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E! Entertainment Television is an American basic cable television network. It is owned by the NBCUniversal Media Group division of Comcast's NBCUniversal, which its cable channel are to be spun off into a new media company, Versant. The channel focuses primarily on pop culture, celebrity-based reality shows and movies.

Key Information

The channel was launched on July 31, 1987 as Movietime by multiple consortium cable providers Comcast, Continental Cablevision, Cox Cable, TCI, and Warner Cable), HBO/Warner Communications, and various shareholders, with HBO directly programming and managing the network. Movietime was relaunched on June 1, 1990 as E! to emphasize its widening coverage of the celebrity–industrial complex, contemporary film, television and music, daily Hollywood gossip, and fashion. Comcast and Disney/ABC Cable Networks acquired the channel in 1997 before acquiring Disney's stake outright in 2006. E! became part of the NBCUniversal's cable division in 2011; which will then along with its cable channels to be spun off to Versant in 2025.

As of November 2023, E! is available to approximately 71 million pay television households in the United States—down from its 2011 peak of 99 million households.[1]

History

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Movietime

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E! was originally launched on July 31, 1987, as Movietime, a service that aired movie trailers, entertainment news, event and awards coverage, and interviews as an early example of a national barker channel.[2] The channel was founded by Larry Namer and Alan Mruvka.[3][4] Early Movietime hosts included Greg Kinnear, Katie Wagner, Julie Moran, Suzanne Kay (daughter of Diahann Carroll), Mark DeCarlo, Sam Rubin and Richard Blade.

E!

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E!'s logo from the launch under that branding. Used from June 1, 1990, until July 8, 2012, for the American flagship channel. Remained in use for many of E!'s international networks until they gradually began rebranding with the current American logo.

Controlling ownership was originally held by a consortium of five cable television providers (Comcast, Continental Cablevision, Cox Cable, TCI, and Warner Cable), HBO/Warner Communications, and various founding shareholders, with HBO directly programming and managing the network. In 1989, after Time Inc. bought Warner Communications to fend off a takeover bid by Paramount, the new Time Warner company held four of the eight major ownership positions and took over management control of Movietime and renamed the network as E!: Entertainment Television on June 1, 1990 based in Los Angeles; this name change was made to emphasize its widening coverage of the celebrity–industrial complex, contemporary film, television and music, daily Hollywood gossip, and fashion.

In 1997, Comcast, one of the minority partners, teamed up with Disney/ABC Cable Networks to buy the channel after Time Warner had exercised their put agreement.[5][6] Comcast increased the ownership stakes in the network through mergers with forerunners of TCI and Continental under various circumstances.[7][8] In November 2006, Comcast acquired Disney's 39.5% share of E! for $1.23 billion to gain full ownership of the network as part of a broader programming carriage agreement between Disney/ABC and Comcast.[9][10][11]

In January 2011, Comcast Entertainment Group, the company's television unit, became a division of the NBCUniversal Television Group, after Comcast acquired a 51% majority stake in NBCUniversal from General Electric.[12] E!'s only sister networks prior to the NBC Universal merger were the now-defunct channels Style Network (then Esquire Network), PBS Kids Sprout and G4, along with Comcast's sports networks: Versus, Comcast SportsNet and Golf Channel. In the case of Versus, E! staff produced that network's Sports Soup and G4's Web Soup, while the Orlando-based Golf Channel featured no crossovers with E! at all due to incompatible audiences and operations. Versus and Golf Channel were taken under the direct control of the NBC Sports division, with the former being renamed NBC Sports Network in January 2012, and are no longer connected to their former sister networks beyond advertising and in-house operations.

On July 9, 2012, the channel introduced a revised logo (the first change to its logo since the network rebranded as E! in 1990), removing the exclamation mark background behind the "E" but keeping the exclamation point underneath, along with a new slogan "Pop of Culture", which coincided with the launch of the new series Opening Act. The network also started the process of introducing scripted programming (the first series, The Royals, premiering in March 2015), in addition to its existing reality and documentary series. The changes were announced during E!'s programming upfront presentation on April 30, 2012.[13]

Programming

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Main article: List of programs broadcast by E!

News

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See also: E! News

E! is one of the few American general-entertainment cable channels that broadcasts a daily news program; its flagship entertainment news program is E! News, which debuted on September 1, 1991. The weekday program (which also has an hour-long weekend edition) features stories and gossip about celebrities, and the film, music and television industries, and has been broadcast under various formats since its launch, even being aired live for a time during the mid-2000s. It was first hosted by Dagny Hultgreen. Steve Kmetko was a host from 1994 to 2002.[citation needed] It has been hosted by Terrence Jenkins and Giuliana Rancic since 2012 and 2006, respectively, with Ryan Seacrest (who co-anchored the program from 2006 to 2012) serving as managing editor of the news operation.

