DIRECTV NewsA Blog on Satellite TV News

ReelzChannel has partnered with Lionsgate and DirecTV to promote the Academy Award winning movie Precious in PPV & VOD. Precious, which won Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actress (Mo’Nique) and Best Adapted Screenplay (Geoffrey Fletcher).

ReelzChannel’s partnership includes cross-channel inventory, provided by DirecTV, which is designed to encourage consumers to purchase Precious on DIRECTV Cinema as of March 9, 2010. The spots, produced by REELZCHANNEL, will also drive traffic to REELZCHANNEL on DIRECTV channel 238 and www.reelzchannel.com/Precious where the network will showcase exclusive Precious content provided by Lionsgate, such as set photos, facts sheets, production notes, clips and bonus features.

John deGarmo SVP of Affiliate Relations for ReelzChannel said, “With the right titles REELZCHANNEL believes there is a future in creating special promotions that include studios and distributors working with REELZCHANNEL to raise interest in titles and drive VOD/PPV revenue. Lionsgate has stepped forward to pioneer this effort and increase the support for Precious. We look forward to seeing the buy rates for this movie increase as a result of this groundbreaking partnership.”

Kate Neligan, Director of On Demand & Digital Marketing for Lionsgate, said “Lionsgate is excited to co-promote Precious with REELZCHANNEL and DIRECTV Cinema in this innovative partnership where we believe we can expand the reach of the film’s important messages to a larger audience through the VOD/PPV platform.”

Sarah Lyons, Vice President of Upgrade Marketing, DirecTV, said “We are happy to be partnering with both REELZCHANNEL and Lionsgate to provide the award-winning movie Precious with a national platform to continue delivering its powerful message. We understand the importance of having the highest-quality movies available for our customers to choose from and we strive to deliver the most robust lineup of box office hits on the DIRECTV Cinema platform.”

The Charlotte, NC based satellite television channel ‘SPEED’ delivering Formula One racing, NASCAR-related shows will launch ‘Fast Track to Fame’ on March 1 at 9 p.m.

Fast Track to Fame on Speed Channel will deliver ten episodes searching grassroots talent taped at stops along the NASCAR schedule.

Fast Track to Fame will be hosted by NASCAR owner and driver Michael Waltrip and Charissa Thompson will co-host the one hour show. Fast Track to Fame will tape from late February until May. Speed plans on airing each episode as many as six times after its Monday-night original.

Michael Waltrip stated “I love talent shows. I went to Hunter [Nickell, Speed's president] and told him he should air a NASCAR talent show. He thought it was a great idea, and next thing you know, we’re doing it. I know there’s a lot ofhidden talent in NASCAR Nation, and we’re going to find it and have a blast while we do.”

According to Fox Sports, acts will be solicited through local media at NASCAR stops, and when selected, they will perform over the weekend in front of three yet-to-be-determined judges. The winners from the first eight shows will meet in a semi-final competition, and then two finalists will battle in the finale.

DirecTV announced that it partners with FOX Sports and NASCAR to present inaugural DIRECTV’s NASCAR Head-2-Head Knockout competition.

DIRECTV’s NASCAR Head-2-Head Knockout competition will be innovative new bracket-format competition amongst 32 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers in a high-stakes contest over the course of four races during the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule.

The prize money for both drivers and spectators alike as winning drivers with a total of $500,000 will be donated to charity during the course of the NASCAR Head-2-Head Knockout competition.

Viewers can also take a chance to win a new car and the ultimate prize, a check for $1 million dollars by picking a perfect bracket. Fans can enter their brackets starting April 11 on www.directv.com/nascar.

The schedule for inaugural DIRECTV’s NASCAR Head-2-Head Knockout competition in 2010 is as follows:

• Round One on April 18 (Samsung Mobile 500 at Texas Motor Speedway)
• Round Two on April 25 (Aaron’s 499 at Talladega Superspeedway)
• Round Three on May 1 (Crown Royal presents “The Heath Calhoun 400″, Richmond International Raceway)
• “The Fastest Four” on May 8 (Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway)

Jon Gieselman, senior vice president of Advertising and Public Relations for DIRECTV, said “Given DIRECTV’s passion for absolutely anything sports related, we’re excited to partner with NASCAR and FOX to showcase some of the intense rivalries that we all know exist within the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. “It will be exciting to watch the mano-a-mano match-ups unfold, creating a whole new competitive dynamic for our customers to enjoy on four Sundays this spring.”

