HISTORY delivered a record-breaking prime-time performance in Western Europe during the first quarter this year. In the U.K., Italy and Spain, HISTORY was the fastest growing factual pay-TV channel in Q1 2012, with ratings growth of 65 percent over the year-ago period, marking the second consecutive year of first-quarter growth. The network has ramped up its local commissioning in Europe, finding success in the U.K. with Mud Men and in Italy with La Vera Storia Della Mala del Brenta.

A+E Networks continues to roll out its HISTORY and HISTORY HD brands across Europe, with Turkey as the latest country to gain a fully localized 100-percent high-definition channel from the group. A+E Networks’ Crime & Investigation Network has also been successfully rolling out across the region.

Shepherding these developments is Dean Possenniskie, the managing director for Europe at A+E Networks. Possenniskie joined the company in 2010 after having served as senior VP and general manager for channels across EMEA at BBC Worldwide. He recently sat down with TV Real Weekly to talk about the success of HISTORY and Crime & Investigation in Europe and the strategy for local commissions on those channels. Possenniskie also touches on the gains the company is making in the 3D space and the opportunities he sees within digital distribution.