FYI (U.S. TV channel)

FYI
Launched January 1, 1999 (as The Biography Channel)
July 7, 2014 (relaunch; as fyi,)
Owned by A&E Networks
(Hearst Corporation (50%)
Disney–ABC Television Group (50%))
Picture format 720p (HDTV)
480i (SDTV)
Slogan Your Inspiration Network
Country United States
Language English
Broadcast area United States
Canada
Southeast Asia
Hong Kong
Taiwan
Headquarters Newark, New Jersey
Formerly called The Biography Channel (1999–2014)
Sister channel(s) A&E
History
H2
Lifetime
Lifetime Movie Network
Lifetime Real Women
Military History
Website www.fyi.tv
Availability
Satellite
Dish Network 119 (HD/SD)
DirecTV 266 (HD/SD)
C-Band - H2H/4DTV AMC 18 - Channel 201
Cable
Verizon FiOS 629 (HD)
129 (SD)
Available on many other U.S. cable systems Consult your local cable provider for channel availability
IPTV
AT&T U-verse 1272 (HD)
272 (SD)
Streaming media
Sling TV Internet Protocol television

FYI (stylized as fyi,) is an American digital cable and satellite television network that is owned by A&E Networks, a joint venture between the Disney–ABC Television Group subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company and the Hearst Corporation (which each own 50%). The network features lifestyle programming, with a mix of reality, culinary, home renovation and makeover series.

The network originally launched in 1999 as The Biography Channel—an off-shoot of the A&E television series Biography. As such, it originally featured factual programs, such as reruns of its namesake. As A&E shifted its focus towards reality and drama series, Biography Channel became the home for several series that had been displaced by the network (including Biography itself), but shifted towards reality-oriented series itself in 2007 with a re-brand as simply Bio.

As of February 2015, the channel was available to approximately 70,932,000 pay television households (60.9% of households with at least one television set) in the United States.[1]

History

As The Biography Channel

Original logo used from 1999 to 2001.
Second logo used from 2001 to 2007.
Third logo used from 2007 to 2014.

The channel was launched on January 1, 1999 as The Biography Channel. A&E Television Networks (now A+E Networks, and operated as a joint venture between The Walt Disney Company, the Hearst Corporation and NBC at the time) conceived the channel as an offshoot of the long-running A&E profile series Biography.[2] In addition to airing biographical shows, the network aired fictional, non-biographical programs that were previously seen on A&E, including Murder, She Wrote and Sherlock Holmes; the scripted programming was dropped from the channel in 2007.

On October 1, 2000, A&E Networks expanded its British partnership with British Sky Broadcasting with the launch of an UK market Biography Channel.[3]

By August 2006, The Biography Channel became the exclusive home for the Biography series, which was also dropped by A&E. In July 2007, Biography Channel unveiled a new on-air brand—identifying the network simply as "Bio". The changes came as the network shifted its scope to de-emphasize traditional biographical programs in favor of “true stories about fascinating people”, such as the new series Shatner's Raw Nerve, hosted by actor William Shatner.[4]

The Biography Channel, or Bio, had been stagnating since A+E’s 2013 upfront presentation as little focus was place upon it. Bio was generating 12 cents per subscribers from the video provider which is half the industry average. After tweaking the three main A+E channels, Bio averaged viewers of 91,000 adults 25-54 in prime compared to what A&E (716,000) and History (703,000) managed over the same period.[5] Jana Bennett was hired as president of LMN and Bio in June 2013 and, having transformed TLC from an educational channel to a lifestyle network, was considered an indication that adding a lifestyle channel to the A+E portfolio was a possibility.[6] An opening in the genre occurred as the Style Network became the men-focused Esquire Network. While preparing to launch FYI, Bio began re-airing A&E’s house-flipping shows and 30 potential shows were placed in development.[6]

As Fyi

In December 2013, A+E Networks announced that The Biography Channel would be rebranded as FYI, a contemporary lifestyle network, starting in mid 2014.[7] By February, FYI had a slate of six new series including three food series, two home design series, and one style series. Other shows were also in development,[8] Two of the shows in development had pilot orders, Red Hot Design and Jennifer’s Way.[9] In April, Midnight Feast was greenlit for the new channel while 2 others were order to pilot, Say It To My Face and Reverse Course.[10]

With the June 2014 announcement of the January 2015 end of the ABC Owned Television Stations-run digital network Live Well Network, some of its programming was being offered to FYI, which shares partial ABC ownership.[11]

The network launched on July 7, 2014 with a preview special, FYI: First Look, which featured previews of the network's new programming. The first of its new original series, Married at First Sight, premiered the next day.[12]

In January 2015, following the success of its Six Months Later special, FYI ordered Married At First Sight: The First Year.[13]

Programming

Current FYI programming

Current other programming

In production

In development

Former Bio programming

International versions of Bio and FYI

Despite the relaunch, international versions of The Biography Channel continue to exist in Australia and Canada. An international version of The Biography Channel also used to operated in the United Kingdom and Ireland, Israel, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Latin America and South East Asia, but has since been replaced by other channels.