E! News was the only entertainment news show on the channel for much of its history until 2006, when the channel launched The Daily 10, hosted by Sal Masekela and Catt Sadler (Debbie Matenopoulos also co-hosted from the show's inception until 2008); the series was cancelled in September 2010 after E! announced that the weekday editions of E! News would be expanded to one hour starting on October 25, 2010.[14]

E! also carried a simulcast of business news channel Bloomberg Television from 2004 to January 2009, when the latter network had expanded its cable and satellite carriage to a level that allowed the discontinuation of the simulcast.

Outside E! News telecasts, the channel runs an E! News–branded news ticker displaying entertainment news headlines each half-hour during regular programming; fast-breaking entertainment headlines (such as a celebrity arrest or death) may also be displayed on a ticker, during any program when warranted.

On August 5, 2020, E! canceled both New York-based shows, along with In the Room, one of the first of many program and employee cuts and staff realignments announced across NBCUniversal that week due to the pandemic.[15][16] The news operation continued to maintain the E! News website, and its social media presences. Two years later, E! announced that E! News would be revived as a late-night entertainment news program and would return to the E! network after a two-year hiatus, with Adrienne Bailon-Houghton and Justin Sylvester (the latter of whom returned to the show for the revival) serving as co-hosts; it premiered on November 14, 2022.[17][18]

Original series

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The network was known early on for its daily video simulcast of the Howard Stern Show, which aired from June 20, 1994, until July 8, 2005, weeknights in a truncated half-hour form, airing three times in late night. The program was discontinued several months after Stern moved to Sirius Satellite Radio and sold the video rights to his show to pay-per-view provider In Demand as a monthly pay offering (video rights are now held by Sirius XM).[19]

E! is known for its live red carpet pre-shows for the industry's three prominent award shows, the Primetime Emmy Awards, the Golden Globe Awards, and the Academy Awards, and were famous for their fashion critiques by Joan Rivers; Rivers also hosted post-awards specials under the title Fashion Police, which became a regular weekly series in September 2010. In April 2017, it was announced that E! had acquired the People's Choice Awards, which will move to the network from CBS in 2018 with a new November scheduling. The network promoted that the show would be given an "end-to-end" experience that will leverage its existing experience in awards show coverage.[20][21] As ratings declined across all of cable television overall, the People's Choice returned to broadcast television in 2021, with E! simulcasting the ceremony with NBC.

The network also produces many documentary and biographical series, most notably E! True Hollywood Story; many of E!'s original specials are entertainment-related ranging from light fare (such as 25 Cutest Child Stars All Grown Up) to serious fare (such as 15 Most Unforgettable Hollywood Tragedies). It also produces specials centering on investigative and crime stories including E! Investigates, which features topical investigative reports on subjects ranging from child prostitution to teenage pregnancy.

In recent years, the network has become known for its reality television programs. Its most popular series for over a decade has been Keeping Up with the Kardashians, which spawned eight spin-off series and countless specials. Other original reality programming airing on the network currently includes Total Divas–a series featuring the WWE's Bella Twins, Hollywood Medium with Tyler Henry, the plastic surgery repair series Dr. 90210 and Botched, along with Very Cavallari with Kristin Cavallari and her (later ex-) husband Jay Cutler, Ladygang–a television version of the popular podcast, and dating show Dating #NoFilter,[22][23][24]

E! has had five comedy programs: the late night talk show Chelsea Lately, hosted by comedian Chelsea Handler, its scripted/improvised spin-off After Lately, and The Soup (based on the popular 1991–2002 E! series Talk Soup), featuring clips of the previous week's TV shows with humorous commentary delivered by the host, actor/comedian Joel McHale. Handler also produced Love You, Mean It, a weekly comedic look at pop culture hosted by Whitney Cummings, and a nightly talk show from actress Busy Philipps, Busy Tonight. The Soup returned in February 2020, with new host Jade Catta-Preta, though it, and many of E!'s in-studio shows, were cancelled in the last quarter of 2020 due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic hampering production.

On September 8, 2020, it was announced the network's most popular series Keeping Up with the Kardashians would be ending with season 20 in 2021.

Acquired series and films

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Over the years, E! has occasionally run acquired programming including reruns of Alice, Absolutely Fabulous, 20/20 lifestyle-based interview shows from ABC (since removed under NBCUniversal ownership), and edited 60-minute versions of Saturday Night Live, though fewer of these programs currently air.[25] The only programming currently airing on E! that it does not produce are broadcast standards-edited reruns of the former HBO series Sex and the City originally carried by HBO's sister network TBS, and feature films that air under the banner "Movies We Love"; the latter was part of a since-abandoned initiative by the network to use films to increase the network's ratings, though the branding remains, and low and mid-grossing female-focused films from the Universal Pictures library usually receive their basic cable premiere on E!, with higher-grossing films premiering on USA Network. The network has aired same-week runs of NBC series (such as The Voice, Fashion Star, Whitney, and Are You There, Chelsea?), and in the past aired previews of G4 programming to give that network an extended promotional platform due to their lowered carriage when it was removed from DirecTV in November 2010.[25] The network also airs selected shows from the Peacock streaming service (which E!'s parent company NBCUniversal owns).

