Blaze is aBritish English languagefree-to-air television channel owned by Hearst Networks UK, a joint venture betweenA&E Networks andSky Group. This channel allows UK A&E to use its programming for the complete "lifecycle".
A+E Networks Italy launched its Blaze onSky Italy on March 22, 2017.[1] In Spain and Portugal, a version of Blaze channel was launched byAMC Networks International in joint-venture with A&E Networks to replace the A&E channel on 18 April 2018,[2] but closed and replaced with AMC Break on 19 April 2022.[3] The Italian version of the channel was closed on 1 August 2023.[4]
The channels' programming is a best of A&E shows.[5] Blaze was the first channel launched in the UK by A&E Networks that did not borrow its name from one of the company's U.S. channels. The abbreviation "A&E" is commonly used to mean "Accident and Emergency unit" in the UK, so the company decided not to use that brand for the channel.[6]
Having originally only aired imported and rerun programming, Blaze commissioned its first original programme,Flipping Bangers, in 2017.[7] It premiered on 6 April 2018 as a part of the Car Nightprogramming block.[8] A second season was later commissioned.
TCC was The Community Channel's licence bought byA&E Networks UK so that their channel Blaze would be listed higher up on the EPG and The Community Channel would end up lower down (under their new nameTogether TV). TCC and sister channel Blaze+1 were a couple of part-time services slots hoarded[24] by A&E Networks, which broadcast shows from Blaze for a couple of hours each night after the main channel had shut down. In May 2024, That’s Media acquired the TCC Broadcasting broadcast licence[25] and its EPG slot from A+E Networks UK, so that it could launch That’s Memories.
In addition to providing on-demand access to programming screened on Blaze, the Blaze website and apps also provide access to fivefree ad-supported streaming television channels operated by Hearst Networks;[26] these channels are also available through third-party TV and streaming platforms such asSamsung TV Plus,Rakuten TV andVirgin Media[27] The FAST channels operated by Hearst Networks comprise:
Deal Masters featuring shows relating to trading and pawnbroking;
History Hunters featuring history-themed programming, including content previously aired onSky History;
Inside Crime featuring true-crime documentaries, including content earlier screened onCrime+Investigation;
Mystery TV featuring content relating to the paranormal and unexplained;
World War TV featuring content relating to warfare and military history.
