Anthem Sports & Entertainment said that it hired Greg Drebin as head of content and marketing for its AXS TV and HDNet Movies networks.

Drebin, most recently executive VP of worldwide marketing, publicity and research at Twentieth Century Fox Television Distribution, will look to expand viewership and improve the demographics of the two channels.

Drebin will report to Andy Schuon, recently named president of AXS TV and HDNet Movies. Schuon and Drebin worked together at MTV, CBS Radio and Universal’s International Music Feed Network.

“Greg Drebin is an exceptional talent,” said Schuon. “His dynamic, strategic and innovative mind, and his industry expertise make him a natural fit for what we aim to accomplish at AXS TV and HDNet Movies. I am really looking forward to collaborating with Greg once more.”

Before joining Fox, Drebin was senior VP of programming and marketing at Warner Bros. International TV Branded Services. He also worked at Universal music Group and MTV. He started his career as an NBC Page and production assistant working on Saturday Night Live, Late Night with David Letterman, NBC Nightly News and NFL Live.

“AXS TV and HDnet Movies are well established networks with strong foundations in music and film.  I look forward to working with Andy again to maximize their potential across all platforms,” Drebin said.

Anthem Sports & Entertainment said its networks will be sporting mustaches during November in support of Movember, the charity dedicated to men’s health.

The networks, AXS TV, HDNet Movies, GameTV, Fight Network and Game Plus, will feature special Movember content and public=service announcements.

Also Read: AXS TV, Movember Team Up To Promote Men's Health 

One hirsute highlight will be a series of Monday movies featuring mustachioed leading men. The films include Burt Reynolds in Malone, Tom Selleck in Quigley Down Under and Sam Elliot in Fatal Beauty on AXS TV; Kevin Kline and John Cleeese in A Fish Called Wanda, and Charles Bronson in The Mechanic on HDNet Movies; as well as Matthew McConaughey in Dazed and Confused and Samuel L. Jackson in Pulp Fiction on GameTV. 

“The Movember initiative has long served as a vital resource raising funds and awareness for every facet of men’s health,” said Len Asper, president and CEO of Anthem Sports & Entertainment. 

“Anthem is proud to be back again this year and further grow our partnership, broadcasting a diverse blend of fun and informative Movember-themed programming across all of our networks,” Asper said. “In recent times, especially, we have seen firsthand how important it to is to maintain both physical and mental health, and we hope that this month-long event will encourage and inspire our viewers to join us and take part in this global movement that has shed invaluable light on the most serious issues impacting men today.” 

During Movember, Anthem’s networks will air a series of Movember PSAs exploring different themes such as encouraging men to “Spot the Signs” and reach out to friends in need, empowering men to open up about their feelings and become “A Man of More Words.” 

The spots feature personal anecdotes from entertainers and influencers such as Jonathan Bennett, Logan Henderson, Matthew Santoro and Scott Sire. 

“We’re thrilled to once again have the support of AXS TV, HDnet Movies and GameTV. The movie line up will showcase some fun and iconic mustachioed films but also helps raise awareness about the serious issues around men’s health," said Mark Hedstrom, Movember’s U.S. executive director. “There’s still a lot of work to be done when it comes to men’s health, but we’re grateful to have partners committed to helping men around the globe live healthier lives.” 

Movember is also being supported by a number of major corporations and brands, including Philips Norelco, Pringles, Olly, Johnson & Johnson Consumer Health and Top Golf. 

“Philips Norelco wants men to not only look their best, but also to feel their best both mentally and physically,” said Brett Bardsley, Philips Norelco marketing director. “The brand’s commitment to men goes beyond grooming. Our mission to improve the lives of men through purpose-oriented product development and meaningful innovation aligns perfectly with Movember’s mission to change the face of men’s health and empower men to live happier, healthier and longer lives.”

This will be the second year snack brand Pringles is supporting Movember. 

