SundanceTV

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SundanceTV
Launched February 1996
Owned by Showtime Networks (1996–2008)
AMC Networks (2008–present)
Picture format 1080i (HDTV)
480i (SDTV)
Country United States
Language English
Headquarters Bethpage, New York
Formerly called Sundance Channel (1996-2014)
Sister channel(s) AMC
IFC
WE tv
Website http://www.sundancechannel.com
Availability
Satellite
DirecTV (US) Channel 557 (SD only)
Channel 1557 VOD
Dish Network (United States) Channel 358 (HD/SD)
DishHD (Taiwan) Channel 330 (HD)
Astro (Malaysia) Channel 438 (HD)
OTE TV Channel 204 (HD)
Cyfrowy Polsat (Poland) Channel 53 (SD)
Channel 143 (HD)
nc+ (Poland) Channel 57 (HD)
Cable
Verizon FiOS 235 (SD only)
Available on most cable systems Check local listings for channels
Telenet Digital TV (Flanders) Channel 63
UPC (Poland) Channel 493
Channel 494 (HD)
SkyCable (Philippines) Channel 183
IPTV
AT&T U-Verse 1798 (HD)
798 (SD)
Mio TV (Singapore) Channel 401 (HD)
Channel 402 (VOD)
Imagenio (Spain) Channel 43

SundanceTV (formerly known as Sundance Channel) is an American digital cable and satellite television network that is owned by AMC Networks. The channel is devoted to airing independent feature films, world cinema, documentaries, short films, and original programs, such as news about the latest developments from each year's Sundance Film Festival. However, in recent years, it has incorporated scripted and reality series onto its schedule.

History

As Sundance Channel (1996–2014)

As a premium movie channel (1996–2007)

After negotiations during 1994 broke down to turn Robert Redford into a partner in AMC Networks predecessor Rainbow Media's Independent Film Channel,[1] Redford launched Sundance Channel in February 1996 as a joint venture between Showtime Networks (then a division of Viacom, now owned by CBS Corporation), Universal Studios, and Redford (who also served as the creative director of the network).

The channel was initially launched on five cable systems in New York City; Los Angeles; Alexandria, Virginia; Chamblee, Georgia; and Pensacola, Florida.[2] It originally operated mainly as a premium channel, commonly packaged with Showtime and its sister networks The Movie Channel and Flix. The channel got its name from Redford's character in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and while it is an extension of Redford's non-profit Sundance Institute, the channel operates independently of both the Sundance Institute and the Sundance Film Festival.

Strictly a movie channel in its early years, Sundance Channel expanded into original programming by the early 2000s. After limited attempts at original programming – City Of Men, House of Boateng, Iconoclasts, The Al Franken Show, The First Amendment Project. The Hill, and TransGeneration – Sundance Channel expanded its programming in 2007 by ordering One Punk Under God, Sin City Law, and a prime-time environmental block called "The Green." While the first two programs lasted only one season, the environmental block lasted until 2009.

Sale to Rainbow Media (2008–12)

Sundance Channel logo 2008-2014

On May 7, 2008, the Rainbow Media subsidiary of Cablevision (owners of AMC, IFC, WE tv, and News 12 Networks, and the defunct Voom HD Networks) announced that it had purchased Sundance Channel for $496 million.[3] The acquisition of Sundance Channel by Rainbow Media was completed in June 2008.[4] On July 1, 2011, Rainbow Media was spun off from Cablevision into a separate company, which was renamed AMC Networks.[5]

Sundance saw a rapid expansion of its documentary and unscripted series slate during this period; however, very few of the shows lasted beyond their first season with the rest being cancelled after their second. 2010 did see the channel's first miniseries Carlos, which could be credited as the start of the future shift in programming for the channel.

2012 Dish Network carriage dispute

Expansion into original scripted programming (2012–2014)

2012 saw the premieres of two new unscripted series in the form of Get To Work and Push Girls before the channel's second miniseries, Restless,[6] premiered in December. Restless went on to receive two Emmy Award nominations. It was also announced that Sundance had picked up its first solely owned original series, and former developmental project from sister channel AMC, Rectify and its third miniseries Top of the Lake.

On March 4, 2013, Sundance began airing AMC's Breaking Bad, which the channel has exclusive syndication rights to, on Monday nights.[7] The seven-part miniseries Top of the Lake premiered on March 18, 2013, while gaining critical acclaim before eventually receiving eight Emmy nominations. Rectify then premiered on April 22, 2013 and was the third straight original scripted program from Sundance to receive critical praise. Continuing its push as a destination spot for series on Monday nights, the second season of Push Girls followed before leading way to the new talk show The Writers' Room, where each episode features a behind-the-scenes look at the writing staff of a popular television series. October saw the premieres of Dream School[8] and The Returned and the channel become fully ad supported.[9]

As SundanceTV (2014-present)

Rebranding (2014-present)

On January 27, 2014, it was announced in January 2014 that the Sundance Channel would rebrand as SundanceTV in February 2014.[10] The rebrand also features a new logo.[10] 2014 will feature the channel's fourth miniseries The Honourable Woman, the channel's second solely owned original scripted series The Red Road, and the second seasons of Rectify, The Writer's Room, and The Returned.[11]

Programming

Current programming

Scripted

Unscripted

Acquired

Upcoming programming

Miniseries

Scripted

Unscripted

  • Loredana, ESQ (March 2014)[12]

Developmental programming

Scripted

  • Cold Dead Hands[13]
  • US Adaption of Reaching For Heaven[14]

