Community hub
0 subscribers7 pages, 0 posts
Recent from talks
All channels
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Contribute something
Welcome to the community hub built to collect knowledge and have discussions related to Voom HD Networks.
Nothing was collected or created yet.
Voom HD Networks
View on Wikipediafrom Wikipedia
Voom HD Networks was a suite of 25 original high-definition television channels owned by AMC Networks. The channels were produced in Crystal Clear Hi-Definition with Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound and were the largest suite of HD channels in the world[1] as part of a 15-year agreement between AMC Networks and Dish Network.
Key Information
History
[edit]The Voom HD Networks were originally part of the Voom DTH satellite platform launched by Cablevision and were operated by its subsidiary, Rainbow DBS Company. In 2003, Voom launched 21 original channels that were completely in HD. Service was broadcast via the Rainbow-1 communications satellite and launched on July 17, 2003.[citation needed]
In early 2005, Voom's parent company Cablevision announced it would seek "strategic alternatives" for Rainbow Media Enterprises. This business unit contained its Voom satellite service, leaving the future of Voom in question. Cablevision's board proceeded to shut the Voom satellite service down: The satellite service ceased on April 30, 2005, and Rainbow-1 and VOOM's spectrum allocations were sold to EchoStar.[2]
In April 2005, Rainbow Media and Dish Network entered into a 15-year affiliation agreement whereby EchoStar's Dish Network obtained the right to distribute the Voom channels until 2020 and agreed that it would pay Rainbow Media monthly subscription fees for the life of the agreement. The subscription fees started at $3.25 per subscriber in the first year of the contract and were to increase to $6.43 per subscriber by the year 2020.[3] In a separate agreement, EchoStar's Dish obtained a 20% ownership interest in Rainbow Media (the business unit that contained the Voom HD channels) and Rainbow agreed to invest $100 million into the Voom service each year for the first five years of the agreement.[4] EchoStar's Dish Network announced that they would be adding ten of Voom's original 21 channels to their lineup starting May 1; the remaining channels were added on February 1, 2006.
EchoStar's HD subscriber base expanded from about 20,000 at the end of 2005 to about 1.3 million at the end of 2007.[3]
The HD channels were also relaunched by Rainbow Media under the name "Voom HD Networks". Due to issues surrounding the formatting of the channels, fifteen of the 21 original channels were initially retained. Voom's HD collection was added to Cablevision's cable-TV HD lineup in late June 2007.[citation needed]
Legal dispute
[edit]In January 2008, EchoStar's Dish Network abandoned the affiliation agreement claiming that Voom had failed to invest $100 million in the service during 2006, though Cablevision and Rainbow provided Dish Network with the financial statements documenting their compliance. Dish Network proceeded to remove ten of the channels from their lineup on May 12, 2008, with the remaining five removed the next day,[5][6][7][8]
Following the litigation discovery process, the Court granted Voom's motion for discovery sanctions.[9] The New York State Supreme Court found that EchoStar's Dish Network "systematically destroyed evidence" in the case and stated that "it is entirely possible that the documents destroyed by EchoStar demonstrated that EchoStar knew all along that there was no breach...and would prove Voom's case". The judge also stated that he would tell jurors that Dish Network destroyed evidence and that the jury may assume the evidence would have been helpful to Voom's case.[9]
According to Sanford C. Bernstein analyst Craig Moffett in a recent Wall Street Journal article, "cases involving spoilation of evidence rarely go to trial because the odds are so skewed against the offending party". In this case, the judge would tell the jury that EchoStar failed to preserve certain evidence and bar Dish from calling its expert witness to testify on damages.[10]
Additionally, the court stated in its November 3, 2010 ruling: "In conclusion, the court notes EchoStar's pattern of egregious conduct and questionable – and, at times, blatantly improper – litigation tactics. EchoStar's spoliation in this action, and the fact that it has been sanctioned for spoliation in previous actions, is precisely the type of offensive conduct that cannot be tolerated by the court. Similarly egregious is EchoStar's last-minute finagling with expert reports, believing that it can play fast and loose with the rules of procedure to enhance its litigation posture".[11]
The trial commenced on September 19, 2012, in the New York State Supreme Court. During the summer of 2012, financial analysts who covered Dish Networks urged the company to settle the lawsuit in advance of the trial, as “the odds would...appear to be heavily in Cablevision's/AMC's favor.”[12]
On October 21, 2012, Cablevision and AMC Networks announced they had settled their legal disputes with Dish Networks over Voom HD, an indirect subsidiary of AMC Networks. The dish was to pay a settlement of $700 million to Cablevision and AMC Networks, $80 million would go to the purchase of Cablevision's multichannel video and distribution licenses in 45 U.S. metropolitan areas.
