H2

H2, also known as History2 in several markets, is a television channel brand developed by A+E Networks as a documentary-oriented companion to History. The brand debuted in the United States on September 26, 2011, when History International was relaunched as H2. Its initial positioning was designed to preserve and expand History's factual, historical and documentary identity at a time when the main History channel was increasingly incorporating reality and entertainment programming. H2 therefore served as a more specialized outlet for historical documentaries and related factual subjects rather than as a standalone consumer product or corporate company. The brand was subsequently licensed, adapted or distributed in multiple international markets. In Canada, Shaw Media relaunched the male-focused digital specialty channel The Cave as H2 on August 27, 2012. A Southeast Asian version launched on June 14, 2013, while a United Kingdom and Ireland service was created on May 4, 2013 through the rebranding of Military History. Poland received an H2 channel on October 28, 2014, and Serbia followed in April 2015 through Orion TV, with later availability through MTS TV. A Latin American version launched in 2014 under A+E Networks Latin America, a joint venture involving A+E Networks and Ole Communications. H2 also became available in the Middle East and North Africa through OSN from February 1, 2016, and a Croatian version launched through Hrvatski Telekom's MaxTV on February 1, 2018. The original United States H2 service had a relatively short life. On February 29, 2016, it was replaced by Viceland, a channel created through a partnership involving A+E Networks and Vice Media. This ended the H2 brand's operation as a U.S. linear channel, although the name continued to be used for international sister services to History. The international identity later became less uniform. A+E Networks began changing H2 services to History2, starting with Latin America on January 1, 2019. Poland and the United Kingdom and Ireland followed on February 6, 2019. In the United Kingdom and Ireland, History2 was subsequently renamed Sky History2 on May 27, 2020, alongside the broader transition of the History services to Sky History and Sky History2. The European versions of H2 were also affected by media-regulatory developments. In connection with The Walt Disney Company's proposed acquisition of 21st Century Fox, the European Commission required Disney to divest A&E's European television operations, which included European versions of H2. This requirement concerned the ownership and control of the relevant European television assets rather than the disappearance of the H2 concept worldwide. H2's remaining footprint has therefore varied by territory and over time. Some versions have been rebranded as History2 or Sky History2, while others have ceased broadcasting. H2 Asia ended its linear broadcast service on October 1, 2022, after approximately nine years. In Australia, the H2 brand became available on the 9Now platform in 2025. The brand is best understood as an international factual-television label within the A+E Networks ecosystem, with market-specific distribution, programming and naming arrangements rather than as a single globally uniform channel.

H2 originated as a U.S. television rebranding project within A+E Networks. On September 26, 2011, History International was relaunched as H2. The change gave A+E Networks a second brand positioned around historical documentaries and factual programming, while the main History service was moving toward a broader mix that included more reality-based entertainment. H2 was consequently conceived as a companion channel that could carry documentary material without competing directly with the evolving programming identity of History. The label then became an international channel franchise. Shaw Media relaunched Canada's digital specialty service The Cave as H2 on August 27, 2012. In 2013, A+E Networks introduced H2 in Southeast Asia, and the United Kingdom and Ireland service was created by converting Military History on May 4. The brand expanded further in 2014 with services in Latin America and Poland, followed by Serbia in 2015. The Latin American version was operated within the A+E Networks Latin America structure and distributed by Ole Distribution. These international services were adapted to local pay-TV arrangements, so the availability, scheduling and later fate of H2 differed by territory. The brand also reached the Middle East and North Africa, where a regional H2 service became available through OSN on February 1, 2016. A Croatian service launched through Hrvatski Telekom's MaxTV on February 1, 2018. By that point, however, the original U.S. channel had already been discontinued as an H2 service. On February 29, 2016, it was relaunched as Viceland, ending the American version while leaving H2 in use internationally. From 2019 onward, A+E Networks increasingly used the name History2 for services that had previously carried the H2 identity. Latin America changed first, on January 1, 2019, and Poland and the United Kingdom and Ireland followed on February 6. In the United Kingdom and Ireland, the service later became Sky History2 on May 27, 2020, while the associated History channel was also renamed Sky History. This sequence shows that H2 was not maintained as a single standardized worldwide brand; it functioned as a regional label that could be replaced by stronger local or parent-brand identities. Corporate and regulatory developments also affected the European footprint. In 2018, the European Commission required Disney to sell A&E's European television operations as part of its review of Disney's proposed acquisition of 21st Century Fox. The affected assets included European versions of H2. The regulatory remedy related to ownership and competition in European television markets and did not terminate H2 in every other region. The Southeast Asian version continued until October 1, 2022, when H2 Asia ceased broadcasting. In Australia, the brand became available on 9Now in 2025. H2's history is therefore characterized by an initial U.S. launch, international licensing and distribution, a rapid replacement in the U.S., and gradual market-by-market transitions to History2, Sky History2 or complete closure. Its enduring role has been as a factual and historical television identity connected to the History family of A+E Networks brands.

