AXS TV (pronounced "access"; ) is an American cable television channel majority-owned by Canadian broadcaster Anthem Sports & Entertainment. It is devoted primarily to music-related programming (such as concert films, documentaries, and reality series involving musicians) and combat sports—related programming (including boxing, mixed martial arts and professional wrestling).
The network was originally established in 2001 as HDNet, with investor Mark Cuban as a founding partner. HDNet was originally intended as an exclusively-high-definition network, carrying films and acquired television series, concerts, news programming, and sporting events produced in the format. HDNet's original niche became increasingly redundant as more cable networks established their own HD feeds.
In 2012, HDNet sold ownership stakes to Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG), Creative Artists Agency, and Ryan Seacrest, with Cuban retaining a majority stake. The network was then relaunched under its current name—taken from AEG's online ticket platform AXS.com—on July 2, 2012, pivoting to a format based on music and popular culture. In September 2019, Anthem Sports & Entertainment acquired a majority stake in AXS TV, with AEG and Cuban retaining minority stakes.
As of November 2023, AXS TV is available to approximately 32,000,000 pay television households in the United States.[1]
History
As HDNet
The network originally launched as HDNet on September 6, 2001, designed as a high definition-exclusive service under the ownership of HDNet, LLC, which then was co-owned by Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks, and Philip Garvin, owner of Colorado Studios and Mobile TV Group.[2] Originally, the network aired a variety of programming, much of it male-oriented, prominently featuring series, sports events, and concert performances.[3] In December 2001 and January 2002, HDNet aired exclusive HD coverage of the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan with former CNN correspondent Peter Arnett.[4]
In February 2002, the network originated eight daily hours of high definition content from the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City; this feed was picked up by NBC
Programming
AXS TV primarily airs music-oriented series, with a particular focus on the Rock and Pop genres. Such programming includes documentaries, interviews, panel shows and concerts. AXS has also aired combat sports-related programming, including events broadcast under the AXS TV Fights banner, as well as content from the Anthem-owned Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) and Invicta Fighting Championships.
Programming history
List of programs broadcast by AXS TV
Acquired programming
- Nashville
- Hell's Kitchen
- Hot Ones
- Just For Laughs Gags
Former programming
- Drinking Made Easy (2010-2012)
- The Ronnie Wood Show (2012)
- Ex-Wives of Rock (2012-2014)
- Gotham Comedy Live (2012-2019)
- The Voice Versus with Michael Schiavello (2012-2017)
HDNet Movies
HDNet Movies was launched in January 2003 as a spin-off of HDNet (now AXS TV). The network features theatrically released films and documentaries, which are presented in high definition and without commercial interruption or editing for content. Programming showcases a wide variety of films including Academy Award winners, action films, scifi films, and westerns. It regularly features special, hosted movie events such as ''And The Oscar Goes To... Presented by Richard Roeper,[129] Totally 80s Month with Judge Reinhold[129] and Rob Zombie's 13 Nights of Halloween''.[130]
HDNet Movies is available nationally on Dish, DirecTV, Verizon Fios and AT&T U-verse;
Canadian carriage
In the Fall of 2006, HDNet became available in Canada on Rogers Cable, Bell Satellite TV and Cogeco Cable;[137] Shaw Cable began carrying the network in April 2007.[138] The network would be dropped by Bell and Rogers upon its relaunch as AXS TV.[139]
After Anthem purchased AXS TV, the channel became a sister to its domestic channels Fight Network, GameTV, and Game+. AXS TV has since syndicated some of its original programming to these sister networks.[140] In December of that year, AXS reached a new carriage deal with Bell TV, including its
External links
References
- U.S. cable network households (universe), 1990 – 2023 Wrestlenomics, May 14, 2024, retrieved July 28, 2019^
- Mark Cuban's HDNet To Rebrand As AXS TV Variety, January 18, 2012, retrieved 2015-02-07^
- 'Fired Up' Cuban Launches HDNet