 | |
| Country | United States |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Nationwide |
| Headquarters | Denver,Colorado[a] |
| Programming | |
| Language | English |
| Picture format | 1080i (HDTV) 480i (SDTV) |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | AXS TV, LLC
|
| Sister channels |
|
| History | |
| Launched | September 6, 2001; 24 years ago (2001-09-06) |
| Founder | Mark Cuban |
| Former names | HDNet (2001–2012) |
| Links | |
| Website | axs |
| Availability | |
| Streaming media | |
| Service(s) | DirecTV Stream,Philo,Sling TV |
AXS TV (AK-sess) is an Americancable television channel majority-owned by Canadian broadcasterAnthem Sports & Entertainment. It is devoted primarily tomusic-related programming (such asconcert films,documentaries, andreality series involving musicians) andcombat sports—related programming (includingboxing,mixed martial arts andprofessional wrestling).
The network was originally established in 2001 asHDNet, with investorMark 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 toAnschutz Entertainment Group (AEG),Creative Artists Agency, andRyan Seacrest, with Cuban retaining a majority stake. The network was then relaunched under its current name—taken from AEG's online ticket platformAXS.com—on July 2, 2012, pivoting to a format based on music andpopular 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[update], AXS TV is available to approximately 32,000,000 pay television households in the United States.[1]
The network originally launched asHDNet on September 6, 2001, designed as ahigh definition-exclusive service under the ownership of HDNet, LLC, which then was co-owned byMark Cuban, owner of theDallas 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 theU.S. invasion of Afghanistan with formerCNN correspondentPeter Arnett.[4]
In February 2002, the network originated eight daily hours of high definition content from the2002 Winter Olympics inSalt Lake City; this feed was picked up byNBC and aired in 24-hour rotation on thedigital signals of NBC's stations.[5] Later on that year, it signed a deal withParamount Domestic Television to provide high-definition versions of the Paramount library.[6]
The channel gradually expanded its carriage to the satellite providersDirecTV andDish Network, as well as the cable providersCharter Communications,Insight Communications,Mediacom,Suddenlink Communications,Verizon FiOS, andAT&T U-verse.[7] On September 4, 2008, Cuban announced that the network had reached an agreement withComcast to carry both HDNet and HDNet Movies in various markets.[8] The provider began to carry HDNet in many major markets on September 30, 2010. In November 2009,DirecTV became the first provider to offervideo-on-demand services of HDNet and HDNet Movies.[9]
On January 18, 2012, HDNet, LLC entered into ajoint venture with entertainment company/promoterAnschutz Entertainment Group, media personalityRyan Seacrest, and talent agencyCreative Artists Agency, in which AEG, CAA, and Ryan Seacrest Media would each purchase a share of the network, with Cuban retaining primary ownership.[10] The network rebranded on July 2, 2012, asAXS TV, a name taken from AEG's ticket sales websiteAXS.com.[11][12][13][14] With the purchase and rebranding, the channel gradually shifted focus to include a mix of entertainment news, lifestyle, pop culture and in-concert performance events.[15]
Alongside the rebranding, Dish Network announced that it would expand the channel's distribution to customers who do not subscribe to an HD tier through a downconvertedstandard definition feed.[16] The provider moved the network to channel 131 in the spring of 2012, increasing its carriage to at least 14 million Dish Network subscribers upon its relaunch as AXS TV.[17][18] Through its relationship with AEG, AXS TV also planned to offer special promotions on concerts to Dish Network users who have subscribed to the channel.[13] On February 14, 2013,CBS Corporation took a minority stake in the channel, in exchange for providing content and marketing (suggesting that the channel could air complementary programming for CBS-aired entertainment events such as theGrammy Awards).[19]