Jim O’Connell, NASCAR’s Vice President of Corporate Marketing and International Development, said “DIRECTV’s NASCAR Head-2-Head Knockout competition is another example of DIRECTV’s commitment to NASCAR® and our fans. We are thrilled to have DIRECTV as a long time partner and look forward to our fans following the match ups on the NASCAR HOTPASS broadcast.”

SIRIUS XM Radio has announced that it will launch a five-day long, commercial-free music channel ‘The Who Channel’ on Thursday, February 4 at 3:00 pm ET. The Who Channel will feature music, performances and interviews celebrating the career of one of the most iconic rock bands of all time.

The Who channel is a limited-run, artist-branded channels dedicated to iconic musicians

The Who Channel will broadcast live telecast of the band’s on-field halftime performance at Super Bowl XLIV and play music spanning The Who’s entire five-decade-long career, from their debut in 1965 through the band’s latest releases.

The Who Greatest Hits, the career-spanning compilation, and The Who Greatest Hits Live, a collection of previously unreleased and newly mixed concert recordings from throughout the band’s entire career. Listeners will also hear exclusive interviews with the band members and broadcasts of live concert performances from the band’s massive archive.

SIRIUS XM has already delivered limited-run channels such as Mandatory Metallica, Paul McCartney’s Fireman Radio, Rolling Stones Radio, AC/DC Radio, Led Zeppelin Radio, Miles Davis Radio, The Spectrum of John Mellencamp, Radio R.E.M., Coldplay Nation, ABBA Radio, Neil Diamond Radio, Jay-Z Nation, Garth Brooks Radio and Duran Duran’s Red Carpet Radio.

The Who Channel will run till Monday, February 8 at 11:59 pm ET on SIRIUS channel 16 and XM channel 40.

ESPN announced that it has acquired Vistas Unlimited, Inc. The acquisition of Vistas Unlimited will allow ESPN to utilize virtual technology across its multiple platforms and also employ a majority of Vistas’ employees.

Television Network utilizes Vistas Unlimited developed computer technology to insert advertisement during live television broadcast.

Vistas Unlimited received the George Wensel Technical Achievement Award at the 29th Annual Sports Emmy Awards in 2008. The George Wensel Technical Achievement Award for Vistas Unlimited’s development of the video processing and insertion of optimal putt paths for The Golf Channel on many of its PGA and LPGA broadcasts.

Chuck Pagano, executive vice president, ESPN technology, said “This acquisition represents ESPN’s dedication to staying at the forefront of innovation and technology development. The team that is joining ESPN brings a wealth of knowledge on developing cutting-edge virtual components that enhance the fan’s enjoyment of a game telecast.”

World Fishing Network (WFN) reached two-year marketing agreement with Fort Worth, Tex based fishing organization Bass Champs.

This agreement will allow WFN to present popular Skeeter Bass Champs television shows in standard and high-definition. WFN will be presenting sponsor of more than 60 Skeeter Bass Champs events during the next two years.

Skeeter Bass Champs television show captures the reality of tournament fishing by highlighting the trials struggles and rewards those anglers tackle throughout a tournament. It offers winning techniques, hot locations and new product highlights and has become one of the most popular fishing shows because viewers get to see real anglers, like themselves, during real competitions. The show has been shot in high-definition since its inception in 2002.

Mark Rubinstein, President and CEO of World Fishing Network, said “This partnership provides us entertaining content for our viewers and a great venue to promote our network to thousands of passionate anglers throughout Texas. Our network’s exciting programming line-up of tournament action coupled with entertaining and informative lifestyle
programs help satisfy the insatiable appetite of North America’s 60 million anglers.”

Chad Potts, President of Bass Champs, Inc., said “We are extremely excited about the future of the Bass Champs television show with WFN and look forward to being featured on the network’s fishing line-up. This new partnership provides our anglers and viewers with many more opportunities to watch the show and allows our sponsors to reach the
demographic they desire.”

NFL Network will debut documentary series ‘Full Color Football: The History of the American Football League’ on Friday, January 8 at 8:00 PM ET. The Emmy Award-winning NFL Films produced five part documentary will be available in high-definition.

