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Modern Slavery Statement

AETN UK: MODERN SLAVERY STATEMENT   

Dated: 1st January 2023

INTRODUCTION 

A+E Networks UK, the trading name of AETN UK, recognizes its legal and moral obligation to comply with the Modern Slavery Act 2015  which requires companies to explain on an annual basis how they address the issues of modern slavery and human trafficking in their global supply chain. 

We have zero tolerance to slavery and human trafficking. 

We are committed to improving our practices to combat modern slavery and human trafficking and this statement sets out the steps AETN UK have taken and are taking to eliminate as far as is possible, the risk of modern slavery and human trafficking taking place within our organisation and supply chain.  

 

OUR STRUCTURE  

AETN UK is a Media & Entertainment company.  We are a joint venture between Hearst and Sky. Hearst has its head office in New York and Sky has its head office in London.  

AETN UK has over 200 employees with offices in London, Germany, Poland, Italy and South Africa.   

 

OUR BUSINESS 

AETN UK is the provider of TV channels and content.  A leading media network, we reach 60 million homes across 100 countries. Our portfolio of creative brands such as SkyHISTORY®, HISTORY®, Crime+Investigation®, Lifetime®, HISTORY2® and BLAZE®, has produced high-performing, original and captivating content for audiences for over 20 years.  

AETN UK is a member of the Commercial Broadcasters Association (COBA), the Television On-Demand Industry Forum and the Association of Commercial Television in Europe (ACT).  The company is also an International Patron of The Royal Television Society and in 2018 topped Broadcast Magazine’s Best Places to Work list. 

 

OUR SUPPLY CHAIN 

We procure services from a range of third-party providers, most being largely technical and/or professional, so the risk of modern slavery and human trafficking is low.  Our supply chains include: 

  • Broadcasting and technical suppliers including suppliers of satellite equipment, IT software, IT and other office equipment.  

  • Professional services from talent, lawyers, accountants and other advisors. 

  • Commissioning content from production companies, and 

  • Within our offices, we use contractor companies for key services such as cleaning and security. 

We rely on a number of third-party suppliers for other goods and services so we seek to ensure all our products are responsibly sourced and we are implementing and enforcing effective systems and controls to ensure slavery and human trafficking is not taking place anywhere in our supply chains. 

 

OUR POLICIES ON MODERN SLAVERY AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING 

AETN UK’s corporate mission incorporates the vision of a diverse, purposeful, talent-led workforce that leads change and grows value.  We aspire to the highest standards of ethics, honesty, and integrity in all of our activities, and to comply with all relevant legislation at all times.  Our vision-led approach showcases our clear opposition to modern slavery and human trafficking. 

We use our Channels to promote campaigns to end abuse. The Crime+Investigation channel supported the campaign to End Abuse Against Women across the UK, Poland, Germany, Italy and Spain. In the UK, the initiative was rolled out in partnership with the Refuge charity, the UK’s biggest provider of support to survivors and victims of violence.  

Our work demonstrates our commitment to operating with compassion and awareness and no modern slavery issues have been raised across our business. 

ACTIONS: 

  1. To ensure that we continue to operate in a manner that minimizes the risk of modern slavery and human rights violations across all levels of our business, we will continue to review our Anti-Slavery Policy which  reflects our commitment to acting ethically and with integrity in all our business relationships as well as to implementing and enforcing effective systems and controls to ensure slavery and human trafficking are not taking place anywhere in our supply chains. 

  1. We will review our Human Resources Policies to ensure we have in place the necessary protections to protect whistle-blowers.   

  1. We continue to review and improve our due diligence procedures to identify and mitigate any potential issues with respect to any risks that we identify.  

 

DUE DILIGENCE PROCESSES/AREAS OF RISK AND MANAGEMENT 

To ensure that all of our business partners adopt the same high values as we do, we undertook a thorough analysis of all third party suppliers from whom we have acquired services.  This initiative has allowed us to identify and assess potential risk areas within our supply chains and businesses.  

 

SUPPLIER ADHERENCE TO OUR VALUES AND ETHICS 

We do not accept modern slavery and human trafficking and we have in place processes when working with suppliers to mitigate the risks by: 

  1. Conducting a risk assessment of a new supplier and its supply chains before agreeing to any engagement with that supplier, including considering its location, our spend and the product group and any risks of modern slavery or human trafficking which have been raised. 

  1. Monitoring supply chains and where appropriate audit suppliers once they have been engaged.  

  1. Requiring all manufacturing suppliers to agree to our terms of conduct within their supply agreements, which includes a requirement to comply with the Modern Slavery Act; and 

  1. Protecting whistle-blowers.  

 

ACTION

We set up a process to ensure when appointing suppliers and contractors we assess the risk of compliance with the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and only engage with those who will uphold our commitment  to respect and protect human rights with regards to modern day slavery.  This will lessen the risk of slavery and human trafficking occurring in any of our supply chains moving forwards and means we can monitor, engage with, and protect the interests of any suppliers which fall into higher risk categories. 

 

TRAINING 

To ensure a high level of understanding of the risks of modern slavery and human trafficking within our business, we provide mandatory training to all staff, further embedding this key policy within our company culture. 

We will also request new business partners to provide training to their staff and suppliers.  

 

OUR EFFECTIVENESS IN COMBATING MODERN SLAVERY AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING 

We will be measured against our ability to ensure all ACTIONS stated above take place with new/updated policies, processes and training modules being rolled out across our business over the next 12 months. 

 

This statement is made pursuant to section 54(1) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and constitutes our Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement for the financial year ending December 2021. It is the second such statement from AETN UK, having previously been included as a Sky Limited subsidiary within all previous Sky UK Limited Modern Slavery Statements and Updates.  It was approved by the Board directors on [DATE November 2022]. 

 

Signed on behalf of the board of directors 

Dean Possenniskie 

Managing Director