UK History launched this week on Freeview, the BBC's digital terrestrial service. It is the ninth digital channel to be launched by Flextech and the BBC's joint venture UKTV.
However, commercial broadcasters such as The History Channel have objected to the channel, believing that it flouts an agreement with the government, that the venture could only operate eight channels.
In a statement issued this afternoon, the BBC said: "Press coverage last weekend suggested that the launch of UK History on Wednesday's Freeview launch depended on 'settlement of a dispute with the History Channel'. This is incorrect.
"While there has been press coverage of debate between UK History and the History Channel, there were no issues (regulatory or otherwise) preventing Wednesday's launch of UK History.
"As we confirmed on October 7 2002, UK History forms part of a joint venture between BBC Worldwide and Telewest, which has been fully approved by Department for Culture, Media and Sport."
UKTV also operates UK Horizons, UK Gold and Bravo, none of which are included on Freeview.
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