In addition to carriage on cable, satellite and telecommunication providers, AXS TV has been added to streaming media providers includingSling TV in October 2016,[20]DirecTV Now when it debuted in November 2016,[21] andPhilo when it was launched in November 2017.[22]
On September 9, 2019, Canadian companyAnthem Sports & Entertainment announced that it had acquired a majority stake in AXS TV and HDNet Movies. Mark Cuban and AEG will retain interests in the company as minority equity partners, while AEG will also continue to provide additional sales support for the network through its AEG Global Partnerships unit. Television personalitySteve Harvey was also brought in as an additional financier and content partner.[23]
Anthem's founder and ownerLeonard Asper stated that there were no plans to make any major changes to AXS TV's format or programming, or to add programming from other Anthem channels unless they were complementary to the AXS TV's existing format. Shortly after the purchase, it was announced thatImpact!—the weekly flagship program of Anthem-ownedImpact Wrestling (both formerly and now known as TNA)—would move from minority-owned sister networkPursuit Channel to AXS TV.[24][25]
The sale resulted in the layoff of 40 employees, consisting mainly of redundancies with Anthem staff.[26]
AXS TV primarily airs music-oriented series, with a particular focus on theRock andPop genres. Such programming includes documentaries, interviews, panel shows and concerts. AXS has also airedcombat sports-related programming, including events broadcast under theAXS TV Fights banner, as well as content from the Anthem-ownedTotal Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) andInvicta Fighting Championships.
Original programming on HDNet included news programs such as theHDNet World Report andDan Rather Reports, a weekly newsmagazine hosted by formerCBS Evening News anchorDan Rather;[27] coverage ofSpace Shuttle launches;[28] and male-oriented series such asUltimate Trailer Show.[29] HDNet also featured uncensored and unrated shows during late-night hours, such asArt Mann Presents,Bikini Destinations andGirls Gone Wild Presents: Search for the Hottest Girl in America. In October 2011, HDNet picked upGoodnight Burbank, the network's first scripted half-hour comedy.[30] Originally created for the web, the show starredHayden Black,Laura Silverman andDominic Monaghan. HDNet's programming also included off-network reruns of series such asSmallville,[31]Andy Richter Controls the Universe,[32]JAG,Star Trek: Enterprise[33] andArrested Development.[34]
HDNet also aired sporting events, includingcoverage of theNational Hockey League from 2001 to 2008[35] andMajor League Soccer;[36] select motorsports events, includingChamp Car live broadcasts in 2004,[37] highlights and races from theNASCAR Busch East Series (laterCamping World East Series,K&N Pro Series East, andARCA Menards Series East),[38] and races from regional circuits;[39]mixed martial arts, through Cuban'sHDNet Fights promotion;[40] the weekly seriesInside MMA, which featured highlights and coverage from various MMA promotions;[41] andIndiana University's Little 500 Bicycle Race.[42] From 2009 to 2011, HDNet also aired weekly programming fromprofessional wrestling promotionRing of Honor,[43] and served as a television partner of theUnited Football League,[44] primarily airing the league's Saturday night games. The network dropped UFL coverage prior to the2011 season.[45]Following its July 2012 re-launch, AXS TV continued to air several programs carried over from HDNet, includingDan Rather Reports,[46] MMA events (under theAXS TV Fights banner),[47] movies, and off-network series. However, the channel began to gradually shift its focus towards "music, pop culture and lifestyle-oriented" programming, such as concerts, and general entertainment.[48]