Channels
[edit]- Animania HD (cartoons & animated programming)
- Auction HD (televised auctions)
- Epics ("A cinematic celebration of the silver screen with magnificent stories and music, all about heroes, noble journeys and the triumphant human spirit."; only non-HD channel)
- Equator HD (exotic & unique locations & international cultures)
- Gallery HD (physical art & the artistic process)
- GamePlay HD (programming dedicated to playing video games, such as tips, tricks, cheats, hidden levels & items, Easter eggs, etc.)
- HDNews (high definition news; formerly Voom News Bytes HD)
- LAB HD (non-narrative video art & experimental film)
- Monsters HD (horror, sci-fi)
- Rave HD (music)
- Rush HD (extreme sports)
- Treasure HD (collections, collectors, & collecting)
- Ultra HD (hottest fashion, coolest styles, & insights into the luxury life)
- Voom HD Movies (classic & current Hollywood blockbusters)
- World Sport HD (international sports)
Movie channels
[edit]Known as HD Cinema 10, Voom also operated ten channels that broadcast movies in high definition.[13]
- Divine HD (LGBT)
- Family Room HD (family-friendly)
- Film Fest HD (independent movies & documentaries)
- Gunslingers HD (westerns)
- Guy TV HD (male-oriented)
- Ha Ha HD (comedy)
- Kung Fu HD (kung-fu, martial arts, & Japanese anime)
- The Majestic HD (pre-1970s films in black & white & Technicolor)
- Vice HD (law enforcement)
- World Cinema HD (global classics, award-winners, and foreign films)
Note list
[edit]- ^ Voom HD Networks February 2007 Program Highlights
- ^ Dish Network expands high-definition package with Addition of Voom programming; lineup will include 10 original Voom HD channels
- ^ Voom HD Networks expands Library of Children's HD programming
- ^ Voom HD Networks’ March 2007 Program Highlights
- ^ Voom HD Networks' April 2007 Program Highlights
- ^ Voom high-definition satellite television announces comprehensive coverage of Democratic and Republican conventions on HDNews
- ^ National Businesses - Voom HD Networks
- ^ Rainbow DBS HD service launched
- ^ Rainbow Media launches stand alone HD content service
References
[edit]- ^ Moss, Linda (May 16, 2008). "Dish Network Lowers the Boom on Voom". Multichannel News. Retrieved June 27, 2018.
- ^ "Rainbow Media Holdings to launch and operate Voom-21". Business Wire. April 29, 2005.
- ^ a b "Voom Files against EchoStar". Inside Satellite TV. 8 June 2008.
- ^ "Dish Lowers the Boom on Voom". Multichannel News. 14 May 2008. Archived from the original on 5 September 2012. Retrieved 6 September 2012.
- ^ "Dish Network: No Room For Voom". Multichannel News. 2008-05-13. Archived from the original on 2008-05-17. Retrieved 2008-05-14.
- ^ "Dish Lowers the Boom on Voom". Multichannel News. 2008-05-14.
- ^ "Rainbow Pulls plug on Voom HD service" from Multichannel.com 18 Dec 2008.
- ^ Linda Moss, "Cablevision replaces Voom suite with premium HD services," Archived 2009-01-23 at the Wayback Machine from Multichannel News, 21 Jan 2009.
- ^ a b Van Voris, Bob (24 November 2010). "EchoStar's 'Egregious' Acts in Destroying E-Mail Threaten Court Defense". Bloomberg.net. Archived from the original on 2014-11-09. Retrieved 2017-03-12.
- ^ Ramachandran, Shalini (16 September 2012). "Dolans, Dish Take Old Spat to Court". The Wall Street Journal.
- ^ Manne, Geoffrey (25 November 2010). "More on EchoStar's Questionable Litigation Tactics". Forbes.com.
- ^ Frankel, Daniel (11 July 2012). "Dish Facing Doom in Voom Litigation, Analysts Say". PaidContent.org. Archived from the original on 19 December 2013. Retrieved 5 September 2012.
- ^ "Voom HD Cinema 10 Bolsters its Hi-Definition Programming Line-Up Through Licensing Deal With Miramax Films". Jericho, N.Y: AMC Networks. November 8, 2004. Archived from the original on 11 February 2025. Retrieved 10 February 2025.
