E! Entertainment channel set to depart FOXTEL and FETCH after new deal with CHANNEL 7

NBC Universal has confirmed a decision to cease broadcasting the E! pay-tv channel after 18 years in Australia.

E! has been part of the Foxtel and Fetch channel line-ups in Australia since 2004. The channel will be removed from both pay-tv broadcasters from Feb 1^st 2023.

The decision to shut down E! in Australia comes after the Seven Network secured a new content supply agreement with NBC Universal that will see the launch of new free-to-air channel 7Bravo.

Set to launch nationally on January 15, the new channel 7Bravo is set to feature content sourced from NBC Universal’s international entertainment brands including E!, Oxygen and Bravo.

A spokesperson for NBC Universal confirmed the changes telling TV Blackbox:

“The E! Entertainment channel will cease broadcasting on Foxtel from February 1, 2023.

We are excited that the very best, premiere content from E! will be coming to 7Bravo in Australia.”

Programming on the 7Bravo channel will include The Real Housewives of Dubai, The Real Housewives of Miami, The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip, Real Girlfriends in Paris, Below Deck Down Under, Love Without Borders. The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, The Kelly Clarkson Show and Judge Jerry.

7Bravo will also become the exclusive Australian home for E!’s famous LIVE red carpet award show coverage with Live From E!

While noting the departure of the E! channel, a spokesperson for Foxtel told TV Blackbox:

A wide range of reality programming will continue to be available across Foxtel and BINGE on demand as well as via other channels such as Fox Arena.

As part of a pre-existing Bravo unscripted content rights agreement, the Foxtel Group is set to remain as the Australian home for new seasons of reality franchises including The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles, and Below Deck Mediterranean.

E! built its reputation in Australia by broadcasting a strong mix of entertainment and reality titles including Keeping Up With The Kardashians, Botched, True Hollywood Story, Fashion Police and The Soup.

In addition to broadcasting international content, E! had also previously produced original Australian programming including a reality series Fashion Bloggers (2014) and news magazine series The Hype (2015).

Viewership for the E! channel has declined in recent years since the Kardashian family made the decision to move their hugely popular reality franchise to Disney+.