“We’re proud that Pringles is partnering with Movember to support their critical work in the U.S. We can all play a role in advocating for mental wellness, particularly given the toll the last 18 months has taken on everyone,” said Gareth Maguire, senior director of marketing for Pringles.

“We plan to use Mr. P and his iconic mustache to raise awareness and funds for Movember, while engaging our employees and partners in real conversations about mental health, and how we can all reach out and support our family, friends and neighbors,” Maguire said.

Philo has added five movie channels--Sony Movies, Reelz, HDNet Movies, MGM HD and Cenémoi--to its $3 premium network add-on bundle, Movies & More.

Launched in June 2020, Movies and More adds Epix and Starz to the more than 60 entertainment-themed channels Philo offers for a base price of $25 a month. 

Philo also announced that it's building out a fledgling FAST lineup that launched with Bloomberg TV and Revry--Pocket.watch, Ryan and Friend, Players TV and Gusto TV have been added to the service's FAST programming guide. 

Like most other virtual pay TV services, Philo hasn't published a subscriber count in a while--it said in November of last year that it was reaching 800,000 paid users. 

Startup Philo was the last vMVPD to announce a significant price increase--it bumped its monthly bill up to $25 a month back in May. 

AXS TV and HDNET Movies will offer weekly programming blocks featuring action-themed movies in November as part of a campaign to raise awareness around men's health issues.

The campaign, in partnership with men's health advocacy group Movember, will feature a 10-film block of movies on HDNet Movies each Monday next month beginning Nov. 2 including such films as Breakheart Pass, Death Wish and Driven, said the network. 

Each Friday in November, AXS TV will offer a block of films including The Shadow Riders, Gator and Brewster's Millions, said the network. In addition, AXS TV will offer each Saturday of the month music programming including Alan Jackson: Small Town Southern Man, Carlos Santana Live At The 1982 US Festival and Rock Legends: ZZ Top.

Each block will feature Movember-created public service announcements exploring issues surrounding men's health.

“Movember is a vital resource bringing awareness to the major issues impacting men’s health,” said Frank Tanki, General Manager of AXS TV and HDNET Movies in a statement. “AXS TV and HDNET Movies are proud to partner with them for this special event, helping to raise funds and awareness for an important cause while providing much-needed entertainment celebrating some of cinema’s most famous facial hair. We hope our viewers will join us in supporting Movember as they fight to improve the health and lives of men across the world.”

A year after Anthem Sports and Entertainment purchased AXS TV from entrepreneur and Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, the music channel is looking to hit all the right distribution and content notes under new general manager Frank Tanki. 

The Viacom vet assumed operations of AXS TV and HDNet Movies in June, and is positioning AXS TV to fill a void for music programming with shows such as documentaries Coldplay: A Head Full of Dreams, which tells the band’s history through interviews, archival footage and performances from its global Head Full of Dreams tour; and Hype!, profiling the 1990s grunge music scene; and with the return of such brand-defining shows as The Big Interview with Dan Rather. Tanki spoke with senior content producer, programming R. Thomas Umstead. Here’s an edited transcript of that conversation.

As an independent network, how do you see AXS TV navigating an evolving television environment? The industry is evolving … it feels like every day, there’s a new dynamic and a new challenge. But we feel that the music category is still very, very valuable to a linear audience. I feel like that white space plus the investments that we’re making in original content has us well-positioned for growth. We’ve had a lot of good conversations on the linear side — we just did a recent renewal with the NCTC [National Cable Television Cooperative] that I think is a sign that we’ve got good things to come. On the digital side, we’re talking to literally every player and we’ve received a lot of great feedback while we continue shoring up our linear distribution. 

How does AXS TV differentiate itself in a very crowded TV environment? I feel like there is definitely a white space that is underserved in linear cable TV and in the music space. We like to offer great music storytelling, whether that be through live concerts or more behind the scenes stories. That’s the heart of who we are and where we want to be. I think we’re just going to sharpen it a bit more.

