DIRK HOOGSTRA PROMOTED TO EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, DEVELOPMENT AND PROGRAMMING, HISTORY(R) AND H2(TM)

NEW YORK, February 28, 2013 - Dirk Hoogstra has been promoted to Executive Vice President, Development and Programming, for HISTORY(R) and H2(TM). He previously served as Senior Vice President, Development and Programming for HISTORY since 2010. The announcement was made today by Nancy Dubuc, President Entertainment and Media, A+E Networks, to whom he will continue to report.

"Dirk is one of the fastest rising stars in the business," said Dubuc. "Creative and entrepreneurial, he has built one of the best programming teams in the business and his deep relationships with the creative community have helped catapult HISTORY into the top echelons in the industry. And, in just 18 months, he has transformed H2 into the #1 emerging entertainment network. I am delighted he is getting the recognition he deserves for all his accomplishments over the last few years."

Hoogstra will continue to oversee the networks' programming teams, and manages the development, creation and execution of all programming for HISTORY and H2. He is also charged with imaginatively integrating new programming with online initiatives, and developing innovative ways to expand the brand across multiple platforms. Under his leadership, HISTORY is the #1 factual brand and top five cable network across the key 18-49 and 25-54 demographics.

Hoogstra was an executive producer on the network's first scripted mini-series Hatfields & McCoys, which premiered in May 2012 and shattered ad-supported cable records. For the three nights, it averaged an incredible 13.8 total viewers; 6 million Adults 25-54 and 4.9 million Adults 18-49. All three nights rank as the top 3 entertainment television telecasts of all time in ad-supported cable history among total viewers. Hatfields & McCoys went on to earn five Emmy(R) Awards.

During his tenure at HISTORY since 2007, he has overseen hit series and specials including American Pickers, Counting Cars, Mountain Men, Top Gear, Only in America with Larry the Cable Guy, Top Shot, Men Who Built America and the upcoming scripted series Vikings and docudrama The Bible.

Hoogstra began his career with Discovery Communications Inc. in 1995. Over a seven-year period he worked in Production and Development at TLC, Discovery Primetime and Discovery Networks International. In 2002, Hoogstra left Discovery to head up Development for Brainbox Productions, an independent production company. While there he developed and Executive Produced specials and series for Discovery Networks, HGTV, HISTORY, Style and Court TV. In 2004 he returned to Discovery Channel as Development Producer, overseeing development and editorial on various primetime series and specials.

A+E Networks, LLC. is an award-winning, global media content company offering consumers a diverse communications environment ranging from television networks to websites, to home videos/DVDs to gaming and educational software. A+E Networks is comprised of A&E(R) Network, Lifetime(R), HISTORY(R), Lifetime Movie Network(R), Bio(TM), H2(TM), History en Espanol(TM), Crime & Investigation Network(TM), Military History(TM), Lifetime Real Women(R), A&E IndieFilms(R), A+E Networks International(R), A+E Networks Digital(R) and A+E Networks Consumer Products(TM). A+E Networks channels and branded programming reach more than 300 million households in over 150 countries. A+E Networks, LLC. is a joint venture of Disney-ABC Television Group and Hearst Corporation.