In what is being hailed as a "first" for a British commercial PSB, Channel 5 has agreed a distribution deal with A+E Networks UK which will see content from A+E's FTA channel Blaze made available on My5. A+E Networks UK is bringing one of their premium scripted acquisitions to free-to-air. TVWise can exclusively reveal that the company behind both History UK and Lifetime UK will be rolling out historical drama Vikings on their nascent free-to-air brand Blaze, beginning with the show's nine episode first season, from next month. 
A+E Networks UK is expanding the reach of Blaze. The FTA channel, which initially launched in the UK in September , is now available on Freesat on channel 162 after A+E inked a deal with the subscription-free satellite TV platform. A+E Networks UK - the company behind such pay channels as Lifetime UK and History UK - has announced plans to launch a new free-to-air entertainment channel known as Blaze.