Ryan Seacrest, CAA and AEG are folding their hopes of a new network into a plan to relaunch and rebrand Mark Cuban's HDNet as a new, pop-culture oriented network called AXS TV.
Seacrest began talks with agency CAA and entertainment company AEG in 2010 about launching a new network that sounds like it will target some of the same audience as E!, the network for which Seacrest anchors news.
Rather than begin fresh, Seacrest, CAA and AEG will team with Cuban to premiere a rebranded version of his network this summer, they announced Wednesday. Terms were not disclosed.
AXS, pronounced Access, will use AEG's live events presence and affiliation with more than 100 venues to cover live concerts and festivals, red carpet premieres, award shows and parties. The network will also have celebrity interviews, and continue to air HDNet programs including HDNet Fights, Inside MMA, Dan Rather Reports, Sunday concert series, and non-scripted series.
It will have productions facilities at AEG-owned-and-operated L.A. LIVE.
Ryan Seacrest Media holds an ownership stake in the new network, and will provide access to multi-media platforms, celebrities, and brands. Besides his E! and radio duties, Seacrest is the host of Fox's "American Idol," a job he has expressed interest in keeping after his contract ends this year.
CAA, which represents Seacrest, will contribute its experience, expertise, and entertainment relationships, the companies said.
"I’m incredibly excited to be in business with AEG, Ryan Seacrest, and CAA," said Cuban, the co-founder and chairman of HDNet. "This is a major step on our way to offering more live programming than any other entertainment and lifestyle network."
Timothy J. Leiweke, president & CEO of AEG, said the network would provide opportunities for tie-ins but would not limit them to those in business with AEG. "This is a platform for all agents, all promoters and all managers. It is not the creation of an AEG channel. It is about the fans and bringing the live experience to them,” he said.
Here's the release:
LOS ANGELES (January 18, 2012)– HDNet, AEG, Ryan Seacrest Media, and Creative Artists Agency (CAA) today announced a joint venture that will rebrand HDNet/HDNet Canada to launch AXS TV (pronounced: access). Scheduled to debut this summer, AXS TV will leverage the global reach and portfolio of content opportunities of its partners to create live entertainment and lifestyle programming. Capitalizing on AEG’s unrivaled presence in live events and affiliation with more than 100 of the industry's pre-eminent venues worldwide, AXS TV will provide viewers with exclusive behind-the-scenes access to live concerts and music festivals, red carpet premieres, award shows, parties, pop culture events, and in-depth interviews with the people and artists who make live entertainment so uniquely fascinating.
HDNet’s signature programming including HDNet Fights, Inside MMA, award-winning Dan Rather Reports, Sunday concert series, and select non-scripted series will continue on AXS TV.
As part of their agreement with the joint venture, DISH will offer a variety of unique music services to their subscribers.
