Anime Network Format
FINALLY! THE ANIME NETWORK? FORMAT DETAILS
FIRST DEBUT AS PART OF COMCAST?S VIDEO-ON-DEMAND SERVICE
HOUSTON December 13 2002?After an initial news release that created a veritable storm of curiosity and speculation within the fan community and the industry at large ADV Films today announced details about the impending launch of
The Anime Network?. The network will go on the air in a series of stepped-up phases with Phase One a mid-December launch as part of Comcast Cable?s video-on-demand (VOD) initiative in the Philadelphia area delivering programs directly to viewers at their request at any time.
Comcast?s VOD service?including The Anime Network??is available to approximately 1.2 million customers in the Philadelphia area. The Anime Networkä is the first television channel in North America dedicated to anime (Japanese animation) and anime-related content.
Leadership at The Anime Network? described the decision to launch Phase One via VOD service as one of complementary strengths. ?We?re very excited to have completed this deal with Comcast; their VOD functionality is a perfect fit for our first step. Plus we believe that on-demand systems are going to be a strong and enduring element of the direct-delivered home entertainment industry? said John Ledford President and CEO of A.D. Vision Inc. parent company of The Anime Network? and ADV Films.
?For our audience a video-on-demand-based launch is quite perfect? Ledford continued. ?Anime fans are really the ultimate early-adopters?they?re very tech savvy and will be quick to appreciate the benefits of on-demand functionality.?
Content The Anime Network? model is structured around four categorized content areas: Action Zone Sci-Fi Comedy and Martial Arts. The mid-December launch of The Anime Network? will include approximately 25 hours of available content including both feature films and episodes from series. Titles will include ?Spriggan? ?Neon Genesis Evangelion? ?Excel Saga? ?Martian Successor Nadesico? ?Gasaraki? ?Noir? ?Dai-Guard? ?Bubblegum Crisis Tokyo 2040? ?Orphen? Golden Boy? ?Sorcerer Hunters? Kimera? ?Ninja Resurrection? ?Tekken? ?Those Who Hunt Elves? ?Gunsmith Cats? ?Burn Up W? and ?Samurai X: The Motion Picture.? Viewers in the Philadelphia area wishing to confirm availability of The Anime Network in their specific areas can do so by visiting
www.comcast.com.
The Anime Network?: Ongoing Plans Leadership at The Anime Network confirms that the network will be going online with several other major national cable providers to bring The Anime Networkä to millions of viewers in service areas across North America. The Anime Network?s web address is
www.theanimenetwork.com.
Posted on Friday, December 13, 2002 (Archive on Monday, January 13, 2003)