MUMBAI: Australian pay-TV service provider Foxtel has announced the launch of its new factual entertainment channel A&E on 16 February.

Recognising a unique opportunity to create a new channel amongst the Foxtel Channels Group, targeting a new younger skewing male audience, A&E will deliver hundreds of hours of original unscripted series to viewers in High Definition.

A&E positions itself as being "full of attitude; it?s immediate, it?s personality driven and most compelling of all... it?s real."

Foxtel executive director of television Brian Walsh said, ?A&E will be the one stop destination for heart stopping unscripted, authentic and real entertainment series? combined to create an intense, immediate and inspiring environment that is relevant to its audience. This channel further strengthens our relationship with global media company, A+E Networks, producer and distributor of some of the world?s leading television channels and content."

Through a commercial partnership, Foxtel operates A+E Networks? brands in Australia. A&E now joins stable mates, History?, Crime & Investigation Network and Bio, on Foxtel.

The schedule for A&E in Australia consists of original and exclusive programming from the US cable company A+E Networks. It will feature Australian premiere seasons of series franchises including ?Storage Wars?, ?Storage Wars Texas?, ?Dog The Bounty Hunter?, ?Billy The Exterminator?, ?Pawn Stars? and ?American Pickers?.

Foxtel?s head of factual Jim Buchan said, ?There?s no denying that character driven factual entertainment is now hugely popular the world over. We?re thrilled to be showcasing the best of it all on our new exciting channel brand A&E along with our own ?home grown? content.?

A+E Networks senior VP International Sean Cohan said, ?We are thrilled to be teaming up with our long time partners, FOXTEL, to bring the A&E brand to Australia. A&E is a leading television brand in the US, Canada and Latin America, and I am confident the channel will meet with great success in Australia.?

A&E has commissioned Cordell Jigsaw, creators of Bondi Rescue, to produce the one hour special ?MegaTruckers?. This uniquely Australian programme will be part of the channel?s launch schedule on 16 February and will then be developed as a series to premiere later in 2012.

?MegaTruckers? follows blue collar hero Jon Kelly, the man who built Heavy Haulage Australia from scratch, and his ?hard as nails? drivers hauling some of the world?s largest and heaviest loads across the treacherous Australian terrain.

MUMBAI: Media conglomerate Rupert Murdoch?s troubles are far from over. Australia‘s competition watchdog has questioned the bid by Murdoch‘s cable television operation, FOXTEL, to buy out rival operator, Austar.

Murdoch‘s News Limited, a subsidiary of News Corp, has significant stakes in Australian media, and also controls the country‘s largest subscription television provider, FOXTEL, which has 1.63 million subscribers.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission told Friday that the cable agreement would create "a near monopoly" in the pay-TV service market.

The ACCC‘s statement is only its initial finding. The contract cannot go through without its consent.