A+E buys NBCU out of German joint venture

Sean Cohan

A+E Networks is to acquire full control of its German joint venture, as it continues to consolidate its international operations.

The deal will see NBCUniversal International Networks stepping back from A+E Networks Germany after a twelve-year joint venture.

A+E Networks Germany operates the History and A&E channels in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Luxembourg, Liechenstein and the autonomous Italian border region Alto Adige.

A+E’s international strategy has been to take control of its local channels ventures, a process it began in Asia in 2013 when it bought Malaysian pay TV firm Astro out of A+E Networks Asia (then AETN All Asia Networks). It now fully owns its operations in Italy, Southeast Asia, Japan and South Korea.

Financial terms of the deal with NBCU were not disclosed, and the agreement is subject to regulatory approval.

“We are incredibly proud of the success we have achieved with our partner NBCUniversal International since 2005,” said Sean Cohan, president ofinternational and digital at A+E Networks.

“With powerful brands History and A&E, and a talented local team, we look forward to building on that success with strategic investment in local programming and new linear and digital services to grow our audiences in one of the world’s largest media markets.”

History currently reaches five million pay TV subscribers, and A&E four million in the region, according to the company. They have commissioned local shows such as The Liberators, The Eleventh Day and Guardians of Heritage, the latter of which debuts in November 2017.