Post by StarOpal on Jan 13, 2007 22:15:53 GMT -5
"In an unexpected move, NBC Universal plans to roll out Chiller, a new digital cable network devoted to horror-themed programming, Variety reported.
The cable network will launch March 1 and initially be seen in 12 million homes via a carriage deal with DirecTV. The channel also will be offered on DirecTV's new tier of 100 HD channels slated to roll out later this year, the trade paper reported.
NBC U has already started pitching other cable operators on the channel and is hoping to land carriage agreement on other systems.
Jeff Gaspin, NBC Universal's president of cable entertainment, digital content and cross-network strategy, is expected to announce the network on Jan. 12 at the TV Critics Association winter press tour in Pasadena, Calif. Dan Harrison, senior vice president of emerging networks for NBC Universal Cable Entertainment, will be in charge of the channel.
Chiller will take advantage of NBC U's deep reservoir of horror-related TV shows (Alfred Hitchcock Presents) and films (The Shining, Psycho), many of them from the old MCA library. But Gaspin said the cabler also has acquired programming from other companies, including 20th Century Fox TV, Sony, Warner Brothers TV and Lionsgate.
Other programming assets include Twin Peaks, Tales From the Crypt, Freddy's Nightmares and Friday the 13th: The Series."
The cable network will launch March 1 and initially be seen in 12 million homes via a carriage deal with DirecTV. The channel also will be offered on DirecTV's new tier of 100 HD channels slated to roll out later this year, the trade paper reported.
NBC U has already started pitching other cable operators on the channel and is hoping to land carriage agreement on other systems.
Jeff Gaspin, NBC Universal's president of cable entertainment, digital content and cross-network strategy, is expected to announce the network on Jan. 12 at the TV Critics Association winter press tour in Pasadena, Calif. Dan Harrison, senior vice president of emerging networks for NBC Universal Cable Entertainment, will be in charge of the channel.
Chiller will take advantage of NBC U's deep reservoir of horror-related TV shows (Alfred Hitchcock Presents) and films (The Shining, Psycho), many of them from the old MCA library. But Gaspin said the cabler also has acquired programming from other companies, including 20th Century Fox TV, Sony, Warner Brothers TV and Lionsgate.
Other programming assets include Twin Peaks, Tales From the Crypt, Freddy's Nightmares and Friday the 13th: The Series."
