NBCUniversal International Networks, formerly NBC Universal Global Networks and Universal Networks International, is a part of NBCUniversal.
When NBC Universal was formed, it owned entertainment television channels in Europe and Latin America. These were mostly a few international versions of the Sci Fi Channel, three action and suspense series channels in Europe, the Italian Studio Universal channel and the Latin American version of the USA Network.
In 2007 NBC Universal acquired Sparrowhawk Media Group, which at the time was a British private equity-backed media company managing a collection of digital television channels, and integrated it into NBC Universal Global Networks. The purchase more than doubled the number of international channels in NBC Universal's portfolio. Sparrowhawk's crown jewel was an international network of drama channels available on most continents under the Hallmark Channel brand, but Diva TV, Movies 24, and KidsCo channels were also available.
On October 5, 2009, it was announced that the venture would be renamed Universal Networks International and focus its attention on five channel brands, all with "Universal" in their name:
Universal Channel13th Street UniversalSyfy UniversalDiva UniversalStudio UniversalAltogether, the company broadcast about 70 different channels by 2009.
The overhaul started in late 2009 and progressed during 2010. Most of the international Sci Fi channels were rebranded as Syfy Universal. The Hallmark Channel brand was also phased out in most markets during 2010. Typically, it was replaced by the Universal Channel brand in markets where that brand wasn't available before. In many markets where Universal Channel was already present, Hallmark Channel was replaced by either Studio Universal, Diva Universal or 13th Street Universal.
Following the merger of NBCUniversal and Comcast, the following channels are also operated and distributed by NBCUniversal:
E! Entertainment TelevisionStyle NetworkThe Golf ChannelAustralia and New Zealand
13th Street (+2, HD)Bravo (New Zealand only)CNBC AsiaE!Style NetworkSyfy (+2, HD, wholly owned and replaced SF)Universal Channel (+2, HD, replaced Hallmark Channel Australia) EuronewsKidsCo Closed 13 February 2014 SF (+2, formerly Sci Fi Channel Australia, 33.33% ownership as part of the TV1 General Entertainment Partnership) Closed 31 December 2013, replaced with SyfyTV1 (+2, 33.33% ownership as part of the TV1 General Entertainment Partnership) Closed 31 December 2013E!CNBC EuropeEuronews13th Street Universal BeneluxSyfy Universal Benelux (former Sci Fi Channel Benelux)Germany, Austria, Scandinavia, and Switzerland
13th Street Universal GermanyHistory Germany (joint venture with A+E Networks International)Syfy Universal Germany (replaced Sci Fi Channel Germany)The Biography Channel Germany (joint venture with A+E Networks International)CNBC EuropeCNBC NordicE!MSNBC (only available on terrestrial in Berlin)EuronewsNBC Universal owned the free-to-air broadcaster Das Vierte until 2008.
E!13ème Rue Universal (HD)Syfy Universal France (HD, replaced Sci Fi Channel France)CNBC Europe (English)IDF1 (joint venture with Groupe JLA)EuronewsHungary, Serbia, Montenegro, Albania, Slovenia, and Macedonia
Universal Channel Hungary (replaced Hallmark Channel Hungary)Sci Fi Universal Serbia (replaced Sci Fi Channel Serbia)Sci Fi Universal Slovenia (replaced Sci Fi Channel Slovenia)Movies 24 Eastern EuropeCNBC EuropeE!EuronewsStudio Universal ItalyCNBC EuropeClassTV MSNBC (franchisely operated by Class Editori)Class CNBC (joint venture with Class Editori and Mediaset)EuronewsUniversal Channel (India)CNBC AWWZCNBC TV18CNBC PrimeStudio Universal IndiaCNBC BajarEuronewsKorea and Japan
