H2 (orHistory2) is a brand name owned by A&E Networks (ajoint venture between the Hearst Communications and the Walt Disney Television division of The Walt Disney Company), used for a sister television channel of History. The brand was debuted in September 2011 when History International in the United States was relaunched as H2. The brand was expanded outside the U.S. since then. H2 in the United States was relaunched on February 29, 2016 as Viceland, but the H2 brand is still used for sister channels to History in other markets.[1]
Logo used since 2021
| |
| Country | United States |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Worldwide |
| Headquarters | Brooklyn, New York City |
| Programming | |
| Language(s) | English |
| Picture format | 1080i HDTV |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | A&E Networks |
| Sister channels | List of Sky UK channels |
| History | |
| Launched | September 2011 (2011-09) |
| Closed | October 1, 2022 (2022-10-01) (Southeast Asia) |
A&E Networks began rebranding the remaining versions of H2 as History2, starting with Latin American version on January 1, 2019.
On November 6, 2018, concerning Disney's proposed acquisitionof21st Century Fox, the European Commission required Disney to sell A&E's television operations in Europe, which include the versions of H2 in the area.[2]
The H2 brand was introduced in the United States, when History International was re-branded as such on September 26, 2011, with its programming was refocused to feature documentary content from its sister network History, prior to that network's shift towards more reality programming.[3] The American channel was subsequently replaced by Viceland on February 29, 2016.[1]
On August 27, 2012, Shaw Media, relaunched the male-focused Category A digital channel, The Cave as a domestic Canadian version of H2.[4]
In 2014, a Latin American version of H2 was launched under the ownership of A+E Networks Latin America (a joint venture between A+E Networks and Ole Communications) and distributed by Ole Distribution.[5] On January 1, 2019, H2 was re-branded as History2.[6]
In the Middle East and North Africa, the regional version of H2 is available on OSN since 1 February 2016.[9][10]
In Southeast Asia, A+E Networks launched a regional version of H2 on 14 June 2013.[11] After 9 years of broadcasting, H2 Asia ceased broadcasting on 1 October 2022.