The Ski Channel
CountryUnited States
Broadcast areaNational
HeadquartersPacific Palisades, California
Programming
Picture format1080i
Ownership
OwnerAction Sport Networks
Sister channelsSurf Channel
Skate Channel
History
LaunchedDecember 25, 2008
Links
Websitetheskichannel.com

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 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] The channel was launched on December 25, 2008.[10] Cox and Bright House were also on board as launch carriers.[11]

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 available as a fee on-demand service. The channel also made its first theatrical licensing deal for the Universal Pictures film, First Descent, featuring Shawn White, facing down Alaska's "extreme slopes".[11]

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. The channel also announced that a mid-October grass-roots film tour would feature the debut of channel produced ski films before they air on the service channel.[12]

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.” [13]

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.[14]

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. ^ a b Schneider, Michael (April 29, 2007). "Ski channel snowballing". Variety. Retrieved January 31, 2016.
  4. ^ Amirault, Dave (2007-08-09). "The Ski Channel and Rage Films to form multi-faceted partnership FREESKIER Magazine". Storm Mountain Publishing Co. Archived from the original on November 13, 2007. Retrieved 2016-08-25.
  5. ^ Schneider, Michael (2007-09-09). "Canadian outfit rides Ski slopes". Variety. Retrieved 2016-08-25.
  6. ^ Reynolds, Mike (December 17, 2007). "Ski Channel Glides Into HarroArt Pact". Multichannel News. Reed Business Information. Archived from the original on 2007-12-19. Retrieved 2016-08-25.
  7. ^ Nordyke, Kimberly (2007-06-04). "Jonny Moseley signs with Ski Channel". Reuters. Retrieved 2016-08-25.
  8. ^ "A Ski Channel Baby Shower Promises One Big Baby". 2007-06-18. Archived from the original on 2014-04-12. Retrieved 2016-08-25.
  9. ^ "This story no longer exists - BusinessWeek". Archived from the original on 2011-05-23. Retrieved 2016-02-02.
  10. ^ Eggerton, John (2008-12-26). "Ski Channel Celebrates Christmas Launch". Broadcasting & Cable. NewBay Media, LLC. Retrieved August 25, 2016.
  11. ^ a b Eggerton, John (June 1, 2009). "Ski Channel Comes Out Of The Gate On AT&T U-verse". Multichannel. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
  12. ^ Umstead, R. Thomas (July 19, 2010). "Comcast Hits the Slopes". Multichannel. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
  13. ^ "NEW PARTNERSHIP: Ski Channel and Jonny Moseley Join Forces". Powder Magazine. Primedia Action Sports Group. June 4, 2007. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved 2016-08-25.
  14. ^ "Comcast Hits the Slopes". Multichannel News. 2010-07-19. Archived from the original on July 21, 2010. Retrieved 2016-08-25.
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