AP Features, April 30th, 2007
The founder of The Tennis Channel plans to launch The Ski Channel early next year, with original programming delivered on demand.
The Ski Channel, to be launched by Atonal Sports and Entertainment, has reached an agreement to be made available to customers of Time Warner Cable Inc., the nation's second-largest cable TV operator, Atonal CEO Steve Bellamy said.
The company is talking with other cable providers but also plans to have its advertiser-supported content available on-demand through a Web site and mobile phones, Bellamy said.
The channel would run mountain programming, including rock climbing and backpacking, segments on equipment, travel tips and news, Bellamy said.
It also would provide a platform for viewers to send in videos of themselves.
"It's the perfect storm of technology right now with Handycams, people understanding how to upload, the broadband. It's all happening at the same time," Bellamy said.
Bellamy thought up the idea for The Ski Channel before launching The Tennis Channel, established in 2003. At the time, tennis was an easier sell as a standard television channel where fans could watch live events at set times.
The Ski Channel works better with video on demand, he said.
"Snowboarding _ you don't need to see that live. If you're watching the 20 best aerials in the world, and it's only on at 8 on one night, that would suck. But it would make the best VOD channel ever."
The on-demand model also requires less capital. Experts have suggested The Tennis Channel needed roughly $100 million in capital to launch, while a VOD channel would require several times less to break even.
Bellamy said he wants to target families seeking mountain vacations since other Web sites and channels exist for Gen X viewers, though there still will be programming for them on The Ski Channel.
He did not disclose his company's financial details.
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On the Net:
http://www.theskichannel.com
