Ovation TV Rings in the New Year with Double the Distribution of 2008

Major Market Launches Including Dallas, Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston and Albuquerque Take the Network from 15 to 30 Million Subscribers by the Close of ‘08

LOS ANGELES, CA (January 12, 2009) – Ovation TV, the only TV network dedicated to art, culture and creativity, ended 2008 on a high note.  The network, which started the year with 15 million subscribers, doubled that number, reaching 30 million subscribers by the end of the year.   This was accomplished through a series of major market launches, including Dallas, Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston and Albuquerque.  The announcement was made today by Charles Segars, CEO, Ovation TV.

“There’s no doubt that 2008 was a breakthrough year for Ovation TV,” said Charles Segars, CEO, Ovation TV.  “Not only did the network see a dramatic increase in distribution thanks to deals with Comcast, Time Warner, Charter, and Grande Communications, but we also saw a tremendous response to the company’s first Upfront.  In 2009, we anticipate that the economic circumstances we all face as a country will challenge our off-the-charts growth of the previous year, however based on our ongoing distribution discussions, we expect to add another 7 to 10 million subscribers by the end of this year.”

Most recently, Comcast Cable significantly expanded Ovation TV’s distribution in Chicago and launched the network on their Boston and Albuquerque systems.  In addition, Charter Communications launched the network throughout the Northeast and mid-sized MSO’s Grande Communications, GCI and Broadstripe all added Ovation TV during the past year.  Currently, Ovation TV is concluding its roll-out on Time Warner Cable in Los Angeles.  The roll-out began last summer and will be in most of the MSO’s metro-Los Angeles areas by the end of February. Time Warner also launched the channel in Dallas earlier in the year and expanded the network’s distribution footprint in the Greater New York area.  Dish Network also added the channel in ’08.

“Independent channels like ours just don’t get launched these days unless there is a strong value proposition for both the cable operator and the advertiser,” said Ron Garfield, Executive Vice President, Ovation TV.  “Ovation TV is the only channel available today that is dedicated to the arts and culture and we deliver the audience for this huge category on a national and local level with programming you can’t find anywhere else.  We’ve also worked hard to be effective multi-platform partners to our distribution, advertising and cultural and arts education partners through programs that resonate with consumers on the air, online and on the ground.”

Ovation TV’s programming showcases the world’s greatest artists in theater, dance, opera, literature, film, visual and fine art, music, design, photography and architecture.  Since the channel relaunched a year and a half ago, it has created a number of programming events that have won critical praise across the country.  These include its annual “Battle of the Nutcrackers” event in December featuring different productions of the Nutcracker ballet that viewers vote for online; the upcoming “Everything is Art” programming event featuring US premiere series and specials focused on the creative design process in manufacturing, commercial art and architecture; and “American Revolutionaries,” a popular week-long event featuring biographies of some of the most pivotal American artists of our time.

Ovation TV also offers its content on VOD (video on demand) and is a forerunner in providing local VOD content.  By providing content that is targeted for a local market, Ovation TV offers local cable operators a valuable service to help keep them connected to their subscribers and their community


About Ovation TV:  Ovation TV is a multi-platform network devoted to art, culture, creativity and making art more accessible to viewers in their daily lives.  The network showcases the world's greatest artists in theater, dance, opera, literature, film, visual and fine art, music, design, photography and architecture. Ovation TV reaches a national audience of 30 million households across the country.  Ovation TV’s programming is also available on video on demand (in both standard and high definition), as well as at http://www.OvationTV.com.