Canada

As part of a licensing agreement with Shaw Media, their lifestyle channel, Twist TV, was rebranded as a Canadian version of FYI in September 2014.[18]

Latin America

The Latin American version airs the same programming and uses the same logo as the former U.S. flagship channel and it is operated by the HBO Latin America Group subsidiary of Time Warner under a brand licensing agreement with A&E Networks. In July 2014, The Biography Channel was replaced by H2.

UK and Ireland

Spain and Portugal

Bio in Spain and Portugal was replaced by A&E in October 2014.[19]

Germany

Bio in Germany was replaced by A&E in 22 September 2014.[20]

Israel

Bio is known as ערוץ ביוגרפיה in Israel. In 14 September 2014, the channel was replaced by Lifetime.[21]

South East Asia

Bio in South East Asia was replaced by Fyi in 6 October 2014.[22]

Australia

Main article: Bio.

References

  1. ↑ Seidman, Robert (February 22, 2015). "List of how many homes each cable network is in as of February 2015". TV by the Numbers. Zap2it. Retrieved March 14, 2015.
  2. ↑ Nededog, Jethro (December 11, 2013). "A&E Networks Rebranding Bio Channel to Lifestyle Channel FYI". The Wrap. Retrieved July 7, 2014.
  3. ↑ Wilkes, Neil (September 22, 2000). "Sky confirms Biography Channel". Digital Spy. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
  4. ↑ Zeitchik, Steven (January 16, 2007). "Shatner to interview celebrities". Variety. Retrieved December 12, 2013.
  5. ↑ Thielman, Sam (December 11, 2013). "Bio to Rebrand as FYI, a 'Contemporary Lifestyle' Network". Ad Week. Retrieved July 7, 2014.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Andreeva, Nellie (December 11, 2013). "A+E Networks' Bio Renamed FYI As It Converts Into Lifestyle Network". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 12, 2013.
  7. ↑ Bibel, Sara (May 27, 2014). "FYI Unveils Primetime Lineup For July Premiere". TV by the Numbers (Press release). Retrieved May 27, 2014.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 8.6 "FYI Network Announces Lineup, Launch Date". February 26, 2014. Retrieved July 7, 2014.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Littleton, Cynthia (February 26, 2014). "Food, Home Renovation Shows on Menu for A+E’s FYI Launch". Variety. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 Steinberg, Brian (April 30, 2014). "A+E’s New FYI Network Makes Bigger Bet On Cooking Series". Variety. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
  11. ↑ Malone, Michael (June 9, 2014). "ABC to Discontinue Live Well Network". Broadcasting & Cable (NewBay Media). Retrieved August 1, 2014.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 12.5 Gibbons, Kent (July 7, 2014). "A+E's BIO Converts To FYI". Multichannel News (NewBay Media). Retrieved August 11, 2014.
  13. ↑ Massabrook, Nicole. "'Married At First Sight: The First Year' To Follow Jamie, Doug, Cortney And Jason; Spinoff To Premiere In 2015". International Business Times. Retrieved January 16, 2015.
  14. ↑ Massabrook, Nicole (December 11, 2014). "‘Married At First Sight: The First Year’ Spoilers: Premiere Date Revealed; What Have Doug, Jamie, Jason And Cortney Been Up To?". International Business Times (IBT Media Inc.). Retrieved January 16, 2015.
  15. ↑ Goldberg, Lesley (December 11, 2013). "A+E Rebrands Bio as Lifestyle Network FYI". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
  16. ↑ Poggi, Jeanine (December 11, 2013). "A&E Rebrands Bio Channel as FYI, a Broad Lifestyle Network". Ad Age (Crain Communications). Retrieved July 7, 2014.
  17. ↑ http://redcarpetcrash.com/fyis-say-it-to-my-face-premieres-saturday-may-9/
  18. ↑ "New FYI channel debuts in Canada on Sept. 1". August 1, 2014. Retrieved 9 August 2014.
  19. ↑ "Canal A& chega a Portugal e traz "Wahlburgers" :: Notícia :: SAPO TV". sapo.pt.
  20. ↑ Editor. "BIO rebrands as A&E in German-speaking Europe, Iberia, Africa". Rapid TV News.
  21. ↑ "Bio to rebrand to Lifetime in Israel". Digital TV Europe. 2014-09-11. Retrieved 2015-01-23.
  22. ↑ "A+E Networks Asia Rebrands Bio Channel to FYI in Southeast Asia, Hong Kong and Taiwan (Press Release) Pinoy Adventurista". pinoyadventurista.com.

External links

Biography Channel