Ms. Dubuc said in a telephone interview that she attributed the company’s run of success to “remaining as close as possible to the creative community.” In her new position, she said, she will try to keep her hands on the programming decisions for the networks. “My heart has always been in programming and marketing,” she said.

She acknowledged that other quarters of the television business had expressed interest in hiring her, including the broadcast networks. “It is very flattering,” she said, “but I have never doubted that cable is the place I want to be.”

She also said that executives at the parent companies of A&E — the Walt Disney Company and the Hearst Corporation — had made plain that they were interested in retaining her. She said Robert A. Iger, the Disney chairman and chief executive, was “especially interested and generous” in his support, along with the head of the Disney Media Networks, Anne Sweeney, and Hearst’s chief executive, Frank A. Bennack Jr.

Ms. Raven, who brought Ms. Dubuc to History 15 years ago, praised her as a “terrific programmer” and said she was proud that A&E would continue a tradition of naming new chiefs from within. Ms. Raven said she expected to “explore new strategies and business initiatives” from her post as chairwoman.