As part of its music programming lineup, AXS TV broadcasts a wide variety of concert events from across the country and around-the-world. This includes a Sunday night concert series featuring performances from artists such asCarrie Underwood,[49]Led Zeppelin,[50]Neil Young[51] andElton John;[citation needed] themed artists takeovers, highlighting a variety of bands in day-long blocks that feature music videos, concert performances, interviews and more, with notable takeovers fromSlash[52] andMatchbox Twenty;[53] as well as other live and taped music events such as theClassic Rock Roll of Honour Awards tribute toGregg Allman andThe Doors, hosted bySammy Hagar[54][55] and the live broadcast of the 2014 Farm Aid music festival that featured performances byWillie Nelson,John Mellencamp, andDave Matthews.[56]
In 2014, AXS TV broadcast the inauguralAlternative Press Music Awards, hosted byMark Hoppus.[57] The award show returned to AXS TV on July 22, 2015, hosted by Alex Gaskarth and Jack Barakat ofAll Time Low and featuring performances fromWeezer,Panic! at the Disco, andSimple Plan among others.[58]
Concert specials in 2017 includedQueen,[59]Willie Nelson andMerle Haggard,[60]Def Leppard,[61]Jennifer Nettles,[62]Mavis Staples,[63]Robert Plant,[64]Kenny Loggins,[65] andRingo Starr.[66]
AXS TV celebrated the 50th anniversary of theSummer of Love with a month-long event in August 2017 with concerts honoring the music ofThe Grateful Dead andJerry Garcia and documentaries profiling artists of the time period such asJimi Hendrix,Janis Joplin andThe Doors. The network also premiered a new documentary about the social phenomenon, eponymously titledSummer of Love, on August 12, 2017.[67]
Concert specials premiered in 2018 included:Sammy Hagar,[68]Poison,[69]Santana,[70]Farm Aid,[71]Charlie Daniels,[72]Trace Adkins' Guitar Legends for Heroes,[73] The2018 BRIT Awards[74] and more.
AXS TV announced the premiere ofAmerica Salutes You: Guitar Legends II on Sunday, March 31, starring Sammy Hagar,Billy Gibbons,Dave Navarro,Robby Krieger,Stephen Stills,Joe Bonamassa,Orianthi and more. This year marks the second year in a row AXS TV has served as production partner and cable provided for the acclaimed concert. The "Guitar Legends II" concert seeks to raise funds and awareness for charity organizations supporting brain and mental wellness of American veterans and first responders.[75]
AXS TV teamed up withFeld Entertainment to produceRingling Bros and Barnum & Bailey: The Final Farewell, a behind-the-scenes look at the final performance of the longest-running touring show in America.[76] The 90-minute documentary premieres on Memorial Day, May 27, 2019.[77]
In 2013, for the first time ever on television, AXS TV broadcast select concert footage from theStagecoach Festival[78] and theNew Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.
In 2014, AXS TV presented the television debut of theCoachella Valley Music and Arts Festival,[79] in addition to broadcasting the 2014 Stagecoach Country Music Festival,[80] and the 2014 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival[81] for the second consecutive year.
The network's 2015 festival slate included the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival (April 17-April 19) for the second consecutive year; the Stagecoach Country Music Festival (April 24-April 26); and New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (May 1-May 3) for the third consecutive year. Additionally, the network broadcast footage from the 2015Rock on the Range (May 15-May 17) and the 2015Firefly Music Festival (June 19-June 21), for the first time ever.[82][83]
AXS TV's 2016 festival tour includedZac Brown Band's Southern Ground Music & Food Festival (April 16–17), both weekends of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (April 23–24, April 29-May 1), Monster EnergyCarolina Rebellion (May 6–8) andHangout Festival May 20–22.[84]
AXS TV announced a new four-part festival series80s in the Sand, which premiered on April 7, 2019. Hosted by 1980s TV and Radio personalities Downtown Julie Brown, Mark Goodman, Alan Hunter and Richard Blade,80s in the Sand features interviews and performances with artists includingBret Michaels,Sebastian Bach,Taylor Dayne,The English Beat,Wang Chung,ABC,When in Rome,Berlin and more. The series was filmed at the 80s in the Sand music festival at the Breathless Resort in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.[85]
