Audience Network

"The 101" redirects here. For the highway in California that is sometimes referred to as "The 101", see U.S. 101 in California.
Audience Network
Launched
  • November 25, 1999 (1999-11-25)
  • (as Freeview)
Owned by
Picture format
Country United States
Language English
Broadcast area Nationwide
Headquarters El Segundo, California
Formerly called
  • Freeview (1999–2005)
  • The 101 Network (2005–11)
Sister channel(s)
Website Audience Network
Availability
Satellite
DirecTV Channels 101, 239, 334 and 500 (SD/HD)
IPTV
AT&T U-verse
  • 114 (SD)
  • 599 (SD)
  • 1114 (HD)
  • 1599 (HD)

Audience Network is an American general entertainment television network that is owned by the DirecTV division of AT&T Inc. It features a mix of original and acquired series, specials, and feature films. The network operates as a commercial-free service and broadcasts its programming without editing for content. It was originally exclusive to DirecTV. However, after AT&T's acquisition of DirecTV it became available on AT&T U-verse.[1]

History

The network launched on November 25, 1999 as Freeview, a service on DirecTV channel 103 carrying a continuous loop of concerts and other events.[2] Freeview was part of all of the satellite provider's subscription packages, starting with the Total Choice tier.[2] In 2005, it was moved to channel 101 and was rebranded as the The 101 Network (as a suffix, "101" is college jargon for basic classes or, in more general terms, a way to describe any basic concept). Following the rebrand, the channel's schedule began to expand to include original programs. The channel was rebranded as Audience Network on June 1, 2011.[3]

Programming

Original programs

Original series broadcast by Audience Network (and its various incarnations) include:

Acquired series

Off-network reruns

International programming

In recent years, DirecTV began acquiring exclusive U.S. broadcast rights to series from fellow English-dominant countries England, Canada and Australia.

Specials

Movies and previews

In October 2006, to mark Halloween, Audience Network aired several horror-themed movies, including The Toxic Avenger.

On February 23 and 24, 2007, Audience Network aired a preview of Chiller, a then-recently launched cable channel owned by NBC Universal dedicated to horror programming that launched on DirecTV channel 257 on March 1, 2007. Programming featured during this preview included the two-hour pilot episode of Twin Peaks, the pilot episode of American Gothic, episodes of Monsters, Tales from the Crypt, Night Gallery, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Friday the 13th: The Series, and various horror movies.

Audience Network has aired a number of dramatic series a few days before their scheduled premieres on Showtime including The Tudors in March 2007 and Nurse Jackie in June 2009, as well as the Starz series Party Down on April 22, 2010.

On August 24, 2007, Audience Network aired an exclusive high-definition broadcast of High School Musical 2, one week after its premiere on the Disney Channel (Disney Channel did not launch a high definition simulcast feed until April 2, 2008).[39]

Former programming

The first original program on the channel was CD USA, a pop music show reminiscent of the longtime favorite American Bandstand. The series aired Saturday evenings and ran throughout the weekend. The channel also aired the weekly recap program American Idol Extra on weekends throughout the 2006 season of American Idol[40] after their original Thursday airings on Fox Reality.

Other former original programs have included the Championship Gaming Invitational, Championship Gaming Series,[41] The FIZZ,[42] and Project My World.[43][44]

Havoc on The 101 broadcast live web/phone text chats, with online chats sourced from the website Havoc.tv, over music videos and action sports clips. Viewers could vote for which video they wanted to see next via those chats.[45] The shows were executive produced by Lloyd Bryan Adams.

Hometown Heroes, which was hosted by Joan Lunden, chronicled DirecTV customers who were local heroes in their communities.[46]

