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A guide to new channel launches, new carriage agreements, and changes in current transmission formats.
Changing Channels is updated as new information comes in, so check back regularly. Listings will remain online for 30 days.
Listings are alphabetical.
Put your
on this page!Cable’s Digital World Brings Explosion of Channels
ANAHEIM, Calif.—While digital cable technology and hardware seemed foremost in the minds of cable executives at this year’s Western Cable Show, programmers focused on adapting and expanding their offerings to take advantage of the increasing channel capacity on some cable systems. Following is a rundown of new channels and new carriage agreements announced at the show:
NEW CHANNELS
AND SERVICES
What: The Boyz Channel and The Girlz Channel —
two channels from Fox Family Channel in development; gender-specific
entertainment and issue-oriented programming and parenting tips
after kids go to bed.
Where: to be determined.
Available: late 1999
Format: Likely digital.
What: Fanfare — The Classical Music Channel, from
WETA, Washington, D.C., PBS station; features full-length classical
works with thematic videos or live performances.
Where: No satellite selected yet
Available: Nov. 25, 1999
Format: digital, compression system to be determined.
What: The Football Network — Non-NFL games including
Canadian, NCAA Division I-A through Division III, high school,
youth, and Australian rules leagues; football news, and other
special programs.
Where: Pursuing spot on PanAmSat’s Galaxy 7, according
to TFN President Jantonio Turner.
Available: July 1, 1999.
Format: Launching in analog, in the clear, advertiser
supported. Will switch to digital, compression system to be determined.
What: The Nashville Network — West Coast Feed
Where: Galaxy 1R, transponder 6
When: Dec. 21
Format: Analog, in fixed-key until Dec. 28, then fully
addressable using VC RS
What: Nickelodeon Games and Sports (GAS) — fun
and games for kids
Where: to be determined.
Available: March 1, 1999
Format: digital using DigiCipher; 4D-TV receiver distribution
agreement pending.
What: Noggin — educational channel from Nickelodeon
and Children’s Television Workshop
Where: to be determined.
Available: Feb. 2, 1999
Format: digital using DigiCipher; available to 4D-TV
C-band receiver owners.
What: Radio City Networks — pay-per-view service
in development, features events from New York’s Radio City
Music Hall.
Where: TVN digital transponders: Galaxy 9, transponders
7, 9, 10, 11, 13; Viewer’s Choice transponders: not available
to dish owners.
Available: 4th quarter 1999
Format: digital using DigiCipher; no 4D-TV distribution
agreements yet.
What: Wisdom Television — Turner Vision Inc. is
reformatting its channel of inspirational quotes set to music.
New channel will offer variety of self-help, motivational, and
inspirational programs.
Where: GE-1, transponder 12
Available: early 1999
Format: In the clear.
NEW CARRIAGE
AGREEMENTS
What: Action Plus — outdoor programming package
featuring Outdoor Channel. Temporarily without Speedvision,
Outdoor and Life due to legal dispute over packaging.
Where: EchoStar, channels 150, 151, 153, respectively
Available: now
Format: digital DBS; one package for $4.99 per month
or $59.88 per year for America’s Top 40 or America’s
Top 100 CD subscribers.
What: BBC America — Selections from U.K.'s popular broadcaster.
Where: DISH Network, Channel 135
When: Available now
Format: Digital DBS
What: CNN/SI — Turner Broadcasting System Inc.’s
sports news channel
Where: DirecTv, channel 205
Available: now
Format: digital DBS; in all DirecTv Total Choice packages.
What: Fox News Channel — news from News Corp.
will be sold by C-band packager Superstar Satellite Entertainment.
Where: Galaxy 7, transp. 20
Available: Jan. 1, 1999
Format: analog, scrambled with VideoCipher RS.
What: History Channel International, The Biography
Channel, Showtime Extreme, The Sundance Channel, Toon Disney
— added to Tele-Communications Inc.’s HITS digital
channel service. HITS also has new agreements to carry Trio and
Newsworld International, two Canadian services.
Where: Galaxy 7, 12 different transponders
Available: now
Format: DigiCipher II;
no 4D-TV receiver distribution agreements yet.
What: Ovation — The Arts Network
Where: Galaxy 7, transp. 13
Available: now
Format: DigiCipher II; now available to 4D-TV receiver
owners.
What: PAX TV — NPS gets exclusive C-band distribution
rights to new family-oriented network
Where: Spacenet 4, transponder 16
When: Available now
Format: Analog, scrambled with VC RS.
*NPS is working on carriage agreements with other C-band packagers.
What: Toon Disney — Disney’s all-animation
channel
Where: Primestar, channel number not available at press
time.
