Blaze is a free-to-air television channel owned by A&E Networks UK, a joint venture between A&E Networks and Sky Group, while in Spain it is owned and run by History Channel Iberia joint venture. This channel allows UK A&E to use its programming for the complete "lifecycle". The channels' programming is a best of A&E shows[76] Blaze was the first channel launched in the UK by A&E Networks that didn't borrow its name from one of the company's U.S. channels. The abbreviation "A&E" is commonly interpreted as emergency department in the UK, so the company decided not to use that brand for the channel.

In 2013, A&E Networks UK hired Heather Jones as general manager. Jones pushed having a free-to-air channel starting in her interview. Other US competitors have launched free-to-air channels in the UK with Turner Broadcasting's TruTV in August 2014, Viacom's Spike in April 2015 and Fox's YourTV on Freeview in October 2015. A&E Networks announced a free-to-air factual entertainment channel for the UK in the third quarter of the year. A&E Turkey had already launched its Lifetime as a free-to-air channel. The channel launched on 20 September 2016, and is the first free-to-air channel launched by A&E Networks UK[67] on Sky and Freeview.

By March 22, 2017, A+E Networks Italy was scheduled to launch its Blaze in 2017 on Sky Italy. In Spain, Blaze channel replaced the A&E channel on 18 April 2018.

Having original only aired imported and rerun programming, Blaze commissioned its first original programme, Flipping Bangers, in 2017. It premiered on 6 April 2018 as a part of the Car Night programming block. A second season was later commissioned.

Elena Anniballi was appointed director of Blaze in April 2017.[83] In February 2019, A&E Networks appointed Dan Korn as head of Blaze.