References

  1. Umstead, Thomas (September 30, 2015). "AT&T to Launch DirecTV's Audience Network". MultiChannel News. Retrieved December 18, 2015.
  2. 1 2 "DIRECTV Announces DIRECTV FREEVIEW Series of Special Programming Events; Exclusive Series Offered Free of Charge to Customers.". Business Wire. November 18, 1999. Retrieved February 15, 2014.
  3. "DirecTV's The 101 Network Becomes The Audience Network on June 1". The Futon Critic (Press release). DirecTV. May 16, 2011. Retrieved February 15, 2014.
  4. DirecTV – Supreme Court of Comedy, only on The 101
  5. America's Funniest Comedians Tackle the Courtroom in Season Three of DIRECTV's Original Series Supreme Court of Comedy on The 101 Network DirecTV Press Release April 7, 2010
  6. DirecTV – Rock & a Hard Place, only on The 101
  7. DirecTV Press Release March 16, 2009 Dan Patrick Signs Up For New TV Show on DIRECTV
  8. The Dan Patrick Show Syndicated to More Than 85 Million Homes! – Fox Sports Net Will Distribute the Popular Sports Talk TV Series Beginning October 25 DirecTV Press Release October 4, 2010
  9. Original Documentary More Than A Dream Premieres Feb. 13th on DIRECTV's Audience Network DirecTV Press Release, February 13, 2012
  10. Littleton, Cynthia (May 9, 2012). "DirecTV sets original drama for Audience Network". Variety. Retrieved February 15, 2014.
  11. Sean L. McCarthy. "No more "Nick & Artie" as DiPaolo leaves; "The Artie Lange Show" returns/debuts in 2013". The Comic's Comic. Retrieved February 15, 2014.
  12. 1 2 Marechal, AJ (April 17, 2013). "DirecTV Orders Drama ‘Full Circle’ For Audience Network". Variety. Retrieved February 15, 2014.
  13. 1 2 "DIRECTV's The 101(R) Network Brings Back the Controversial and Critically Acclaimed Television Series Wonderland, Including Six Never-Before-Seen Episodes Beginning Jan. 14". DTV.Client.Shareholder.com. December 10, 2008. Archived from the original on May 28, 2009. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
  14. NBC.com ~ "NBC’S Passions to work its magic on DIRECTV viewers with all new episodes beginning September 17"
  15. TVPredictions.com April 25, 2007 DIRECTV Unsure On Passions In HDTV
  16. TVSeriesFinale.com Passions: DirecTV Cancellation Confirmed
  17. "NBC, Universal Media Studios and DirecTV Form Bold Partnership to Renew Friday Night Lights for a Third Season". DirecTV.com. April 2, 2008. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
  18. Ostrow, Joanne (April 2, 2008). "Friday Night Lights lives". DenverPost.com. Archived from the original on April 15, 2009. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
  19. "NBC Universal and DirecTV Team Up Again to Renew Friday Night Lights for 26 Episodes Over Two Additional Seasons". March 31, 2009. Archived from the original on April 9, 2009. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
  20. DirecTV, Sony To Air Fourth, Fifth Seasons Of 'Damages' Multichannel News July 19, 2010
  21. "General Hospital: Night Shift Spoilers for October 14, 2008". Soaps.com. October 9, 2008. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
  22. 1 2 MacIntyre, April (April 3, 2009). "DirecTV channel 101 brings back Smith, The Nine and Eyes". MonstersAndCritics.com (M&C). Archived from the original on June 15, 2009. Retrieved June 8, 2009.
  23. DirecTV – Sleeper Cell on The 101
  24. DirecTV Press Release April 21, 2009 – Customers To Get a Jolt of Drama With the Addition of Deadwood and Oz
  25. DirecTV 101s Fresh Look
  26. DirecTV – Smith, only on The 101
  27. DIRECTV Takes It Down to The Wire(R) with the Debut of the Acclaimed Series on the 101 Network DirecTV Press Release April 12, 2010
  28. "DIRECTV Cultivates More Comedy On The 101 Network With Trailer Park Boys". TrailerParkBoys.com. February 4, 2009. Archived from the original on April 22, 2009. Retrieved May 16, 2009.
  29. DirecTV Press Release September 17, 2009 DIRECTV Takes Viewers Deep Into the "Underbelly" of the Australian Crime World
  30. BBC Worldwide and DIRECTV Announce Heroic Deal – British Comedy Award Nominees "No Heroics," "How Not to Live Your Life" and "Mutual Friends" to Make Exclusive US Debut on The 101 Network DirecTV Press Release September 28, 2010
  31. Critically-Acclaimed Series "Call Me Fitz" Heads for DirecTV's The 101 Network Futon Critic February 10, 2011
  32. DirecTV Delves Deeper Into Content With New Audience Network Wall Street Journal May 13, 2011
  33. Canada's Funniest Dysfunctional Family Finds a Home on DIRECTV; Hit Comedy ‘Less Than Kind' Makes U.S. Debut Exclusively on the Audience Network DirecTV Press Release September 20, 2011
  34. DIRECTV Brings Highly Anticipated Paul Abbott Drama Series Hit and Miss to Audience Network DirecTV Press Release October 21, 2011
  35. Munn, Patrick (February 1, 2012). "DIRECTV's Audience Network Acquires The Slap and The Shadow Line". TVWise. Retrieved February 1, 2012.
  36. DirecTV Press Release March 4, 2009 DIRECTV's Exclusive 'Bracket Breakdown' is College Hoops' Ultimate Meeting of the Minds
  37. DIRECTV Announces Lineup For SXSW Live, The Only Live Television Broadcast From The Trendsetting Music Festival, Airing March 20–21 On DIRECTV's The 101(R) Network
  38. Farm Aid 25: Growing Hope for America Concert to be Broadcast Live in HD and Commercial Free Exclusively on DIRECTV's The 101 Network DirecTV Press Release September 15, 2010
  39. Multichannel News August 21, 2007 DirecTV airs High School Musical 2 in HD
  40. DirecTV Press Release March 16, 2006 DIRECTV Gives Die Hard Fans More Ways to Watch 'American Idol Extra'; Delivering Weekly Encore Performances of 'American Idol Extra,' DIRECTV Customers Will Have Access to Behind-the-Scenes Action with Top Twelve Finalists
  41. msnbc.com Championship Gaming Series Information
  42. Access DirecTV Magazine April 2007 Me, Myself and I TV
  43. DirecTV Press Release September 25, 2006 DIRECTV's New Original Series Project MyWorld Sends Three Friends to Conquer the World with Their MySpace Friends
  44. DirecTV – Project My World, only on The 101
  45. DirecTV – Havoc on The 101
  46. DirecTV – Hometown Heroes, only on The 101

External links

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