Available: Dec. 31, 1998
Format: digital DBS; in PrimeValue package.
What: Travel Channel — Returns to DirecTv after
two-year hiatus
Where: DirecTv channel 216
When: Dec. 1
Format: Digital DBS
|
|
AND SERVICES | |
| What: The Boyz Channel and The Girlz Channel — two channels from Fox Family Channel in development; gender-specific entertainment and issue-oriented programming and parenting tips after kids go to bed. |
Where: to be determined. Available: late 1999 |
Format: Likely digital. |
| What: Fanfare — The Classical Music Channel, from WETA, Washington, D.C., PBS station; features full-length classical works with thematic videos or live performances. |
Where: No satellite selected yet Available: Nov. 25, 1999 |
Format: digital, compression system to be determined. |
| What: The Football Network — Non-NFL games including Canadian, NCAA Division I-A through Division III, high school, youth, and Australian rules leagues; football news, and other special programs. |
Where: Pursuing spot on PanAmSat’s Galaxy 7, according
to TFN President Jantonio Turner. Available: July 1, 1999. |
Format: Launching in analog, in the clear, advertiser supported. Will switch to digital, compression system to be determined. |
| What: The Nashville Network — West Coast Feed |
Where: Galaxy 1R, transponder 6 When: Dec. 21 |
Format: Analog, in fixed-key until Dec. 28, then fully addressable using VC RS |
| What: Nickelodeon Games and Sports (GAS) — fun and games for kids |
Where: to be determined. Available: March 1, 1999 |
Format: digital using DigiCipher; 4D-TV receiver distribution agreement pending. |
| What: Noggin — educational channel from Nickelodeon and Children’s Television Workshop |
Where: to be determined. Available: Feb. 2, 1999 |
Format: digital using DigiCipher; available to 4D-TV C-band receiver owners. |
| What: Radio City Networks — pay-per-view service in development, features events from New York’s Radio City Music Hall. |
Where: TVN digital transponders: Galaxy 9, transponders
7, 9, 10, 11, 13; Viewer’s Choice transponders: not available
to dish owners. Available: 4th quarter 1999 |
Format: digital using DigiCipher; no 4D-TV distribution agreements yet. |
| What: Wisdom Television — Turner Vision Inc. is reformatting its channel of inspirational quotes set to music. New channel will offer variety of self-help, motivational, and inspirational programs. |
Where: GE-1, transponder 12 Available: early 1999 |
Format: In the clear. |
|
|
||
| What: Action Plus — outdoor programming package featuring Outdoor Channel. Temporarily without Speedvision, Outdoor and Life due to legal dispute over packaging. |
Where: EchoStar, channels 150, 151, 153, respectively Available: now |
Format: digital DBS; one package for $4.99 per month or $59.88 per year for America’s Top 40 or America’s Top 100 CD subscribers. |
| What: BBC America — Selections from U.K.'s popular broadcaster. |
Where: DISH Network, Channel 135 When: Available now |
Format: Digital DBS |
| What: CNN/SI — Turner Broadcasting System Inc.’s sports news channel |
Where: DirecTv, channel 205 Available: now |
Format: digital DBS; in all DirecTv Total Choice packages. |
| What: Fox News Channel — news from News Corp. will be sold by C-band packager Superstar Satellite Entertainment. |
Where: Galaxy 7, transp. 20 Available: Jan. 1, 1999 |
Format: analog, scrambled with VideoCipher RS. |
| What: History Channel International, The Biography Channel, Showtime Extreme, The Sundance Channel, Toon Disney — added to Tele-Communications Inc.’s HITS digital channel service. HITS also has new agreements to carry Trio and Newsworld International, two Canadian services. |
Where: Galaxy 7, 12 different transponders Available: now |
Format: DigiCipher II; no 4D-TV receiver distribution agreements yet. |
| What: Ovation — The Arts Network |
Where: Galaxy 7, transp. 13 Available: now |
Format: DigiCipher II; now available to 4D-TV receiver owners. |
| What: PAX TV — NPS gets exclusive C-band distribution rights to new family-oriented network |
Where: Spacenet 4, transponder 16 When: Available now |
Format: Analog, scrambled with VC RS. *NPS is working on carriage agreements with other C-band packagers. |
| What: Toon Disney — Disney’s all-animation channel |
Where: Primestar, channel number not available at press
time. Available: Dec. 31, 1998 |
Format: digital DBS; in PrimeValue package. |
| What: Travel Channel — Returns to DirecTv after two-year hiatus |
Where: DirecTv channel 216 When: Dec. 1 |
Format: Digital DBS |
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q 2000
Satellite Business News Inc. All rights reserved.
q 2000 Satellite Business News Inc. All rights reserved.