Former programming

Documentary

  • Anatomy of a Scene
  • Brick City (2009–11)
  • Cities on Speed
  • DOCday (2007)
  • Love Lust (2011–12)
  • Man Shops Globe (2009–10)
  • Nimrod Nation (2007)
  • On the Road in America (2008)
  • The Staircase 2: Last Chance (2013)

Environmental

  • Big Ideas for a Small Planet (2007–09)
  • Carbon Cops (2009)
  • E2 Design (2009)
  • Eco Biz (2007–2009)
  • Ecoists (2007–2008)
  • Eco Trip
  • Eco-Trip: The Real Cost of Living (2009)
  • Is Your House Killing You? (2009)
  • It's Not Easy Being Green (2008)
  • The Green: Eco Documentaries (2008)
  • The Lazy Environmentalist (2009–10)
  • The Next Garde
  • Outrageous Wasters (2008)

Miniseries

Scripted

  • City of Men (2002–2007)
  • The First Amendment Project (2004)

Talk shows

Unscripted

  • All On The Line With Joe Zee (2011–12)
  • Architecture School (2008)
  • Be Good Johnny Weir (Season 1 only)
  • Beginnings
  • Get To Work (2012)
  • Girls Who Like Boys Who Like Boys (2010–12)
  • House of Boateng (2006)
  • Iconoclasts (2005–12)
  • One Punk Under God (2007)
  • Quirky (2011)
  • Sin City Law (2007)
  • The Day Before (2009–10)
  • The Hill (2006)
  • The Mortified Sessions (2011–12)
  • TransGeneration (2005–06)
  • Unleashed By Garo (2011)

Web

Acquired

  • Big Girl's Blouse (2008)
  • Chandon Pictures (2010)
  • Ladette to Lady (2006–09)
  • The Life & Times Of Vivienne Vyle
  • Live From Abbey Road (2006–12)
  • Ludo Bites America (2011)
  • Pulling (2008)
  • Shameless (UK)

International

Over time, Sundance Channel has expanded its international distribution and begun to be carried on Astro B.yond (Malaysia); SFR, Numericable and Free (France); Telenet (Belgium); Caiway (Netherlands); UPC Polska (Poland); Digiturk (Turkey); Skylife and KT (South Korea); and SingTel’s mio TV (Singapore).[15]

North America

  • Canada - On March 1, 2010, a Canadian version of Sundance Channel was launched by Toronto-based media company Corus Entertainment. AMC Networks does not own any stake in the Canadian service, but maintains a brand licensing agreement with Corus Entertainment to allow the use of the Sundance Channel brand as well as access to programming from the U.S. service.[16]

Europe

  • France - Sundance Channel launched in France in 2009 on Numericable.[17]
  • Greece - Sundance Channel launched in Greece in July 18, 2011 as a linear channel on OTE TV and broadcasts in HD via satellite as Sundance Channel HD.
  • Netherlands - Sundance Channel launched in the Netherlands in March 2012, replacing the movie channel Film1 Festival.

References

  1. ↑ Brown, Rich (January 23, 1995). "Redford, Showtime form movie channel". Broadcasting & Cable (HighBeam Research). Retrieved February 28, 2011. (subscription required)
  2. ↑ "Sundance readying for February debut". Broadcasting & Cable (HighBeam Research). December 4, 1995. Retrieved February 28, 2011. (subscription required)
  3. ↑ Stelter, Brian (May 7, 2008). "Cablevision Unit Buys Sundance Channel". The New York Times. Retrieved October 8, 2012. 
  4. ↑ Stelter, Brian (June 18, 2008). "Cablevision Buys Sundance". The New York Times. Retrieved October 8, 2012. 
  5. ↑ AMC Networks Goes Public With Hot Shows, And Analysts Looking For A Sale Deadline New York July 1, 2011.
  6. ↑ "‘Restless,’ With Charlotte Rampling, on the Sundance Channel". December 6, 2012. Retrieved July 19, 2013. 
  7. ↑ Goldberg, Lesley. "'Breaking Bad' Lands on Sundance Channel in Syndication Deal". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 20, 2013. 
  8. ↑ "Sundance Channel Goes Back to School on October 7 with the Premiere of "Dream School"". The Futon Critic. Retrieved August 20, 2013. 
  9. ↑ Thielman, Sam. "Sundance Channel Goes Ad-Supported Next AMC?". Ad week. Retrieved 31 January 2014. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Sundance Channel Rebrands As SundanceTV; Unveils New Logo". Deadline Hollywooid. January 27, 2014. Retrieved January 27, 2014. 
  11. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie. "TCA: Sundance Channel Picks Up Season 2 Of French Drama ‘The Returned’, Renews ‘Writers’ Room’". Deadline. Retrieved January 11, 2014. 
  12. ↑ "Sundance Channel Greenlights Unscripted Legal Series ‘Loredana, ESQ’". Deadline. Retrieved December 20, 2013. 
  13. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie. "Sundance Channel Developing NRA Drama ‘Cold Dead Hands’". Deadline. Retrieved December 19, 2013. 
  14. ↑ Tartaglione, Nancy. "EOne, Sundance Channel Partner To Adapt ‘Reaching For Heaven’; Israeli Religion-Themed Drama Relocated To Vegas". Deadline. Retrieved December 11, 2013. 
  15. ↑ Briel, Robert (October 7, 2010). "Sundance expands international distribution". Broadband TV News. Retrieved October 8, 2012. 
  16. ↑ "Sundance Channel Rises in Canada" (Press release). Corus Entertainment. December 8, 2009. Retrieved October 8, 2012. 
  17. ↑ Briel, Robert (March 25, 2009). "Sundance Channel debuts on Numericable". Broadband TV News. Retrieved October 8, 2012. 

External links

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