Nikkei CNBC (joint venture with Nihon Keizai Shimbun, TV Tokyo, and Jupiter TV)SBS-CNBC (joint venture with SBS Medianet)SBS E! (franchisely operated by SBS Medianet)DreamWorks Channel (only available in Korea)EuronewsUniversal Channel Latin American (Mexico) (operated and distributed by HBO Latin America Group)Universal Channel Latin American (Colombia) (operated and distributed by HBO Latin America Group)Universal Channel Chile (operated and distributed by HBO Latin America Group)Universal Channel Argentina (operated and distributed by HBO Latin America Group)Studio Universal Latin America (México) (operated and distributed by HBO Latin America Group)Studio Universal Panamerican (operated and distributed by HBO Latin America Group)Studio Universal Argentina (operated and distributed by HBO Latin America Group)Syfy Panamerican (operated and distributed by HBO Latin America Group)E! (distributed by HBO Latin America Group)Telemundo (in México is distributed by Televisa Networks and Latin America is distributed by HBO Latin America Group)Golf ChannelEuronewsUniversal Channel BrazilSyfy BrazilStudio Universal BrazilEuronewsPoland
Universal Channel (HD)SciFi Universal (replaced Sci Fi Channel Poland)13 Ulica (replaced Hallmark Channel Poland)E! (HD)CNBC EuropeEuronewsRomania and Moldova
Sci Fi Universal Romania (replaced Sci Fi Channel Romania)Diva Universal Romania (replaced Hallmark Channel Romania)Universal ChannelMovies 24CNBC EuropeE!EuronewsRussia and CIS countries
Diva Universal Russia (replaced Hallmark Channel Russia)Universal ChannelCNBC EuropeE!EuronewsCNBC AsiaCNBC Hong KongCNBC SingaporeDiva Universal Asia (replaced Hallmark Channel Asia)Golf Channel (HD)E! (HD)Style NetworkSyfy Universal Asia (HD, replaced Sci Fi Channel Asia)Universal Channel Asia (HD)DreamWorks ChannelEuronewsCNBC Pakistan (franchisely operated by Vision Network Television Limited)(Now Close)CNBC-TV18 (joint venture with TV18)CNBC Awaaz (joint venture with TV18)Diva Universal (Asia)E!Golf Channel (HD)E! (HD)Style NetworkSyfy Universal Asia (HD, replaced Sci Fi Channel Asia)Universal Channel Asia (HD)EuronewsCalle 13 (HD)Syfy Universal Spain (HD, replaced Sci Fi Channel Spain)Syfy Portugal (HD, replaced Sci Fi Channel Portugal)CNBC EuropeE! (HD)Style NetworkEuronewsUnited Kingdom and Ireland
CNBC EuropeDreamWorks Channel UK (+1, HD)Universal Channel UK (+1, HD, formerly Hallmark Channel UK)Syfy UK (+1, HD, formerly Sci Fi Channel UK)Movies 24Movies 24 +E!Style NetworkEuronewsTurkey, Greece, Middle East and North Africa
E! ArabiaCNBC ArabiyaCNBC EuropeDreamWorks ChannelSyfy MENAMSNBC (Displays in most of the time on OSN News)EuronewsUniversal Channel Africa (replaced Hallmark Channel Africa, available in West, South, and East Africa)Studio Universal Africa (available in South Africa)Syfy Universal Africa (replaced Sci Fi Channel Africa)MSNBC Africa (available in South Africa)CNBC EuropeCNBC Africa (franchisely operated by Africa Business News)E!Style NetworkEuronewsAfricanewsUnited States and Canada
CNBCCNBC WorldMSNBCSyfyE! (HD/VOD)E! Canada (available in Canada, franchisely operated by Bell Media)Bravo! (HD, franchisely operated by Bell Media)G4 Canada (franchisely operated by Rogers Media)Style Network (HD/VOD)Golf Channel (HD/VOD/3D)EuronewsOn the January 26, 2009, Sci Fi became the first of the NBC Universal Global Network channels to begin broadcasting in High Definition within the UK. It will provide a simulcast of the Sci Fi Channel exclusively on Sky+HD channel 214, and will air UK HD premieres such as Eli Stone and Flash Gordon.
Video on demand
NBCUniversal International introduced Hayu in March 2016 in the United Kingdom. The subscription video on demand service offers reality programs such as Keeping Up with the Kardashians and The Real Housewives.