External links
[edit]- Archive index at the Wayback Machine
Voom HD Networks
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
History
Early Development and Launch
Voom HD Networks was established in 2003 by Rainbow DBS Company, a subsidiary of Cablevision Systems Corporation's Rainbow Media Holdings, as a pioneering direct broadcast satellite (DBS) service dedicated exclusively to high-definition (HD) programming.[13] The initiative aimed to address the growing but nascent demand for HDTV content in the United States, where traditional cable and satellite providers offered limited HD options—typically fewer than 10 channels at the time. Rainbow DBS positioned Voom as the world's first comprehensive all-HD DBS service, with plans to deliver up to 39 HD channels, including 21 original networks produced specifically for the format, to stimulate HDTV set adoption and establish a premium viewing experience.[13][14] The foundational infrastructure for Voom included the launch of the Rainbow-1 satellite on July 17, 2003, from Cape Canaveral aboard an Atlas V rocket, providing high-power Ku-band capacity for nationwide HD distribution.[15] Following beta testing in early October, the service officially rolled out on October 15, 2003, initially offering 21 commercial-free original HD channels alongside select third-party HD content from partners like Disney and A&E, all broadcast in 1080i resolution.[13][14] This launch marked Voom's ambition to outpace competitors by creating a robust library of native HD programming, including genres like movies, music, and lifestyle, to capitalize on the emerging transition to digital HDTV standards.[13] Despite its innovative focus, Voom encountered significant distribution hurdles in its early years due to the high costs of HD infrastructure and subdued consumer demand. Equipment bundles, priced at around $749 for the receiver, dish, and installation, deterred potential subscribers, especially as HD televisions remained expensive and uncommon, with many households unaware of available content.[16] Cable and satellite providers were reluctant to carry Voom's channels broadly, citing bandwidth constraints and the need for costly upgrades to support HD transmission, while established rivals like DirecTV and Dish Network offered cheaper alternatives with fewer but more familiar HD options.[16] These challenges limited Voom's subscriber base and contributed to operational strains. By April 2005, amid mounting financial losses exceeding $661 million in 2004 on minimal revenue, Cablevision's board voted to terminate the direct-to-home satellite operations, ceasing service on April 30, 2005.[17] As part of the wind-down, Rainbow-1 and Voom's orbital spectrum allocations were sold to EchoStar Communications for $200 million, allowing the HD networks to pivot toward carriage agreements with other providers rather than operating their own satellite platform.[17]Partnership, Expansion, and Shutdown
In April 2005, Rainbow Media Holdings and EchoStar Communications (parent of Dish Network) announced a 15-year affiliation agreement for the carriage of Voom HD channels on Dish's satellite platform, initially 10 channels expanding to 15 by 2006.[7][18] Under the terms, Dish agreed to pay escalating per-subscriber fees starting at $3.25, with rates increasing over the term (reaching approximately $4.25 by year seven).[19][20] As part of the deal, Dish acquired a 20% stake in Rainbow Media, while Rainbow committed to investing at least $100 million annually in Voom HD programming and operations for the first five years.[21][22] The partnership facilitated significant operational growth for Voom HD Networks, enabling expansion from its initial 15 channels to a total of 25 by 2008 and establishing it as the world's largest all-HD channel suite at the time.[9] This growth included adding specialized programming across entertainment and movie genres, supported by the secured distribution on Dish's nationwide platform. Tensions arose in late 2007 when Dish alleged that Voom had failed to meet the $100 million annual investment threshold for 2006, despite Voom reporting expenditures of $102.9 million that year.[22] On January 30, 2008, Dish notified Voom of its intent to terminate the agreement effective February 1, 2008, prompting Voom to file suit on January 31, 2008 claiming breach of contract.[23] Dish proceeded with phased removal of the channels, dropping 10 of the 15 by early May and the remaining five by May 13, 2008, leaving Voom without its primary distributor. The loss of Dish carriage proved fatal, as Voom struggled to secure alternative widespread distribution. On December 19, 2008, Rainbow Media announced the shutdown of U.S. operations, with service ceasing in late January 2009 despite limited carriage on other providers like Cablevision.[12] This marked the end of Voom HD Networks' domestic run after five years, though some programming rights and international extensions persisted briefly.[3] The resulting lawsuit was settled in October 2012, with Dish Network agreeing to pay $700 million to Voom HD Holdings and related entities.[24]Channels
General Entertainment Channels
Voom HD Networks encompassed 15 general entertainment channels that formed the core of its programming lineup, offering diverse themes ranging from lifestyle and sports to news and experimental content. These channels were launched progressively between 2004 and 2006, with initial offerings debuting in 2004 alongside the network's rollout on satellite and cable platforms.[7][25] The suite emphasized original, high-definition content designed to showcase visual depth and clarity, including custom-produced series, documentaries, and live events that leveraged HD resolution for immersive experiences.[18] Unlike traditional cable networks, these channels prioritized niche audiences with commercial-free, 24-hour programming tailored for high-definition viewing, such as vibrant animations, dynamic sports action, and abstract visuals that benefited from enhanced detail and color.[1] This approach aimed to differentiate Voom by creating content from the ground up for HD formats, fostering a premium entertainment ecosystem.[26] The general entertainment channels included:- Animania HD: Focused on anime series, cartoons, and animated programming, featuring exclusive HD imports and original shorts to appeal to animation enthusiasts.