Where does HDNet Movies fit in Anthem’s cable network strategy? It’s got a very loyal core base on linear TV. If you look at movie ratings on some cable networks, they’re higher than they’ve ever been. So we think it plays a really important part of our portfolio. We've got a great lineup of movies from the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s, and we’re going to look at different opportunities to pitch and catch content between the two brands. 

AXS TV also televises Impact Wrestling. Do you see the service getting more involved in live sports in the future? The answer is a firm yes. AXS has a long history with pro wrestling and MMA, and I also have a little background with MMA given my days at Spike TV and Bellator, which is still a very important part of ViacomCBS today. I think we’ll have a defined enough home for music that we can put a couple of other things under our roof. Working with Anthem, which owns the Fight Network, we’ll look for ways to be really smart about what we can add to the sports side of our portfolio. 

What’s the key for brands that want to survive the current evolution of the television industry? There's a major evolution happening right now. I remember a moment in time earlier in my career where we were debating, is [digital] an evolution or a phase? Now we know it’s an evolution, so we have to embrace that and be more nimble with how and where we distribute our content. We all have to look for new opportunities. For us, linear is still our bread and butter, but I think it all comes down to the communication that we’re having with our audience. It’s more of a direct, two-way street now, and the brands that will succeed are those that are smartly defined and are laser-focused on what the white space is while continuing to have a dialogue with their audience.

Anthem Sports & Entertainment named Frank Tanki as general manager of its AXS TV and HDNet Movies.

Tanki, who spent 10 years at Viacom, has been working with Anthem on growth plans and strategic direction for the channels for several months. As GM, he will oversee business strategy and day-to-day operations. He will also have a role in working with AXS TV’s current distributors and developing new content distribution opportunities.

Anthem acquired AXS and HDNet Movies last year. The networks were managed on a temporary basis by Anthony Cicione, who is senior VP of Anthem and runs its Game TV in Canada.

“Anthem has spent the last several months investing in research, content and the market opportunities for these two channels. Having Frank step in to lead the evolution of AXS TV and HDNet Movies is a significant addition to our executive team,” said Len Asper, CEO of Anthem. 

“He has an unprecedented track record of success and leadership at such outlets as Nickelodeon, CMT, Spike and Turner. That, coupled with his wide-ranging skills in revenue and distribution growth, channel branding, and digital media make him incredibly well rounded and capable of guiding both networks into the next generation of media,” Asper said. “The experience he brings will be vital in establishing AXS TV as the premier destination globally for premium music programming, and HDNet Movies as the leading force for blockbuster films and classic favorites.” 

At Viacom, Tanki was most recently general manager for TV Land and CMT. Before that he was executive VP, brand marketing and creative, at Spike TV and a senior VP at Nickelodeon. Previously he was director, promotions marketing, for Turner’s Cartoon Network and Adult Swim. He began his career at Jujamcyn Theaters.

"This is an incredible opportunity to help lead AXS TV and HDNet  Movies forward into the future,” said Tanki. “I was fortunate enough to work with Len and many of the talented members on the AXS TV and Anthem teams over the past few months, getting a first-hand look at the amazing assets in place—not only at AXS TV and HDNet Movies, but across the broader Anthem spectrum. AXS TV is already such a great brand and I look forward to driving new areas of growth with both partners and consumers alike, as we work to build best-in-class partnerships and further establish our strong relationship with the fans."

Anthem Sports & Entertainment networks AXS TV and HDNet Movies have a renewed agreement with the National Cable Television Cooperative providing access to more than 750 small to mid-sized cable and broadband operators around the country.

AXS TV programming includes coverage of concert events, Dan Rather's Big Interview show and, more recently, Daryl Hall's Live From Daryl's House. 

