Avast is a specialized TV channel and the international version of the American Avast channel. It is operated by Avast Television Networks EMEAA in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Africa, and Avast Television Networks Latin America in Mexico, Latin America and Brazil. Its headquarters are located in London, United Kingdom and has an additional office in Lisbon, Portugal.
History
Avast Export
Since the early 1990s, many European countries have hosted the American version of the channel. Including the USSR in 1991, where Avast became available without translation. This came about after the heads of Avast Networks Europe came to register Avast Kids Europe after following the penetration strategy that was used in 1989 when the company launched Avast Kids Europe. The owner Avast Television decided not to bring an independent Avast to Europe in order to minimize risks. On January 24, 1996, Avast UK was launched, and this version was subsequently distributed throughout the rest of Europe.
Avast Global
The current channel was launched on October 28, 1999 in Hungary, Spain and Portugal under the name Avast Europe.
Between 2000 and 2003, the channel expanded to Malta, Romania, Russia/CIS and the Baltic countries.
In 2004, a new block called "Avast Kids" was added. In the same year, the channel expanded to the rest of Eastern Europe, and from December 2004 to January 2013, Avast Global was used as the main TV channel in the CIS and Baltic countries. In March 2008, the channel expanded into the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria and Slovenia.
On June 12, 2010, a new logo and branding were introduced, matching the US counterpart, but with a new design. In the same year, the channel began broadcasting under a Czech license, since minimum broadcasting rules apply in the Czech Republic, it was chosen for licensing purposes in the EU. The broadcasting center is still located in London.
On Valentine's Day 2011, a additional office was opened in Lisbon, Portugal. In the same year, Avast Europe switched to widescreen broadcasting (16:9). In November 2011, a HD feed of the channel was launched.
In 2015, audio tracks for Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian were added for the Baltic states. In 2017, many of the channel's shows started becoming dubbed in these languages.
In 2018, the channel expanded into Oceania, replacing the localized version of the channel over there. Later that same year, the channel expanded onto the rest of Asia, and the Middle East and North Africa.
In 2019, the channel merged with Avast Latin America, Avast Mexico and Avast Brazil, and became available in those countries. On January 5, 2022, the channel expanded into Central America, the French Overseas Departments and Guam.
On February 6, 2023, a Kyrgyz audio track was added to the channel, and the channel became available in Kyrgyzstan. Many of the channel's shows started becoming officially dubbed in the Kyrgyz language that same year.
On June 30, 2023, a Ukrainian audio track was added to the channel, replacing the Avast Ukraine Pluto TV channel.
On January 7, 2024, Avast Europe was renamed to Avast Global, now that the channel can serve over 140 countries in the world. Avast Global retains the Czech license (RRTV) in order to ensure the continuation of legal broadcasting in the European Union in accordance with the EU Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD) and the Single Market Law after the UK leaves the European Union.
Avast CEE
Avast CEE was launched on January 4, 2003.