- Auction HD: Dedicated to live auctions and behind-the-scenes looks at collectibles sales, providing high-resolution coverage of art, antiques, and rare items.[27][18]
- Equator HD: Explored global cultures, travel destinations, and ethnographic documentaries, highlighting vivid international locales and traditions in stunning detail.[7]
- Gallery HD: Centered on visual arts, design, and architecture, with original series showcasing museums, artists, and creative processes optimized for HD clarity.[28]
- GamePlay HD: Covered video games, esports tournaments, and gaming culture, including news, reviews, and live events captured in high definition.[29][30]
- HDNews (formerly Voom News Bytes HD): Delivered 24-hour news coverage with HD visuals, emphasizing breaking stories, interviews, and global events in real-time format.[7]
- LAB HD: Featured experimental and abstract visuals, including avant-garde art, music videos, and conceptual shorts designed to exploit HD's resolution capabilities.[26]
- Monsters HD: Showcased horror and science-fiction content, with original miniseries and themed blocks emphasizing atmospheric effects in HD.[7]
- Rave HD: Highlighted electronic music, DJ sets, concerts, and dance culture, with live performances and visuals enhanced by HD production.[7]
- Rush HD: Focused on extreme sports and adventure activities, offering high-adrenaline footage of events like skydiving and motorsports in crisp HD.[7][31]
- Treasure HD: Examined collectibles, history, and archaeology, through documentaries and explorations of artifacts and treasures.[32]
- Ultra HD: Explored fashion, beauty, and lifestyle trends, with runway shows, designer profiles, and cultural segments in high-definition glamour.[7]
- Voom HD Movies: Presented general Hollywood films and mainstream cinema, serving as the non-specialized film offering within the entertainment suite.[25]
- World Sport HD: Covered international sports events, competitions, and athlete stories from around the globe in HD broadcast quality.[26]
- Epics: Included as part of the suite despite being a non-HD channel, focusing on epic-scale made-for-TV movies and miniseries.[33]
Specialized Movie Channels
Voom HD Networks introduced 10 specialized movie channels to complement its general entertainment offerings, creating a dedicated suite known as HD Cinema 10 that emphasized curated film libraries across niche genres.[34] These channels expanded the overall lineup to 25 total networks, providing viewers with focused programming tailored to diverse demographics and interests.[34] A defining feature of these channels was their commitment to ad-free, uncut high-definition presentations, allowing films to be shown in their original form without commercial interruptions or edits for time constraints.[34] This approach, combined with integration of Dolby 5.1 surround sound, aimed to deliver immersive cinematic experiences optimized for HD televisions.[25] The channels targeted specific audiences by curating content around thematic film categories, from mainstream genres to underrepresented narratives. The 10 channels and their primary focuses were as follows:- Divine HD: Centered on LGBTQ+ films, including classic titles starring gay icons like Rock Hudson and contemporary stories exploring queer experiences and relationships.[35]
- Family Room HD: Featured family-friendly movies suitable for all ages, emphasizing wholesome content, animated features, and light-hearted adventures to entertain households.[36]
- Film Fest HD: Showcased independent films, documentaries, and short subjects, functioning as a virtual film festival with restored classics, indie hits, and cult favorites remastered in HD.[37]
- Gunslingers HD: Specialized in Westerns, presenting cowboy epics, frontier tales, and revisionist takes on the genre with iconic stars like John Wayne.
- Guy TV HD: Offered action-packed and male-oriented films, including blockbusters, thrillers, and sports dramas geared toward adult male viewers.
- Ha Ha HD: Dedicated to comedies, rotating through slapstick, romantic, and satirical films to provide nonstop humor across decades.
- Kung Fu HD: Highlighted martial arts films alongside anime, featuring high-octane action sequences with stars like Bruce Lee, Jet Li, and animated adventures from Japan.[37]
- The Majestic HD: Focused on pre-1970s classic films, including black-and-white masterpieces and Technicolor spectacles from Hollywood's golden age.
- Vice HD: Explored crime and law enforcement dramas, with suspenseful stories of detectives, mobsters, and moral dilemmas in gritty urban settings.
- World Cinema HD: Presented international and foreign-language films, offering award-winning imports from Europe, Asia, Latin America, and beyond to broaden cultural perspectives.[37]