Sports programming

[edit]

Since Comcast's acquisition of NBC Universal, E! infrequently aired sporting events as an overflow outlet for NBC Sports. It has participated in NBC's "Championship Sunday" effort to broadcast all matches on the final matchday of the Premier League soccer season.[26] In January 2022—following the shutdown of long-time sister channel NBCSN—E! was incorporated into NBC Sports' coverage of two figure skating events ahead of the 2022 Winter Olympics, the 2022 European Figure Skating Championships and Four Continents Figure Skating Championships.[27] E! would be involved in NBC's coverage of the 2024 Summer Olympics.[28]

E! HD

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E! HD is a high definition simulcast feed of E! launched on December 8, 2008, in Comcast's default 1080i resolution format. Currently, the network's entire original programming roster post-2010 is carried in high definition, along with most films. Available on the vast majority of pay television providers, it is downscaled at the provider headend level to provide a standard definition equivalent for those systems.[25]

During E!'s run as a broadcast service in Canada, the E! Ontario version of the service until the December 2008 discontinuation of the E! broadcast television system was available in HD over Hamilton, Ontario-based CHCH-TV (channel 11) on its channel 18 ATSC digital signal, though the majority of E!'s programming outside American primetime series before the shutdown of the television system was not available in the format.[25]

E! Online

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E! Online is the online arm of E!, featuring live updates on entertainment news stories; the website includes an online-only entertainment news bulletin titled E! News Now, which is updated each weekday. The website also provides live streaming video of major red carpet events including movie premieres and award shows such as the Academy Awards and the Emmys, along with some blogs involving shows such as The Soup. Columnists featured on the website include Kristin dos Santos (the "Watch with Kristin" television blog), Ted Casablanca ("The Awful Truth" gossip blog), and Marc Malkin (writer of an eponymous gossip blog and host of a daily video blog on the site).[citation needed] The website was ranked among the best of 1998 by Entertainment Weekly.[29]

As part of the rebrand of the cable channel on July 9, 2012, EOnline.com was redesigned for HTML5, including tablet and mobile devices.[30]

International versions

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Australia and New Zealand

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Main article: E! (Australia and New Zealand)

Canada

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Main articles: E! (Canadian TV channel) and E! (Canadian TV system)

Europe

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Main article: E! (European TV channel)

Asia

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Main article: E! (Asian TV channel)

E!'s Asian network aired across Southeast Asia and the Philippines from May 3, 1995, until December 31, 2019.

Philippines

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Some of E! programs started to air on Cinema Television during its inception by RMN (thru UHF Channel 31; now acquired by BEAM).[31] But in 2000, both RMN and E! announced its partnership to relaunch CTV into E! Philippines.[32] It was originally broadcast 24 hours a day, but eventually reduced in 2001 to a primetime 6-midnight block, before ending in 2003. Some of E!'s programs were brought to the Philippines and remade in a local version, one of which was Wild On! Philippines.

Three years after the relaunch as a standalone cable channel,[33] E! produced its first original reality series in Asia, It Takes Gutz to Be A Gutierrez starring the Gutierrez family.

Israel

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E! is broadcast in Israel by cable provider HOT and by satellite provider yes.

Latin America

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E! it is distributed in Latin America, since January 1, 1997, being operated by NBCUniversal International Networks and distributed by Ole Distribution (a joint venture between Warner Bros. Discovery and Ole Communications). Its operations center is located in Caracas, Bogotá and Mexico City.

South Korea

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Main article: SBS funE

References

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

E!

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
E! Entertainment Television, commonly known as E!, is a global, multiplatform entertainment network that delivers content focused on pop culture, celebrity news, , , and entertainment events. Owned by —a division of Corporation, though planned for spin-off to the independent company by late 2025—it operates as a basic cable and channel while extending its reach through digital platforms, international feeds, and streaming services. Founded in 1987 as Movietime by entrepreneurs Larry Namer and Alan Mruvka, the network rebranded to E! in 1990, shifting from movie trailers and industry news to a broader emphasis on celebrity-driven programming. The network's signature offerings include reality series such as and Botched, extensive red carpet coverage of awards shows like the Oscars and Golden Globes, and lifestyle content that captures trending pop culture moments. Its flagship program, , launched in 1991 as a daily news broadcast, has been a of the brand, though the nightly edition concluded on September 25, 2025, amid shifts in cable media landscapes and transitioning to digital. E! is available to approximately 70 million households in the United States (as of 2023) and operates in more than 130 countries, blending linear television with online video, , and mobile apps to engage a young, digitally savvy audience. Through its evolution, E! has played a pivotal role in shaping modern , prioritizing accessible, glimpses into life and cultural phenomena.

