AMC Networks Divorces Wedding Central

AMC Networks has pulled the plug on its nearly two-year-old Wedding Central channel.
The 3.5 million subscriber network, which launched in Aug. 2009 as a spinoff of We TV's popular wedding-themed programming block that included such shows as Bridezillas, was taken off the air on July 1 as part of AMC Networks Inc. official spinoff from Cablevision Systems Corp., according to AMC officials.

"We made a strategic decision to reallocate our resources to further the momentum and success of our four nationally distributed networks," the programmer said in a statement. "We TV, the network that pioneered the wedding genre, will remain home to new and returning series for our passionate viewers who love all things bridal."

The service was carried on Cablevision's iO digital cable service, Mediacom's digital basic tier and Time Warner Cable's East Region digital basic tier.
Targeting women 18 to 49, Wedding Central launched with more 300 hours of series, specials and movies related to weddings, dating and relationships -- mostly from sister service We..

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.