Sean Cohan


A+E increases History Channel Japan stake

A+E Networks has increased its stake in The History Channel Japan from 50% to 80%. The US-based channels group has run a 50-50 joint venture with Super Network/ Tohokushisha (TFC) to operate the factual channel since 2000, but has moved to consolidate as it seeks more control over its international assets. History Channel Japan will […]

A+E ups Barry to key strategic role

Cable group A+E Networks has promoted Christopher Barry to senior VP and head of finance and business planning, international and digital. Barry (left) was most recently SVP, international strategy and digital media at A+E’s international arm, but will lead the team responsible for financial oversight, business planning and “strategic support for growth initiatives and investments […]

Cohan upped in A+E Networks rejig

A+E Networks has rejigged its digital and corporate units, handing Sean Cohan a wider role as president, international and digital media. The new structure sees the channel operator and programmer bring its international and digital divisions together, with Cohan at the helm. Daniel Suratt is also upped in the restructure, taking the new role of […]

A+E poaches BBC Worldwide’s Hill

A+E Networks has poached BBC Worldwide’s Amanda Hill to become its chief creative officer, international. She will be responsible for overseeing A+E’s programming, marketing and communications teams across its global portfolio, which includes the A&E channel, History and FYI. Included in this is oversight of all content, including programming development and coproductions. Hill will also […]

A+E preps FYI international launches

A+E Networks will launch its FYI channel into new international territories and will also look at taking greater control of some of its joint venture channels operations this year. A+E rebranded its US Bio channel in the US as lifestyle service FYI and the new brand launched last year. It is also carried in Canada […]

New World Order: Executive perspective

In the second part of our report into the wave of top-level consolidation in the international TV business, key execs explain how current events are affecting their businesses. David Frank, founder, Dial Square 86 Having launched and built one of the original super-indies, RDF, steered it through an IPO and then run the company that […]

New World Order

Following confirmation of the game-changing Shine Group-Endemol merger and the emergence of an increasingly more consolidated TV business landscape, Stewart Clarke and Jesse Whittock speak to influential executives about key changes the industry is undergoing.   Mergers, acquisition and consolidation are not a new phenomenon in the media and entertainment sector. The clue is in […]

A+E makes dramatic move with Studios

A+E launched A+E Studios just over a year ago to deliver premium scripted programming to its A&E, History and Lifetime brands, and now the company is taking that content international, its executive VP, Sean Cohan, tells Stewart Clarke. When History moved into scripted programming, it immediately hit its stride – The Bible, Vikings and Hatfields […]

New format deals for Pawn Stars

There will be local versions of hit reality format Pawn Stars after the A&E and History channels in Australia and South Africa commissioned series. History UK has also ordered a second season of its local version of the show, which follows larger than life characters working in the pawn shop business. The show was created […]

A+E goes it alone with new European launch

A+E Networks has launched A+E Networks Italy, TBI has learned, marking the first time it has set up a wholly-owned channels business in Europe. The new set-up will launch the Crime + Investigation channel on Sky Italia and will take full control of History in early 2014, which to this point in Italy has been […]