Overview

Launch and rebranding

Movietime was founded in 1984 by Larry Namer and Alan Mruvka, two entertainment industry veterans who envisioned a cable channel dedicated to movie previews and behind-the-scenes Hollywood content. The venture was backed by a consortium of cable operators and investors, including early partners like Home Box Office (HBO). With an initial focus on providing viewers with trailers, clips, and insider looks at upcoming films, the channel aimed to capitalize on the growing cable television market of the 1980s. Movietime officially launched on July 31, 1987, available to approximately 500,000 subscribers across major U.S. markets such as Los Angeles, New York, and Chicago, broadcasting 24 hours a day with a mix of promotional material supplied by studios and original interview segments. By the late 1980s, Movietime struggled with limited distribution and competition from established networks like and , prompting a strategic overhaul. In 1989, assumed management responsibilities from the founding team, leading to a comprehensive in June 1990 under new president Lee Masters, a former MTV executive. The channel was renamed E! Entertainment Television, dropping the movie-centric "Movietime" moniker to broaden its appeal toward celebrity lifestyles, events, and pop culture commentary. This shift marked E!'s transition from a niche preview service to a full-fledged destination, emphasizing glamorous portrayals of and exclusive access to industry happenings. The rebranding solidified E!'s early programming philosophy, which prioritized visually engaging content that previewed pop culture trends while showcasing the allure of celebrity culture. Shows like Live from the Red Carpet and early iterations of E! News highlighted interviews, fashion, and event coverage, setting the tone for the network's signature blend of aspiration and voyeurism in entertainment journalism.

Ownership and operations

E! Entertainment Television, following its rebranding from Movietime in 1990, saw significant ownership changes beginning in 1997 when Comcast and Disney/ABC Cable Networks jointly acquired a controlling interest in the network. Comcast acquired Disney's remaining stake in 2006, gaining full ownership. This positioned E! within NBCUniversal, which was officially established in 2004 through a joint venture between General Electric and Vivendi Universal, with Comcast assuming full control of NBCUniversal in 2011. As of November 2025, E! remains owned by NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation, though Comcast announced in late 2024 plans to spin off several cable networks including E! and Oxygen into a new entity called Versant by late 2025, led by NBCUniversal Television and Streaming chairman Mark Lazarus, while retaining Bravo within NBCUniversal. This spin-off aims to separate declining linear cable assets from NBCUniversal's streaming and broadcast operations while maintaining operational continuity. NBCUniversal's lifestyle networks division, which encompasses E! alongside Bravo and Oxygen, is headquartered at 5750 Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles, California, serving as the central hub for executive oversight and content strategy. Key leadership includes Frances Berwick, who has served as president of the lifestyle networks since 2019, overseeing programming, development, and business operations for E! with a focus on unscripted content and celebrity-driven formats. Berwick reports to broader NBCUniversal entertainment executives, including Donna Langley, chairman of NBCUniversal Studio Group and NBCUniversal Entertainment, ensuring alignment with Comcast's overarching media strategy. Operationally, E! functions as an ad-supported basic cable network targeting young adults with entertainment-focused programming, generating primary revenue through national advertising sales, which accounted for the majority of its income in recent years amid a shift toward digital integrations. The network also derives income from carriage fees paid by multichannel video programming distributors and syndication of popular original series like to international markets and streaming platforms. Budget allocation prioritizes original content production, with NBCUniversal's overall content spending projected at $27.1 billion for 2025, a portion of which supports E!'s annual output of reality series and specials to sustain viewer engagement in a competitive linear TV landscape. This model emphasizes cost-efficient formats like celebrity news and red-carpet coverage to maximize ad inventory during high-viewership events.

History

Origins as Movietime

Movietime was conceived in the mid-1980s by entertainment entrepreneurs Alan Mruvka and Larry Namer as a cable television network dedicated to movie trailers, behind-the-scenes footage, and related Hollywood content, designed to complement rather than directly compete with premium movie channels like HBO by offering promotional previews and industry insights. Mruvka, who served as chairman, and Namer, the president, secured initial funding exceeding $10 million from a consortium of cable operators including Comcast, Continental Cablevision, Cox Communications, and Tele-Communications Inc. (TCI), enabling them to establish operations in Hollywood. The concept emerged from observations of studios' high marketing costs for theatrical releases, positioning Movietime as a cost-effective platform for film promotion through targeted advertising and affiliate partnerships. The network launched on July 31, 1987, initially available in about 2 million cable households across major U.S. markets such as New York, , , and . Despite the promising distribution deal, Movietime encountered significant early financial challenges, including low subscriber penetration and limited advertiser interest due to its niche focus and placement on higher cable tiers, which restricted accessibility. By the late 1980s, these issues had pushed the network toward near-bankruptcy, with only around 15,000 active subscribers and repetitive programming failing to attract broader audiences. Movietime's programming aired 24 hours daily, consisting primarily of clips, celebrity interviews, event coverage, and local theater listings updated every 15 minutes, all hosted by a rotating team of five on-air personalities supported by remote camera crews, but without any live broadcasts. Content was curated to promote upcoming releases, with studios paying for trailer placements—up to 42 per week—while affiliates received ad insertion opportunities, emphasizing a promotional rather than narrative-driven format. This structure aimed to fill a gap in entertainment news but struggled with viewer retention amid the era's competitive cable landscape.