Since 2013, Dan Rather has hosted the hour-long original series titledThe Big Interview featuring in-depth interviews with a variety of celebrity guests as they join Rather for candid discussions about their lives and careers.[86][87] Notable guests includeGene Simmons,[88]Weird Al Yankovic,[89]Don Rickles,[90]Wynonna Judd,[91]Jack White,[92]Carlos Santana,[93]Carol Burnett,[94]Alan Alda,[95] andGeddy Lee[96] among others.The Big Interview's sixth season premiered on March 13, 2018, with guestRobert Plant ofLed Zeppelin. Other interviewees for the 20-episode season includeRobby Krieger andJohn Densmore ofthe Doors,Shania Twain,Eddie Money,Styx,John Mellencamp,The Oak Ridge Boys andBilly Ray Cyrus.[97][98] The series celebrated its 100th episode on October 2 when it returned for the second half of season six with special guestThe Beatles'Ringo Starr,[99] with older episodes now also broadcast in the UK via the BIOgraphy channel found on thePluto TV app.[100]
The Big Interview was renewed for a seventh season, which premiered on Tuesday, April 16, 2019 with formerJourney frontmanSteve Perry. The new season line-up also includesPaul Stanley,Cyndi Lauper,Foreigner membersMick Jones andLou Gramm,REO Speedwagon,Billy Bob Thornton,Carl andRob Reiner,Travis Tritt,Boz Scaggs,Paul Shaffer,Brian Johnson ofAC/DC,Cheap Trick,Chicago membersRobert Lamm andLee Loughnane,Bret Michaels,Alice Cooper,Little Big Town,Bob Costas,David Byrne,America,Bryan Cranston,Jon Anderson ofYes andDoug Gray ofThe Marshall Tucker Band.
Rock & Roll Road Trip with Sammy Hagar Presented by Mercury Insurance is an original series featuringSammy Hagar as he drives across the country to interview and jam with influential artists includingTommy Lee,Bob Weir,Alice Cooper, andNancy Wilson. The series also presents Hagar's personal experiences and rules of the road, as he tours with his group The Circle. The six-episode first season premiered on AXS TV on January 24, 2016.[101] The series premiered in March 2017 with guests includingJohn Mayer,Melissa Etheridge,Toby Keith,John Mellencamp andMick Fleetwood[102] and returned for its second half in July 2017 with guests includingDon Felder,Styx,Vince Neil,Chad Smith,Shep Gordon,Darryl McDaniels andAdam Levine.[103] AXS TV announced thatRock & Roll Road Trip was renewed for a third season in 2017 and premiered in April 2018 with guests includingDave Grohl,Roger Daltrey,Sarah McLachlan,Bob Weir,Pat Benatar andNeil Giraldo.[104][97]
AXS TV announced a fourth season, which premiered on Sunday, May 5. Guests for the new season includeWillie Nelson,Rick Springfield,Guy Fieri,Cheech & Chong,Charlie Daniels,Jimmie Johnson,Robby Krieger,Joe Bonamassa,Jason Bonham and more.[105]
AXS TV announced in September 2017 it had greenlit to a 10-episode reality series chronicling the daily lives ofEddie Money, his wife Laurie and their five kids. Production forReal Money began in Q4 2017 and the series premiered on Sunday, April 8, 2018.[106][107][97] In June 2018, the series was greenlit for an expanded 12-episode second season with production set to begin in Q3 2018 and a premiere in early 2019.[108]
The second season ofReal Money premiered on Sunday, May 5, 2019.[109] During a midseason episode, Money revealed his cancer diagnosis. Money died the day after the episode's airing.[110]
In August 2018, AXS TV announced a new docu-series profiling the lives and deaths of some of music's most influential artists calledThe Day The Rock Star Died. Premiered on October 2, 2018, the 15-part series examines artists includingTom Petty,Janis Joplin,Jimi Hendrix,Michael Jackson,Elvis Presley andWhitney Houston.[111]
The Top Ten Revealed spotlights best-of lists on a variety of rock-related themes, covering topics such as best guitar intros,Vietnam anthems and'80s rock ballads. The series debuted in February 2018, with host and executive producerKatie Daryl joined by a rotating panel of experts includingLita Ford,Guns N' Roses drummerSteven Adler and formerPantera percussionistVinnie Paul, among others.[97] The series returned for season two in January 2019,[112] and for season 3 in April 2020.[citation needed]
