The Biography Channel, a sister service to the History Channel, will launch at 6pm on Sky Digital on October 1, subject to last-minute negotiations between BSkyB and Biography’s parent, A&E Television Networks. Biography will be a joint venture between Sky and A&E. Normal transmission hours will be 0600-2400, in a six-hour rotating block. Biography will show a much wider range of programming than the current limited service on History channel, drawing on A&E’s existing biography archive and some acquired documentary programming. The current Biography strand on History Channel will continue, although premiere programming will now be screened on the Biography Channel. History launched in January 1995 in the USA and in November 1995 in the UK.