Formation and early development of E!

The of Movietime to E! Entertainment Television marked a pivotal shift in the network's focus, occurring on June 1, 1990, under the leadership of new CEO Lee Masters, who had previously worked at . This transformation moved away from the original emphasis on movie trailers toward broader coverage, including interviews, gossip, and behind-the-scenes Hollywood insights, positioning E! as a 24-hour destination for pop culture news. The change built on Movietime's initial launch as a 24-hour service on July 31, 1987, but expanded its scope to appeal to a wider interested in the industry. Central to this early development was the introduction of the "" format on September 1, 1991, a daily newscast that became the network's flagship program, delivering celebrity updates, film previews, and event recaps in a fast-paced, accessible style. Complementing this, "The Gossip Show" debuted in 1993, offering in-depth dives into Hollywood rumors and scandals, further solidifying E!'s reputation for insider access. coverage emerged as a signature element during this period, with E! providing live pre-show commentary for major awards like the Oscars and Emmys starting in the early , often featuring high-profile hosts to capture arriving stars. These programs helped differentiate E! by prioritizing real-time celebrity interaction over traditional film promotion. Viewership grew significantly in the post-rebranding years, driven by these content innovations and strategic partnerships with Hollywood entities for exclusive access. From approximately 15 million subscribers in 1990, E! reached about 31.2 million households by 1994 and expanded to over 40 million by 1996, reflecting strong appeal among younger demographics seeking news. Collaborations, such as the 1993 alliance with for content sharing, enhanced E!'s credibility and distribution, contributing to its rise as a key player in cable during the mid-1990s.

Major expansions and milestones

In 2004, NBC merged with Universal Entertainment to form NBC Universal, acquiring assets like Universal Studios and (from Vivendi's 2002 purchase of USA Networks' entertainment properties for approximately $10.3 billion). This deal involved $3.65 billion in cash consideration to Vivendi shareholders, marking a pivotal expansion for NBC into lifestyle and entertainment cable channels. E!, majority-owned by since the 1990s, was fully integrated into NBCUniversal's cable portfolio in 2011 following Comcast's acquisition of a controlling stake in NBCUniversal, alongside networks like (formerly Sci-Fi Channel), fostering shared resources for programming development and distribution. Bravo, in which NBCUniversal had held a majority stake since 2002, was fully acquired in 2010, further aligning with E! under unified leadership and enabling cross-promotions in reality and lifestyle content. The 2000s saw E! capitalize on the surging popularity of , shifting its focus to unscripted formats that drove significant audience growth. The network acquired seasons 4 and 5 of in 2006 after its initial run on , leveraging the show's celebrity appeal to boost ratings and establish E! as a reality TV destination. This momentum peaked with the 2007 premiere of , an original series that became E!'s longest-running and highest-rated program, averaging over 2 million viewers per episode in its early seasons and transforming the network into a cultural phenomenon hub. The reality boom, amid industry-wide adoption by cable outlets, helped E! increase its prime-time share by emphasizing accessible, celebrity-driven narratives that resonated with younger demographics. In the 2020s, E! adapted to digital shifts through deeper integration with NBCUniversal's Peacock streaming service, launched in 2020, where much of its library—including Keeping Up with the Kardashians and spin-offs—became available on-demand to over 41 million subscribers as of 2025. This move addressed cord-cutting trends, with non-pay-TV households surpassing traditional subscribers by late 2023. In 2023, amid accelerating subscriber losses in linear TV, E! refreshed its slate with new unscripted series like House of Villains and Celebrity Prank Wars, aiming to retain viewers through fresh, social-media-friendly content while prioritizing digital distribution. In 2025, E! discontinued its long-running nightly E! News broadcast after 34 years, transitioning the brand to digital platforms amid declining linear TV viewership. By 2025, E! reached approximately 71 million U.S. pay-TV households, supplemented by streaming access that extended its audience amid ongoing industry fragmentation.