The Very VERY Best of the 70s puts the spotlight on the enduring films, series, and pop culture moments that defined the 1970s. The series is executive produced byKatie Daryl who guides a rotating panel of celebrity guests each week includingFred Willard,Morgan Fairchild,Barry Williams,Jimmie Walker,Michael Winslow,Sebastian Bach,Mark Steines,Jaleel White,George Wallace,Anson Williams,Dee Wallace,Todd Bridges,Mindy Cohn,Bob Eubanks,Elisabeth Röhm,David Chokachi andCatherine Bach.[113]
The series premiered its first season on Thursday, May 16.[113]
Since 2014, AXS TV has broadcastThe X Factor UK, with the episodes airing 24 hours after their respective UK broadcasts.[114] The series premiered on Sunday, August 31, 2014, marking the first time that the British series had aired in the U.S.[115] The 11th season notably featured the return ofSimon Cowell andCheryl Fernandez-Versini to the judging panel, joining music managerLouis Walsh and pop singerMel B, making her debut as a full-time judge.[116]Ben Haenow was the winner of this season.[117]
The series has continued to air annually on AXS TV, most recently with its third season on the network, the show's13th season overall, which premiered on August 28, 2016, with Cowell and Walsh, along with the return of judgesSharon Osbourne andNicole Sherzinger, and presenterDermot O'Leary, toX Factor UK.[118] The X Factor UK returned for its fourth season on AXS TV, and14th season overall, on September 3 and 4, 2017; all four judges from the previous year returned.[119][120]
The X Factor UK returned for its fifth season on the network (15th overall) in September 2018 with Simon Cowell joined by new judgesOne Direction'sLouis Tomlinson, singer-songwriterRobbie Williams and his wife actress and TV presenterAyda Williams.[121]
In October 2017, AXS TV greenlit a new series starring music historian and TV and Radio hostEddie Trunk calledTRUNKFest with Eddie Trunk premiering in 2018. The program gives viewers a front row seat to some of the nation's biggest music festivals as Trunk travels across the country interviewing bands, visiting booths, sampling festival cuisine, and mingling with the attendees.[122][123] Trunk previously hosted the documentary seriesReel to Real on the network in 2016.[124]TRUNKFest with Eddie Trunk premiered on July 1, 2018, with a trip to theSturgis Motorcycle Rally.[125]TRUNKFest was renewed for a second season, which premiered on July 7, 2019.[126]
Paul Shaffer sits down with his famous friends and colleagues across the music industry in this weekly interview series. Season one guests includeJoe Walsh,Graham Nash,Sammy Hagar,Billy Gibbons,Donald Fagen,Buddy Guy, Spinal Tap bassistDerek Smalls (Harry Shearer) andSmokey Robinson.
The series premiered on AXS TV Sunday, September 15 and also aired on Shaffer'sSiriusXM radio show.[127]
HDNet Movies was launched in January 2003 as a spin-off of HDNet (now AXS TV). The network features theatrically releasedfilms anddocumentaries, which are presented inhigh definition and without commercial interruption or editing for content. Programming showcases a wide variety of films includingAcademy Award winners,action films,scifi films, andwesterns. It regularly features special, hosted movie events such asAnd TheOscar Goes To... Presented byRichard Roeper,[129]Totally 80s Month withJudge Reinhold[129] andRob Zombie's 13 Nights ofHalloween.[130]
HDNet Movies is available nationally onDish,DirecTV,Verizon Fios andAT&T U-verse;[131] regionally on cable providers such asCharter Spectrum,[132]Service Electric,[133] Suddenlink Communications,[134]Time Warner Spectrum, andSureWest;[135] and on the streaming serviceSling TV.[136]
In the Fall of 2006, HDNet became available inCanada onRogers Cable,Bell Satellite TV andCogeco 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 channelsFight Network,GameTV, andGame+. 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 itsBell Fibe TV services and over-the-top services Alt TV and Virgin TV.[141]
