The Ski Channel

The Ski Channel
Launched December 25, 2008
Owned by Action Sport Networks
Picture format 1080i
Country United States
Broadcast area National
Headquarters Pacific Palisades, California
Sister channel(s) Surf Channel
Skate Channel
Website theskichannel.com
Availability
Satellite
DirecTV Channel 1860 (VOD)
Dish Network Dish Online (VOD)
Cable
Available on some providers Check local listings for VOD information

The Ski Channel is a Video On Demand Cable, Satellite and Telco television channel distributed on Comcast, Time Warner Cable, DirecTV, Verizon FiOS, Brighthouse Networks, Cablevision, RCN, AT&T U-Verse and Cox Communications. The technical term for a channel of this type is VODnet. It features mountain oriented sports, activity and lifestyle content and is devoted to year round mountain activities such as skiing, snowboarding, hiking, biking, backpacking, climbing and other mountain sports. The channel launched on December 25, 2008. Tennis doubles team Bob and Mike Bryan are investors in the channel. It was founded by Steve Bellamy who also founded Tennis Channel.

Background

About 1997, Bellamy had the idea of cable channel for skiing and started work on the concept. He switch to working on a tennis channel concept given the broader audience for tennis.[1] In 2005, Bellamy and the rest of the Tennis Channel's management was swept out by the owners.[2]

History

In April 2007, Bellamy announced the formation of The Ski Channel television Video on demand channel that would focus on mountain oriented sports, activity and lifestyle.[3] That announcement brought a long term cable distribution deal with Time Warner and advertising deals with: Panasonic, Fender Guitars, Marquis Jets and Mirage Resorts.[3] Panasonic's President, Andy Nelkin stated they were going to use the networks affluent audience to market their new 107 inch hi definition television that cost $70,000. Shortly after a flurry of programming announcements were made with ski film maker Rage Films,[4] episodic television series Ride Guide[5] and a series with legendary action sports photographer Tony Harrington, entitled, “Storm Hunter.[6]”

A big announcement was a partnership with Olympic Gold Medalist Jonny Moseley that made Moseley an investor in the channel, a spokesperson and gave Moseley a signature show on the network.[7] The Moseley announcement came at “The Ski Channel Baby Shower” and was attended by ski and snowboard stars: Julia Mancuso, Kirstina Koznick, Lauren Ross and Dash Longe. Alexandra Paul, Donna Mills, Melissa Rivers, Dawnn Lewis, Jaron Lowenstein, Scott Grimes, Kevin Durand, Amy Pietz, Jason Gray Stanford, Sinjin Smith, Pam Shriver and George Lazenby attended as well.[8]

On November 10, 2008, it was reported in the media that the network had secured enough capital through a private placement to fund the channel through the life of the business, that it had hire a senior management team and that the network would be launching shortly.

On November 17, 2008, it was reported by Business Week that the channel had added DirecTV and Verizon to its list of distributors, that it was launching on Christmas Day of 2008 and that it had acquired the broadcast rights to classic Warren Miller movies.[9]

On June 1, 2009, it was announced that The Ski Channel had entered into a long term partnership with AT&T Uverse that would put the channel in approximately 20 Million Households.

As of May 1, 2010, The Ski Channel is in 26 million US television households and in every market in America. The channel has distribution partnerships with Time Warner Cable, DirecTV, Dish Network, Cablevision, AT&T, Verizon, RCN, Cox, Frontier Cable and programming partnerships with Warren Miller, Greg Stump and the US Freeski Tour.

In July 2010, The Ski Channel announced a deal with Comcast that brings the network to 43 million US television households when added to the previous distribution.

Programs

The network broadcasts events, movies, destination travel, news, equipment, instructional, real estate and all the different sports and activities that take place in the mountains in both the summer and winter. The channel has announced event rights that include the World Heli Championships that takes place in New Zealand and is the billed as the most extreme sporting event in the world, World Freeski Championships, the Subaru US Freeskiing Tour, The North Face Snowboard Tour and the Teva Mountain Games. Olympic Gold Medalist, Jonny Moseley has his own show called “Air It Out With Jonny Moseley.” [10]

Partial list of programs shown:

Cable and Satellite Distribution

Currently, The Ski Channel is available on 7 of the largest television distribution companies Time Warner Cable, DirecTV, Cox Communications, Verizon FiOS, Brighthouse Networks, AT&T U-Verse and Dish Network. Comcast reached a carriage agreement on July 19, 2010.[11]

Film festival

The network announced it will hold an annual Ski Channel Film Festival devoted to mountain sports starting in 2011 and that legendary filmmaker Warren Miller is involved. According to Ski Channel Executives there is a large amount of these types of film produced every year providing the need for this type of a festival.[12]

Film and Film Tour

In the fall of 2010, The Ski Channel will have a National film tour for three original films. "The Story" stars Bode Miller, Lindsey Vonn, Mike Douglas, Bobby Brown and various other famous and non-famous skiers. There is a documentary on Bill Johnson and another documentary on Shane McConkey. To date "The Story" has won 11 film festivals and had a sold out premiere at the Manns Chinese Theatre in Hollywood that was nearly shut down by the fire marshall on 3 separate occasions during the screening because of over capacity. Although the films main stars were Lindsey Vonn and Bode Miller, many people say that adaptive skier Stephani Victor was the bright light in the film.

Adventure Racing

Broadcasting and Cable Magazine reported on 3/29/09 that The Ski Channel was becoming the official broadcast partner of Adventure Racing and would also be broadcasting Primal Quest the most grueling endurance competition in the world. Primal Quest was previously on CBS television.[12]

References

  1. ↑ Bradstreet, Kailee (September 5, 2012). "Behind The Surf Channel: Founder Steve Bellamy". Transworld Business (The Enthusiast Network). Retrieved January 30, 2016.
  2. ↑ Lattman, Peter (September 9, 2010). "P.E. in 5th Set With Tennis Channel". New York Times. Retrieved January 29, 2016.
  3. 1 2 Schneider, Michael (April 29, 2007). "Ski channel snowballing". Variety. Retrieved January 31, 2016.
  4. ↑ FREESKIER Magazine
  5. ↑ Canadian outfit rides Ski slopes - Entertainment News, TV News, Media - Variety
  6. ↑ Ski Channel Glides Into HarroArt Pact - 17 December 2007 3:38:00 PM - Multichannel News
  7. ↑ Jonny Moseley signs with Ski Channel | Entertainment | Television | Reuters
  8. ↑ A Ski Channel Baby Shower Promises One Big Baby
  9. ↑
  10. ↑ NEW PARTNERSHIP: Ski Channel and Jonny Moseley Join Forces
  11. ↑ Comcast Hits the Slopes - Ski Channel Lands On-Demand Deal With Top Cable Operator Multichannel News July 19, 2010
  12. 1 2 Film festival
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