History is an American basic cable and satellite television channel that is owned by A+E Networks, a joint venture between the Hearst Corporation and the Disney–ABC Television Group division of The Walt Disney Company. It originally broadcast documentary programs and historical fiction series. However since 2008, it has mostly broadcast a variety of reality television series and other non-history related content. Additionally, the network is frequently criticized by scientists and skeptics for broadcasting pseudo-documentaries, unsubstantiated and sensational investigative programming, such as Ancient Aliens, UFO Files, Brad Meltzer's Decoded and the Nostradamus Effect. As of August 2013, approximately 98,226,000 American households receive History. International localized versions of History are available, in various forms, in Canada, Europe, Australia, Middle East, Africa, and Latin America. The first European version was launched in Scandinavia in 1997 by Viasat which now operates their own channel, Viasat History. |