Programming

News and talk shows

, the network's flagship entertainment news program, debuted on September 1, 1991, as a weekday newscast dedicated to celebrity news, gossip, upcoming film and television previews, and pop culture updates. The format evolved over the decades to incorporate live daily broadcasts from the E! studios in , expanding to one-hour episodes and featuring high-profile hosts such as , who joined as a correspondent in 2002 and co-anchored until 2022. In July 2025, announced the end of the linear television run after 34 years, with the final broadcast airing on September 25, 2025, shifting the operation to a digital-first model emphasizing online videos, clips, and streaming content to adapt to evolving audience consumption patterns. E! has supplemented its news slate with talk shows emphasizing celebrity interviews, gossip, and lighthearted commentary on entertainment trends. The Daily 10, which premiered on , 2006, and ran until October 2010, delivered a fast-paced countdown of the day's top ten stories, hosted by figures including Sal Masekela, , and , often leading directly out of episodes. More recently, E! After Party has emerged as a signature post-event talk format, where a panel of pop culture experts dissects awards show highlights—such as surprise wins, fashion highlights, and memorable speeches—immediately following ceremonies like the Emmys, providing in-depth analysis and celebrity insights in a conversational style. Red carpet coverage remains a hallmark of E!'s news and talk programming, with longstanding partnerships for premier awards events including the Oscars and Golden Globes dating back to the early 1990s. E! began its dedicated broadcasts in 1994, when Joan Rivers hosted the Golden Globes pre-show solo, marking the start of the network's tradition of live interviews, fashion critiques, and behind-the-scenes access that has since become synonymous with awards season. These milestones have solidified E!'s role in , with pre-show specials consistently drawing millions of viewers per major event through engaging, real-time reporting on arrivals and trends.

Original reality and scripted series

E!'s original programming has long emphasized unscripted reality series that delve into the personal and professional lives of celebrities, often blending glamour, , and everyday challenges to appeal to audiences seeking voyeuristic insights into fame. This focus on authentic, high-profile narratives has defined the network's in-house productions, distinguishing them from more traditional news formats by prioritizing extended character-driven stories over topical segments. A cornerstone of E!'s reality output is , which premiered in 2007 and ran for 20 seasons until 2021, chronicling the lives of the Kardashian-Jenner family and becoming one of the longest-running reality franchises in television history. The series spawned numerous spin-offs, including in 2017, which offered an intimate look at Kylie Jenner's entrepreneurial ventures and personal growth as a young businesswoman. These extensions amplified the original show's emphasis on family dynamics, business endeavors, and public scrutiny, generating a empire that influenced reality television's commercial model. Beyond the Kardashian universe, E! has developed other flagship unscripted series centered on celebrity transformations and supernatural elements. Botched, launched in 2014 and concluded after eight seasons in 2024, follows plastic surgeons Dr. Terry Dubrow and Dr. Paul Nassif as they correct failed cosmetic procedures for patients, highlighting themes of beauty standards and regret in Hollywood culture; a spin-off, Botched Presents: Plastic Surgery Rewind, premiered on July 9, 2025, focusing on celebrities reversing procedures for a more natural appearance. Similarly, Hollywood Medium with Tyler Henry aired from 2016 to 2019, featuring psychic medium Tyler Henry providing readings to celebrities seeking closure with deceased loved ones, which underscored E!'s interest in mystical aspects of fame. These programs exemplify the network's production style: fast-paced editing, confessional interviews, and a glossy aesthetic that romanticizes celebrity vulnerabilities. E! produces its original series in-house at facilities located at 5750 in , where dedicated studios support the filming of multiple projects simultaneously. This centralized operation enables a consistent output of content, with several new series debuting annually to maintain viewer engagement in the post- era.

Acquired content and films

E! supplements its with licensed external programming, including syndicated series and films, to fill gaps between original productions and appeal to a broad audience interested in entertainment and pop culture. A key example is the network's acquisition of the "The Real Housewives" franchise from Bravo, which began airing reruns in the , allowing E! to capitalize on the franchise's popularity in celebrity-driven TV. Similarly, E! has broadcast reruns of classic sitcoms like "Friends," providing lighthearted, nostalgic content that resonates with long-time viewers during daytime and late-night slots. In terms of film programming, E! secures licensing deals to air recent theatrical releases and established titles, rotating a library of over 500 movies weekly to maintain viewer engagement. Notable examples include the 2023 blockbuster "," which aired under a special licensing agreement, highlighting E!'s focus on high-profile, culturally impactful films that align with its celebrity and fashion-oriented brand. Other rotations feature contemporary hits like "" (2017) and "The Purge: Election Year" (2016), often scheduled for weekend marathons or evening blocks to draw in casual viewers. The network's acquisition strategy emphasizes strategic partnerships with major studios, such as , to secure cost-effective content deals. These agreements prioritize films and series tailored for E!'s late-night and filler slots, ensuring a mix of premium licensed material that enhances the channel's overall appeal without overlapping with its core original reality and scripted offerings.