• 2025

  Australian platform availability

  [1]H2 (A&E Networks)en.wikipedia.org

  H2 became available on the 9Now platform in Australia.

• 2022

  H2 Asia closes

  [1]H2 (A&E Networks)en.wikipedia.org

  The Southeast Asian H2 service ceased broadcasting on October 1.

• 2019

  History2 rebranding begins

  [1]H2 (A&E Networks)en.wikipedia.org

  A+E Networks began converting H2 services to History2, starting in Latin America and continuing in Poland and the United Kingdom and Ireland.

• 2016

  U.S. service replaced by Viceland

  [1]H2 (A&E Networks)en.wikipedia.org

  The American H2 channel was relaunched as Viceland on February 29.

• 2014

  Latin American and Polish services launch

  [1]H2 (A&E Networks)en.wikipedia.org

  Regional H2 services were introduced in Latin America and Poland.

• 2013

  Expansion to Southeast Asia and the United Kingdom

  [1]H2 (A&E Networks)en.wikipedia.org

  H2 launched in Southeast Asia and replaced Military History in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

• 2012

  Canadian launch

  [1]H2 (A&E Networks)en.wikipedia.org

  The Cave was relaunched as the Canadian version of H2 on August 27.

• 2011

  H2 debuts in the United States

  [1]H2 (A&E Networks)en.wikipedia.org

  History International was relaunched as H2 on September 26, establishing the brand as a documentary-focused companion to History.

A documentary and factual-television companion to History, emphasizing historical programming and related nonfiction content. The brand was positioned as a more focused alternative to the increasingly reality-oriented programming mix of the main History channel.

• Television channel · 2011

  H2 United States

  The original H2 service was created by relaunching History International in September 2011. It emphasized historical documentaries and factual programming as a more focused counterpart to History. The U.S. channel ended its H2 operation when it was relaunched as Viceland on February 29, 2016.

• Regional television channel brand · 2012

  H2 International

  H2 was adapted for multiple territories, including Canada, Latin America, Poland, Serbia, Croatia, the United Kingdom and Ireland, the Middle East and North Africa, and Southeast Asia. These services were distributed through local pay-TV operators and did not share an identical schedule or lifecycle.

• Regional television channel brand · 2019

  History2

  History2 is the successor name adopted by several former H2 services. Rebranding began in Latin America in 2019 and was subsequently implemented in Poland and the United Kingdom and Ireland. The British and Irish service later became Sky History2.

• Regional television channel · 2013

  H2 Asia

  The Southeast Asian version of H2 launched in June 2013 and operated as a regional factual channel before ending its broadcast service on October 1, 2022.

• 2022

  End H2 Asia broadcastingOther

  Background

  The Southeast Asian version had operated as a regional H2 service since 2013.

  Action taken

  H2 Asia ceased broadcasting on October 1, 2022.

  Aftermath

  The Southeast Asian H2 service was removed from the linear television market.

  Source

• 2019

  Shift selected markets from H2 to History2Strategy

  Background

  A+E Networks consolidated the H2 identity more closely with its established History brand in selected international territories.

  Action taken

  The Latin American service was renamed History2 on January 1, followed by Polish and United Kingdom and Ireland services on February 6.

  Aftermath

  The H2 brand became increasingly market-specific, with some services using History2 or Sky History2 and others closing.

  Source

• 2016

  Replace the U.S. H2 service with VicelandGeneration change

  Background

  A+E Networks pursued a new U.S. channel identity associated with Vice Media rather than continuing H2 domestically.

  Action taken

  The U.S. H2 channel was relaunched as Viceland on February 29, 2016.

  Aftermath

  H2 ceased to operate as a U.S. linear channel but remained in use in a number of international markets.

  Source

• 2011

  Relaunch History International as H2Product launch

  Background

  A+E Networks sought a companion identity for historical and documentary programming as the main History channel broadened its programming mix.

  Action taken

  History International was renamed and repositioned as H2 in the United States.

  Aftermath

  The H2 name became the basis for later regional channel launches outside the United States.

  Source

1. 1H2 (A&E Networks)en.wikipedia.org