A+E shifts into Fifth Gear

A+E Networks in the UK has ordered two new seasons of a factual entertainment motoring show that began life on Channel 5 (C5).

UK indie North One Television is making two six-episode runs of Fifth Gear for A+E Networks’ H2 channel with the first to debut next spring.

The show will then repeat on History in the UK and will air across the broadcaster’s feeds in Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa. ITV4 has acquired rights for the second window of both seasons in the UK.

Fifth Gear, which mixes car reviews, presenter challenges and insight into the motor industry, was commissioned by Rachel Job, channel editor for History and H2, and is being exec produced by Neil Duncanson for North One.

The show originally premiered in 2002, going on to run for 24 seasons on C5, and has been licensed to more than 70 territories including New Zealand, Romania, the Seychelles and Ukraine.

H2 and History are operated in Britain by A+E Networks UK, a joint venture between US cablenets operator A+E Networks and UK satcaster BSkyB.