Live events and specials

E! has been a key provider of live coverage for major awards shows since the mid-1990s, beginning with hosting the 1994 Golden Globes pre-show, which popularized celebrity fashion commentary on the network. For the , E! initiated dedicated pre-show broadcasts around 1998, featuring "Live From E!: The Red Carpet" with on-site interviews, style analysis, and behind-the-scenes access ahead of the main ceremony on networks like or ABC. This annual Emmy coverage, including the September 14, 2025, event, emphasizes real-time celebrity engagement and has become a staple for viewers seeking glamour-focused content. The network extends similar live specials to other high-profile events, such as the (VMAs), where "Live From E!" captures red carpet arrivals and outfits, as seen in the September 7, 2025, broadcast highlighting stars like and . These pre-shows often draw audiences interested in pop culture spectacle, with E!'s overall awards coverage averaging approximately 735,000 viewers across events like the Emmys, Oscars, and Grammys for 2024, reflecting a 30% increase from prior seasons. Beyond awards, E! produces "Live From E!" specials for movie premieres, offering live streams of arrivals at Hollywood events to provide immediate access to star interactions and fashion moments. In the realm of sports-related programming, E!'s live involvement remains limited to celebrity-heavy occasions, such as red carpet coverage of the ESPY Awards, where the network highlights athlete and entertainer arrivals rather than full event broadcasts, as demonstrated in the July 16, 2025, ceremony featuring and . This approach aligns with E!'s focus on glamour and star power over comprehensive sports analysis, integrating briefly with its broader news format. Holiday specials, including live countdown segments tied to seasonal premieres, further exemplify E!'s ephemeral live programming, blending celebrity insights with festive themes during end-of-year events.

Digital platforms

E! Online

E! Online launched in 1996 as a pioneering entertainment news website, initially developed as a between E! Entertainment Television and to deliver Hollywood gossip and updates in the early days of the . The site quickly established itself as a go-to destination for coverage, evolving into a comprehensive digital platform that complements the linear TV programming of the E! network. Today, E! Online features daily articles, videos, and photo galleries centered on celebrities, offering in-depth reporting on entertainment news, fashion trends, and pop culture events. Key elements include exclusive interviews with stars, live streams of high-profile arrivals at awards shows and premieres, and shoppable content that enables users to directly purchase featured products through integrated partnerships. As of , the website draws approximately 14 million monthly unique visitors, underscoring its enduring popularity among entertainment enthusiasts. Integrated within NBCUniversal's broader digital ecosystem, E! Online leverages shared ad revenue models, including display and sponsored content, to support the network's multi-platform strategy.

Mobile and social media integration

E! launched its in , providing users with access to on-demand video clips from popular shows, capabilities, and push notifications for breaking and event alerts. The app enables seamless integration with E! Online content, allowing viewers to watch full episodes, exclusive interviews, and highlights on the go, enhancing portability for fans seeking instant entertainment updates. The app has been downloaded over 500,000 times on Android, with additional downloads on . E!'s social media strategy emphasizes real-time interaction and viral content distribution to build a dedicated fan community. On Instagram, the official E! News account boasts approximately 25 million followers, where posts feature high-engagement visuals like celebrity photoshoots, fashion breakdowns, and poll-driven discussions on pop culture trends. TikTok serves as a key platform for short-form virality, with the @enews account amassing 6.6 million followers and over 709 million likes through quick gossip clips, challenge participations, and behind-the-scenes event snippets that capitalize on the platform's algorithm for rapid dissemination. Meanwhile, on Twitter (now X), E! delivers live updates during major events such as awards shows, enabling fans to follow play-by-play commentary, nominee reactions, and hashtag-driven conversations in real time. To foster deeper fan involvement, E! employs integration tactics like user-generated content contests, where followers submit photos, videos, or reactions tied to shows and events for a chance to be featured on official channels, promoting community participation across mobile and social platforms. Additionally, during awards seasons, E! has introduced (AR) filters on and , allowing users to virtually try on looks or add event-themed effects to their posts. These cross-platform efforts not only amplify reach but also encourage sharing, turning passive viewers into active contributors.

Broadcast details

High-definition service

E!'s high-definition feed launched on December 8, 2008, through cable systems, marking the network's entry into enhanced broadcast formats. The service broadcasts in resolution with , delivering sharper visuals and immersive audio compared to the standard-definition feed.

