E’s brand and marketing in addition to managing A&E International and A&E Digital. Before transitioning to this position, Ms. Dubuc previously served as the President and General Manager of HISTORY and Lifetime Networks. [1]

Dan Suratt, courtesy of www.aenetworks.com

Six-time Emmy Award-winner Dan Suratt is the Executive VP, Digital Media and Business Development. He handles the network’s business negotiations and digital distribution. As a result of his efforts, Mr. Suratt has doubled A&E’s site traffic to 22 million visitors per month. [1]

Competitors

A&E’s top three competitors are Discovery Communications, Inc., MTV Networks Company, and AMC Networks Inc. [4]

Company News

January

Lifetime Television was off to a great start in the first month of 2013. It’s original movie, Prosecuting Casey Anthony, generated great success for the channel; it ranked as the number one telecast across ad-supported cable in total viewers, adults 18+, women 18+, women 25-54, and women 18-49 on the night it premiered. The movie—which starred Golden Globe and Emmy Award nominee Rob Lowe—was the first opportunity to recount the infamous Casey Anthony trial. It is from the perspective of Jeff Ashton, the Florida prosecutor who was involved in the case and provides details on his aggressive investigation of Caylee Anthony’s death. [10]

February

Duck Dynasty, courtesy of www.aetv.com

A&E’s unexpected hit, Duck Dynasty, became the channel’s number 1 telecast ever and number one nonfiction series on cable in 2013. The show follows the lives of the Roberson family members, owners of Duck Commander, a business that makes products for duck hunters. Its season three premiere earned a total of 8.6 million viewers, ranking ahead of FOX’s American Idol. What is it that distinguishes this series from other “redneck” reality shows like Here Comes Honey Boo Boo, Swamp Pawn, and Buckwild? Television critics argue that it comes down to the characters themselves. The Robersons are savvy, educated businessmen with diverse yet endearing personalities. In addition, the show flows at a relaxed pace and is suitable for family audiences. [11][12]

March

Nielsen ratings for cable network TV shows, courtesy of www.nielsen.com

A&E received more great news in March. Its A&E television channel had its best quarter in history among total viewers and adults 25-54, soaring past the previously record-setting first quarter 2012. One of the key reasons for this success is the increase in well-received original series that aired in the first quarter of 2013, specifically Bates Motel, Duck Dynasty, and Storage Wars. Due to these shows, the network was up 2% in adults 25-54 (835,000 vs. 819,000) and up 6% in total viewers (1.7 million vs.1.6 million). March was the most watched month in the quarter, and it was the first time A&E averaged more than one million viewers age 25-54 in a single month. These records have propelled A&E up to become the fourth ranked most-watched cable network in all three demographics this March (18-49, 25-54, and total viewers). [8]

Vikings, the History Channel’s new show, courtesy of www.history.com

The History Channel enjoyed success from its first scripted series, Vikings. The hit drama explores the adventure, bloodshed, and passion that existed during the Dark Ages, all through the eyes of the Vikings. Vikings is special in that it not only celebrates the excitement of warfare but also demonstrates the strength of familial ties. According to the network, Vikings attracted 4.8 million total viewers, with 2.2 million adults 25-54 and 1.9 million adults 18-49. These ratings made Vikings the most-watched cable series in its timeslot. [9]

April

Storage Wars, courtesy of www.aetv.com

One of A&E’s most popular television shows, Storage Wars, is returning on April 16th with a full series of 24 episodes, despite the network’s participation in lawsuits with former show star Dave Hester. The hit series premiered in 2010 and features teams of auctioneers looking to “hit it big” by purchasing the contents of storage facilities after inspecting it for a short amount of time. Hester took the network to court claiming the show is staged; he argued that the show’s producers knew what items were in which storage locker and used this knowledge to rig the bidders’ fates. [6] Even with this controversy, Storage Wars ranked as A&E’s number one series among adults aged 18-49 and 25-54. It also achieved the number three rating for non-fiction show on cable among adults aged 25-54. Last year, the show averaged 4.2 million total viewers. [7] Click here for a link to this season’s trailer.

Contact A+E

Website: http://www.aenetworks.com/

Address: 235 E. 45th St. New York, NY, 10017 United States

Telephone: (212) 210-1400

Works Cited

1. About A&E Networks – bringing human stories to life

2. Lifetime

3. A&E International Information

4. Hoovers – A&E Competitors

5. A&E Executive Bios

6. Storage Wars Lawsuit

7. Storage Wars