E! (European TV channel)

E!
Broadcast areaEurope
NetworkNBCUniversal International Networks
HeadquartersAmsterdam, Netherlands
Programming
Picture format1080i HDTV
(downscaled to 16:9 576i for the SDTV feed)
Ownership
OwnerNBCUniversal
Sister channels13th Street
CNBC Europe
DreamWorks Channel
Syfy
History
Launched2 December 2002 (2002-12-02)
ClosedAugust 31, 2012; 12 years ago (2012-08-31) (Italy)
May 1, 2015; 9 years ago (2015-05-01) (Russia)
December 31, 2022; 22 months ago (2022-12-31) (Germany)
December 31, 2023; 10 months ago (2023-12-31) (UK and Ireland)
Links
WebsiteOfficial Website
Availability
Streaming media
Ziggo GO (Netherlands)ZiggoGO TV

E! is a European pay television channel, operated by E! Entertainment Europe B.V. and owned by NBCUniversal & Sky Group. It features entertainment-related programming, reality television and Hollywood gossip and news. E! currently has an audience reach of 600 million homes internationally.

History

E! in Europe before 2004

Main article: E! § History

E! Entertainment Television was founded by Larry Namer and Alan Mruvka in the United States.[1][2]

The network launched on 31 July 1987 as Movietime, a service that aired movie trailers, entertainment news, event and awards coverage, and interviews as an early example of a national barker channel.[3] Three years later, in June 1990, Movietime was renamed E! Entertainment Television to emphasise its widening coverage of the celebrity–industrial complex, contemporary film, television and music, daily Hollywood gossip, and fashion.

In the Fall of 1999, Zone Vision launched E! Entertainment in Poland, under a licensing agreement on the Polish digital platform Wizja TV, with Zone's Studio Company providing localized content.[4] The channel was shut down by 2002.

E! enters Europe

In 2002 E! launched in Europe with its headquarters situated in Amsterdam in the Netherlands. One of the first countries E! broadcast in was Germany, where it telecast daily.[5][6][7] In the Summer of 2006 E! began localizing in France, Italy and the UK.[8]

At the end of 2011 E! launched in HD in Eastern Europe.[9] Followed by a launch in the UK and in Ireland on 8 October 2012,[10] Germany on 30 April 2013 and other European countries.

Universal Channel and E!’s Closure in Russia

On 30 April 2015, E! was closed during technical problems, along with Universal Channel.

E! in the UK and Ireland

E! in the UK and Ireland was a lifestyle channel with E! America's content like E! News and Live from the Red Carpet dropped. The promos/trailers for E! have also ceased. The channel closed on December 31, 2023.[11]

E! has localised versions of the same channel, including:

  • E! (Africa)
  • E! (Balkans)
  • E! (Benelux)
    • E! (Portugal)
  • E! (France)
  • E! (Greece and Cyprus)
  • E! (Israel)
  • E! (Poland)
  • E! (Romania)
  • E! (Scandinavia)
  • E! (Serbia)
  • E! (Slovenia)

Closed channels:

  • E! (Germany)
  • E! (UK and Ireland)
  • E! (Italy)
  • E! (Russia)

Programming

Main article: List of programs broadcast by E!

See also

References

  1. ^ Slide, Anthony (1991). The television industry: a historical dictionary (illustrated ed.). Greenwood Press. p. 94. ISBN 9780313256349.
  2. ^ Dougherty, Philip H. (30 July 1987). "Advertising; Promoting Movies Via Cable". New York Times. Retrieved 24 June 2009.
  3. ^ Gerard, Jeremy (3 June 1990). "TELEVISION; Fledgling Cable Networks Are Poised for Flight". The New York Times.
  4. ^ "@Entertainment Adds E! to The Wizja TV Programming Platform Number of Wizja TV Channels Increases to 22". Archived from the original on 16 March 2016. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
  5. ^ Alan Jay (2 December 2002). "E! Entertainment launches on Sky". Digital Spy.
  6. ^ "E Entertainment UK Limited". Duedil. Retrieved 30 September 2012.
  7. ^ "E! Entertainment Europe B.V." Company.info. Retrieved 30 September 2012.
  8. ^ Chalaby, Jean K. (2009). Transnational Television in Europe: Reconfiguring Global Communications Networks. I.B.Tauris. p. 139. ISBN 9780857717474.
  9. ^ "E! Eastern Europe HD Change Log". KingofSat.net. Retrieved 9 October 2012.
  10. ^ "E! HD Launches on SKY". Digital Spy. Retrieved 9 October 2012.
  11. ^ "E! is leaving Sky and Virgin Media – where can I find its replacement?". RXTVinfo. Retrieved 18 December 2023.