Music Powerhouses Team For AXS TV

AEG, Ryan Seacrest Media, and Creative Artists Agency (CAA) are launching a new television network, AXS TV (pronounced “access”). The joint venture scheduled to debut this summer will rebrand Mark Cuban‘s HDNet as AXS TV. Offering live entertainment and lifestyle programming, the outlet will have behind-the-scenes access to live concerts and music festivals, red carpet premieres, award shows, parties, pop culture events, and in-depth interviews.

Production facilities will be based at AEG’s L.A. LIVE, home to venues including STAPLES Center, Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE, and Club Nokia. Despite the ready-made access to AEG venues, Timothy J. Leiweke, AEG President & CEO notes, “This is a platform for all agents, all promoters and all managers. It is not the creation of an AEG channel.”

Ryan Seacrest Media holds an ownership stake in AXS TV, and Ryan Seacrest Productions will develop and produce programming for AXS TV.

DISH is moving AXS to its America’s Top 120 programming package, reaching well over 35 million North American households. In addition, DISH will begin offering a large selection of AXS-branded Video On Demand concerts starting March 15. Unique ticketing opportunities will be available for DISH viewers of AXS TV. Debuting Aug. 1 is the AXS Headliner Club, an online audition site providing local bands and musicians the opportunity to audition to perform at an AEG-affiliated club or theater.

AXS TV will continue to be available on HDNet’s existing distributors including DIRECTV, Comcast, Verizon, AT&T, Charter, NCTC-member systems, Suddenlink and Shaw (in Canada).