Z Channel

For the French-Canadian specialty channel, see Z (TV channel). For other uses, see Z Channel (disambiguation).

Z Channel

Country	United States
Availability	United States
Headquarters	Los Angeles, California
Key people	Jerry Harvey
Launch date	1974
Dissolved	1989
Replaced by	SportsChannel Los Angeles

The Z Channel was one of the first pay television stations in the United States. Launched in 1974 from Los Angeles, California, this station was known for its devotion to the art of cinema due to the eclectic choice of films^[1] by the programming chief, Jerry Harvey. It also popularized the use of letterboxing on television, as well as showing 'director's cut' versions of films (which is a term popularized after Z Channel's showing of Heaven's Gate). Z Channel's devotion to cinema and choice of rare and important films had an important influence on such directors as Robert Altman, Quentin Tarantino, and Jim Jarmusch. Z Channel was owned by Theta Cable (a division of TelePrompTer Corporation and Hughes Aircraft Co.) which was acquired by Group W (Westinghouse) in 1981. Operations were located in Santa Monica, California. In 1989, Z Channel faded to black^[2] and was replaced by SportsChannel Los Angeles.^[3]

The channel was the subject of the 2004 documentary Z Channel: A Magnificent Obsession, which was directed by Alexandra Cassavetes, daughter of John Cassavetes.

Live wrestling events

In the late 1980s, Z Channel broadcast a number of the World Wrestling Federation's live events from the Los Angeles Sports Arena, but nowhere near as many as Madison Square Garden (MSG Network), Boston Garden (New England Sports Network) or the Philadelphia Spectrum (PRISM).

References

↑ "Film-News and Notes." Daily News of Los Angeles October 3, 1986
↑ "Z Channel Fading To Black Amid Film Industry Tributes." The Hollywood Reporter April 27, 1989
↑ "Hollywood Freeway." Daily News of Los Angeles June 26, 1989

External links

Z Channel: A Magnificent Obsession at the Internet Movie Database

SportsChannel

Affiliates

Programming

Professional wrestling	AWA War in the Windy City Extreme Championship Wrestling Universal Wrestling Federation (Herb Abrams) Windy City Pro Wrestling

Related television networks

Owners

Premium television services in the United States

Premium television services in the United States (movies, series and specials)

Movies, series, and specials

Adult

Other

Fox Soccer Plus

Additional resources on North American television

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United States	American networks List of American cable and satellite networks List of American over-the-air networks Local American TV stations (W) Local American TV stations (K) 1994 United States broadcast TV realignment 2006 United States broadcast TV realignment List of Canadian television stations available in the United States Insular Areas TV

Pay-per-view television services in the United States

Pay-per-view

In Demand (HD)
TVN Entertainment

Adult

Playboy TV	Playboy TV Playgirl Climax

Spice Networks	RKTV Brazzers TV BangU. Mofos

The Erotic Network	Blox Blue Clips Juicy Real Xtsy Penthouse TV (HD) TEN

Other	Hot Choice Hustler TV In Demand TVN Entertainment Too Much For TV

Sports packages

Pro sports	ESPN College Extra NHL Center Ice (HD) NFL RedZone (HD) NFL Sunday Ticket (HD) NBA League Pass (HD) MLB Extra Innings (HD) MLS Direct Kick (HD)

College sports	NCAA Mega March Madness (HD)

Other	Cricket Ticket

Additional resources on North American television

North America	List of local television stations in North America DTV transition North American TV mini-template

Canada	Canadian networks List of Canadian television networks List of Canadian television channels List of Canadian specialty channels Local Canadian TV stations List of United States stations available in Canada 2001 Vancouver TV realignment 2007 Canada broadcast TV realignment

Mexico	Mexican networks Local Mexican TV stations

United States	American networks List of American cable and satellite networks List of American over-the-air networks Local American TV stations (W) Local American TV stations (K) 1994 United States broadcast TV realignment 2006 United States broadcast TV realignment List of Canadian television stations available in the United States Insular Areas TV

Defunct premium television services in the United States

Premium services	AMC¹ Bravo¹ Channel 100 Front Row Festival Galavisión¹ Home Theater Network Spotlight Sundance Channel¹ Star Channel² Take Two

Adult premium	American Exxxtasy Escapade

Pay-per-view	Action Pay-Per-View Cable Video Store Drive-In Cinema Guest Cinema The HiLife Channel Rendezvous Request TV Spectradyne

Sports	ESPN GamePlan ESPN Full Court Mega March Madness NASCAR Hot Pass PASS Sports

Subscription TV	Hawkvision In-Home Theatre ONTV Phonevision Preview PRISM SCORE SelecTV Spectrum Sportsvision SuperTV Tele1st Telemeter VEU Wometco Home Theater Z Channel

¹ Indicates the channel is still in existence, but currently operates as a basic cable channel. ² Star Channel was part of Warner Communications' QUBE interactive cable service, and was the precursor to present-day The Movie Channel.

Additional resources on North American television

North America	List of local television stations in North America DTV transition North American TV mini-template

Canada	Canadian networks List of Canadian television networks List of Canadian television channels List of Canadian specialty channels Local Canadian TV stations List of United States stations available in Canada 2001 Vancouver TV realignment 2007 Canada broadcast TV realignment

Mexico	Mexican networks Local Mexican TV stations

United States	American networks List of American cable and satellite networks List of American over-the-air networks Local American TV stations (W) Local American TV stations (K) 1994 United States broadcast TV realignment 2006 United States broadcast TV realignment List of Canadian television stations available in the United States Insular Areas TV

See also: U.S. movie channels; Canadian movie channels; Canadian premium channels

Movie-oriented television services in the United States

Over-the-air
digital television

Cable television

Cable and satellite television only	AMC Chiller Cinelatino FX Movie Channel HDNet Movies Hallmark Movies & Mysteries IFC LMN MGM HD PixL ShortsHD Sony Movie Channel SundanceTV Turner Classic Movies ViendoMovies

Premium television	HBO (Multiplex) Cinemax (Multiplex) Showtime (Multiplex) The Movie Channel (Multiplex) Flix Starz (Multiplex) Starz Encore (Multiplex) MoviePlex (Multiplex) Epix (Multiplex)

Defunct

Cable, satellite and terrestrial TV	Documentary Channel Fearnet Festival Home Theater Network Spotlight Star Channel Take 2 White Springs TV

Subscription TV	ONTV Phonevision Preview PRISM SelecTV Spectrum SuperTV VEU Wometco Home Theater Z Channel

Additional resources on North American television

North America	List of local television stations in North America DTV transition North American TV mini-template

Canada	Canadian networks List of Canadian television networks List of Canadian television channels List of Canadian specialty channels Local Canadian TV stations List of United States stations available in Canada 2001 Vancouver TV realignment 2007 Canada broadcast TV realignment

Mexico	Mexican networks Local Mexican TV stations

United States	American networks List of American cable and satellite networks List of American over-the-air networks Local American TV stations (W) Local American TV stations (K) 1994 United States broadcast TV realignment 2006 United States broadcast TV realignment List of Canadian television stations available in the United States Insular Areas TV

See also: U.S. premium channels; Canadian movie channels; Canadian premium channels

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