Hall of Fame coach and broadcaster John Madden will present his introductions on the new series and also his personal view on the AFL a special league.

Full Color Football was launched on Showtime in 2009 and this year on NFL Network will present the start of the maverick American Football League to the present the merger with the rival National Football League.

Full Color Football profiles the personalities, teams, news events and more that the exciting new league brought to the fans. The 2009 season marked the 50th season of the eight original AFL teams who played their inaugural slate of games in 1960.

Full Color Football: The History of the American Football League five week schedule is as follows:

Full Color Football Week I on Friday, January 8 at 8:00 PM ET
Episode One, “The New Frontier,” examines Lamar Hunt’s radical idea that was born on an airplane after the NFL refused his attempt to purchase a pro football franchise. Follow the seemingly foolish dream into reality through the back stories of the AFL founders. From the league’s humble beginnings of games played in mostly empty stadiums to the landmark 1962 AFL Championship – a double overtime thriller — Part One takes an in-depth look at the beginning of “The New Frontier.”

Full Color Football Week II on Thursday, Jan. 14, 10:00 PM ET
The new league faces challenges drawing attention and recognition but the Buffalo Bills and San Diego Chargers gain national fame, plus how the Civil Rights movement changes pro sports.

Full Color Football Week III on Thursday, Jan. 21, 10:00 PM ET
The AFL and NFL had “signing wars” when it came to signing and drafting college players. A deal with NBC boosts the league and makes a media star of Joe Namath and the creation of the Super Bowl.

Full Color Football Week IV on Thursday, Jan. 28, 9:00 PM ET
Joe Namath, the first major star of the AFL, leads the New York Jets to a stunning upset victory over the highly favored Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III.

Full Color Football Week V on Thursday, Jan. 28, 10:00 PM ET
The AFL impact following the merger with the NFL is recognized as the Kansas City Chiefs of the AFL beat the Vikings in Super Bowl IV. The new “Monday Night Football” helps make football America’s most popular sport.

Time Warner Cable is to launch sixteen new high-definition channels to its programming line up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Time Warner is testing to launch 16 HD channels that include:

• E! HD
• Fox Business Network HD
• G4 HD
• IFC HD
• MSNBC HD
• Planet Green HD
• Style HD
• The Weather Channel HD
• TV1 HD and
  
• We HD

Time Warner Cable is presently offering 60 HD channels and the cable operator is planning to bring more HD channels to Milwaukee subscribers.

Verizon Communications announced that FiOS TV service is available in three more municipalities in New Jersey. Verizon started launching its FiOS TV service in New Jersey in December 2006 and it’s now available to 348 municipalities in New Jersey.

Verizon’s FiOS TV service is now available to more than 1.9 million homes and businesses in 19 counties.

Following are the three municipalities where Verizon has launched FiOS TV service:

• Hamilton Township, in Atlantic County
• Middle Township, in Cape May County
• New Brunswick, in Middlesex County

Mary Yarbrough, vice president of marketing and sales operations for Verizon’s Mid-Atlantic region, said “Customers in New Jersey have enthusiastically embraced FiOS, which offers a suite of services that old-fashioned cable companies just can’t match. With choice finally available to them, consumers here have embraced FiOS, which has the most HD channels and the fastest, two-way broadband connection speeds available in the state.”

Herring Broadcasting owned WealthTV which offers high-definition programming has announced that its Cincinnati Bell’s subscribers will be offered with lifestyle and entertainment programming starting December.

WealthTV’s programming lineup includes:

• Classical Journeys
• Culinary Travels: Las Vegas, Nevada
• Distant Shores: Bahamas
• Forest of Eternal Life: Cultural Japan
• Let’s Shop: Copenhagen
• Planet Luxury
• Vicarious Escape
• Wealth International News
• Wealth on Wheels: Magazine
• WealthTV At The Movies

Cameron Westfall, Affiliate Relations for WealthTV, said “Cincinnati Bell has further expanded its robust high definition offerings for the enjoyment of its customers. We are excited to have Cincinnati Bell viewers enjoy our expansive series of unique and all original shows in crystal clear high definition.”

Darrick Zucco, General Manager of FiOptic Services, said “We are excited to add WealthTV as we look to strengthen our HD offering to Cincinnati Bell customers. We are now able to offer over 50 High Definition channels to our customer base.”