Coming Soon: Even More New Cable Networks

It39s time to put this mantra away in a closet for good It39s time to call this notion what it really is amp8230 nonsense Or as delicatessen owners here in New York would remark baloneyIn case you forgot about the bunch of new channels breaking in from mid2014 to mid2014 from One America News Network to Pivot to Al Jazeera America to Revolt and El Rey Network each one independently owned check out the action in recent months Anthem Media Group out of Canada is now a channel player with boxingmartial artsfocused Fight Network and FTSNY the first fantasy sports service Web site Newsmax opened its TV service for business this summerMore striking three channels have hit the scene in the last 45 days Back 9 Network capturing golf lifestyle on camera made the grade with DirecTV QYou is all Web video played MTV 10 style as if the 1980s never left Separately midsize cable operator Armstrong Utilities made room among its Pennsylvania and West Virginia systems for Ride TV Texasbased and focused on the world of horses beyond the race trackAgain all three of these networks were not born from the stable of likely programmers Viacom Time Warner CBS NBC Universal DisneyABC Scripps or Discovery They came from entrepreneurs and organizations who wholeheartedly share the vision that there39s an audience willing to support their space on someone39s cable or satellite systemsMore to come here You bet Management at Vice Media the Internet programmers that tried to buy out HLN from Time Warner this summer barks that they39re developing one or more US TV nets for a 201516 launch and some others overseas One of Univision39s former programming executives just hired a former Discovery Communications executive to trigger superstationstyle distribution of a Los Angeles Spanishlanguage station featuring original content Several other Web sites are checking out ways to develop a networkAnd let39s not forget Comcast39s promise to launch at least six more indiestructured channels four from African American or Latino sources before the end of 2018 under their NBC Universal acquisition The first four BabyFirst Americas Aspire Revolt and El Rey were selected from a batch of more than 100 proposals Repeat more than 100 Care to bet that when Comcast announces its second round of submissions late 2015 or 2016 the reaction won39t be the same or higherI39m not suggesting all these new channels will make it That39s up to the marketplace My suggestion right now Retire the idea that you can39t get a new network started Especially if you39re not connected with a big programmer PermanentlyNotes from the passing paradeWant to know why the explosion of scripted TV series will continue exploding Read a Variety online preview of this weekend39s American Film Market in Los Angeles The one suggesting every independent filmmaking production house is pursuing original TV series with so many outlets available to them You39ll also see what channels not engaged in scripted content have entered the huntNYC Television Week version 20 happens November 1213 The idea of a fullfledged week of activity crowdsourced by industry players similar to Advertising Week Internet Week NY and Social Media Week appears tabled for now Instead NewBay Media is putting four conferences in one midtown hotel with The Content Show shaping up to be a starstudded one of its kindUntil the next time stay well and stay tunedThe opinions and points of view expressed in this commentary are exclusively the views of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of MediaBizBloggerscom management or associated bloggers MediaBizBloggers is an open thought leadership platform and readers may share their comments and opinions in response to all commentariesImage at top courtesy of freedigitalphotosnet

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Coming Soon: Even More New Cable Networks

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Simon Applebaum

"About That with Carl Mayer:" Alaina Donnellon (Episode 6) - By Carl Mayer

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Coming Soon: Even More New Cable Networks

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Simon Applebaum

"About That with Carl Mayer:" Alaina Donnellon (Episode 6) - By Carl Mayer

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