Domestic availability

E! is available through major cable and satellite providers, including and , as part of basic cable packages offered by these services. This reflects E!'s carriage on leading multichannel video programming distributors (MVPDs), enabling access in a substantial portion of the approximately 67 million U.S. pay-TV households as of 2025 amid ongoing trends. The network's content became available on 's Peacock streaming platform upon its nationwide launch in July 2020, expanding E!'s accessibility beyond linear TV to on-demand viewing. As of the second quarter of 2025, Peacock reported 41 million paid subscribers, with E! programming—such as reality series and specials—integrated into both ad-supported and premium tiers to complement the service's broader library. Carriage agreements for E! have occasionally faced challenges, including a notable 2010 dispute with that threatened a blackout of the channel and sister network Style, highlighting tensions over affiliation fees in the pay-TV ecosystem. Such negotiations underscore the importance of renewals with distributors to maintain broad domestic availability.

International versions

North America

The Canadian version of E! is an English-language specialty television channel owned by , a division of , under a branding and programming licensing agreement with International Networks (a company). Launched on September 10, 1999, as Star! by , the channel was approved by the CRTC as a Category 1 digital service dedicated to and news, with a focus on music videos, interviews, and red carpet coverage. It operated as a Category A service from the introduction of that tier in 2004 until 2016, when the CRTC reclassified it as Category B to provide greater flexibility for broadcasting distribution undertakings while maintaining regulatory obligations for . This status ensured mandatory carriage on basic tiers, contributing to broad accessibility across Canadian cable, satellite, and IPTV providers. To adapt to the Canadian market, E! incorporates elements, including integration with Bell Media's news magazine eTalk, which provides Canadian perspectives on global pop culture. eTalk, airing daily on E! alongside CTV, features bilingual reporting (English and French captions for accessibility) and local inserts highlighting Canadian talent, events, and regulatory-compliant content such as coverage of the and domestic award shows. This integration has helped E! reach an estimated 7 million households, leveraging Bell Media's distribution network and synergies with CTV's national audience. As of 2025, E! Canada continues to emphasize compliance with CRTC mandates for Canadian programming, requiring at least 35% over the broadcast year, including a portion of original productions featuring Canadian celebrities and creators to fulfill objectives under the Broadcasting Act. Recent updates include enhanced digital tie-ins with eTalk for on-demand clips and extensions, reflecting the CRTC's push for greater support of domestic independent production amid evolving streaming regulations.

Europe

E! launched its European operations in 2002, establishing headquarters in , , to serve the pan-European market with entertainment programming focused on celebrity news, reality TV, and red carpet events. The channel initially rolled out in on December 2, 2002, marking one of the first major markets for the network in the continent. By the early , E! expanded via satellite distribution, becoming available through major providers like in the UK and , where it was added to basic packages to enhance entertainment offerings. The pan-European feed reached an estimated 50 million homes across 20 countries by the mid-2010s, distributed primarily through satellite and cable operators including and UPC in regions like and . In the UK, a localized version featuring domestic launched in , allowing for targeted commercials while maintaining the core U.S. content slate. Similar adaptations included dubbed versions for and to cater to local audiences, with German-language programming broadcast until its discontinuation in 2022. Key distribution partnerships have sustained E!'s presence, notably with NBCUniversal's collaborations with for multi-territory carriage across . These deals emphasize localization of reality TV content, enabling feeds to incorporate regional promotions and subtitles.

Asia and Pacific

E! launched its Asian service in 1997, delivering Hollywood celebrity news, coverage, and reality programming to English-speaking audiences across the region. However, the dedicated E! Asia channel ceased operations on December 31, 2019. In the Pacific region, E! established a dedicated version for and around 2005, distributed through in and in . The channel offered localized scheduling to align with regional time zones and viewer preferences for shows like and . It contributed to 's entertainment lineup until its removal from the platform in February 2023 amid shifts in content distribution. To accommodate cultural sensitivities, E! implemented content adaptations in select Asian markets, including censorship of explicit material for broadcast in , where regulatory guidelines from the Ministry of Information and require edits to nudity, profanity, and violence in imported programming. In the , the channel launched a localized feed in , featuring Filipino hosts for segments and interviews to resonate with local audiences, blending international content with regional pop culture discussions. These modifications ensured compliance with national broadcasting standards while maintaining E!'s core focus on glamour and .

Latin America

E! Entertainment launched its dedicated feed for in 2007, as a pan-regional service distributed via satellite platforms including . The channel adapted U.S. content through Spanish-language and subtitling to appeal to local viewers, with programming focused on celebrity news, reality shows, and entertainment specials. Since its early years, E! has emphasized localized adaptations, incorporating regional hosts and content to resonate with audiences. The feed has produced original content tailored for Latin American markets, such as the reality series "Escuela Imparables," which premiered in 2022 and features aspiring female influencers from across the region. Other local productions include "Ojos de Mujer," a 2021 docuseries highlighting Latina entrepreneurs and celebrities. In , E! has seen notable popularity for its telenovela-style programming, contributing to the broader media sector's projected 9.4% growth in 2025, reaching $55 billion in revenue for Latin America's industry. The channel's focus on high-impact formats has driven viewership increases in like , aligning with regional trends in digital and linear TV consumption.

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