FearNet Seeks Basic Carriage

Subscription video-on-demand service FearNet will look to scare up operator affiliation deals this summer for its proposed Oct. 1 linear channel launch.

The multi-platform service, owned by Lions Gate, Sony Pictures Television and Comcast, will launch as a predominately digital-basic movie channel in time for the 2010 Halloween season, FearNet president Diane Robina said.

The network's in-house affiliate sales team is currently talking to the major multichannel distributors, including network parent Comcast, about the high-definition and standard-definition versions of the channel, although it has yet to secure any deals. Comcast, Cox Communications, Verizon FiOS TV, AT&T U-Verse, Insight Communications, Bresnan and Guadalupe Valley Systems offer FearNet content on demand, representing 28 million homes.

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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.