AXN Black (formerly Sony AXN) is a German language pay-TV channel from High View Group that mainly offers feature films and series, as well as reality formats and lifestyle broadcasts. The German version of the international AXN was launched on 1 November 2004 and was known simply as "AXN" until October 2019 and later rebranded as Sony AXN until August 2023. The network was formerly wholly owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment.
AXN reaches 5.9 million subscribers via satellite (Sky, Austriasat), Kabel (Kabel Deutschland, Unitymedia, Kabelkiosk, Liwest, Cablecom), IPTV (Telekom Entertain, Swisscom, Sunrise, A1 Telekom) and online streaming (Magine TV).[1]
An HD simulcast version can be received via Telekom Entertain since 1 February 2011.[2] A Kabelkiosk connection took place on 26 June 2012,[3] followed by Sky on 4 October 2012,[4] and Kabel Deutschland on 15 October.[5]
Since the beginning of September 2014, the channel has been shown in the payment service offered by the IPTV provider Magine TV.
On 8 September 2015, Sony Pictures Television announced that AXN Deutschland would also take over the new global design and channel logo. The conversion and takeover took place as of 9 October 2015.[6][7]
On 24 October 2016, the distribution of the channel via Sky Deutschland in Germany and Austria ceased, as no agreement could be reached between Sony and Sky.[8]
On 17 October 2019, the channel was renamed to "Sony AXN" and again adopted a new logo.[9]
In July 2023, two Sony cable television channels were sold and managed under an independent media company, High View Group after the closing its deal. On 1 September 2023, Sony AXN and Sony Channel were renamed under the AXN branded names: AXN Black and AXN White.[10][11]