Related: Anthem Buys Majority Stake In AXS TV

“This important agreement with the NCTC presents us with a valuable opportunity to bring AXS TV and HDNET MOVIES’ exclusive premium content to even more viewers across the country,” Randy Brown, Senior Vice President of Distribution for Anthem, said in a statement. “AXS TV is perfectly suited to music and pop culture fans, providing an unprecedented lineup of classic concerts, exclusive live performances, celebrity interviews and professional wrestling from the industry’s top talent, while HDNET MOVIES has something for film buffs of all ages to enjoy with a catalog of beloved blockbusters and cinematic classics. We look forward to continuing our partnership with NCTC members and delivering high quality content they cannot find anywhere else, for many years to come.”

“We are pleased to have extended our agreement with AXS TV and HDNET MOVIES,” said Judy Meyka, Executive Vice President, of Programming, NCTC. “We are excited to build on this successful partnership with Anthem as we move forward.”

AXS TV and HDNet Movies are being offered to distributors as a free preview from now through May, owner Anthem Sports & Entertainment said. That allows cable, satellite and other pay-TV providers to offer the channels for free to non-subscribers. AT&T's DirecTV and U-verse have taken up the offer, Anthem said, as has the National Cable Television Cooperative. Network free previews have started to proliferate during the coronavirus outbreak that has prompted millions of people around the country to stay at home. 

Some upcoming programming on the channels includes the Jeddah World Fest on AXS TV on April 5, featuring artists such as Future (pictured), and  a “Biopic Music Marathon” on HDNet Movies in April. 

Related: Charter Expands Showtime, Epix to All Video Customers Through April 19

“During challenging times such as these, music and films can be comforting,” Anthem senior VP of distribution Randy Brown said in a statement. “They help people take their minds off of their fears and concerns for a few hours, and instill a sense of normalcy to an otherwise unconventional situation. With live events being postponed for the foreseeable future and movie theatres closing due to safety concerns, entertainment is becoming increasingly scarce. Because of this, we are pleased to offer free previews of our two most popular channels—AXS TV and HDNET MOVIES—to all distributors starting now through May. We hope that viewers across the country will enjoy our signature high-quality content, and find some solace in reconnecting with the films and artists they love."

Photo provided by Anthem Sports & Entertainment.

Sling TV is beefing up its progamming lineup, with the launch of three new channels to its Sling Orange and Sling Blue packages.

According to a blog post, Sing TV has added GSN (formerly Game Show Network), music channel AXS TV and movie channel HDNet Movies.

GSN, which offers classic game shows and new programming like Hellevator, Skin Test and Idiotest, is now part of the Comedy Plus Extra add-on package on both Sling Orange and Sling Blue for an additional $5 per month. AXS TV, which airs concerts, MMA fights, stand-up comedy and music-oriented programming like X-Factor UK is now part of the Sling Orange and Sling Blue core services.

HDNet Movies, which offers uncut and commercial-free films like E.T.: The Extraterrestrial, The Vanishing and The Sentinel, is now part of the Hollywood Extra add-on package, available to Sling Blue and Sling Orange customers at $5 per month.

HDNet Movies has tapped veteran news personality Dan Rather to host a movie marathon featuring politically-themed movies the weekend before Election Day, the network said Monday.

Rather, who hosts AXS TV's The Big Interview series, will film wraparound vignettes that will run throughout the Nov. 6 marathon as he recounts his experiences surrounding past Presidents and presidential elections, according to HDNet.The marathon will repeat on Nov. 7, the day before Election Day. 

Movies airing as part of the marathon include Welcome To Mooseport, True Colors, The Sentinel, The Ides Of March, Primary Colors, In The Line Of Fire and Bob Roberts, said network officials.

HDNet Movies will be available for free to DirecTV and AT&T U-verse customers will get the channel for free Sept. 1-7 as part of a free preview of DirecTV's HD Extra Pack (channel 566) and U-verse's HD Premium Tier (channel 1107).

Movie blocks scheduled include Jarhead and its 2014 sequel; "Supernatural Sightings," including The Abyss and The X-Files: I Want To Believe and a Labor Day weekend "Men at Work" marathon featuring action-hero actors Sylvester Stallone (Cliffhanger), Bruce Willis (Die Hard) and John Wayne (Hellfighters). 

More about the preview week is available here.