Three MSOs Sign VH1 Classic Deals

Digital-cable music channel VH1 Classic announced distribution deals Tuesday
with several MSOs that will push its subscriber base to 8 million homes by the
end of the year.

The service -- which spotlights music hits from the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s --
reached deals with Time Warner Cable, Adelphia Communications Corp. and Comcast
Corp., MTV/VH1 digital television vice president Eric Sherman said.

In addition, the network has launched music-video-block programming that will
tailor the network's video programming to a particular theme, Sherman said.

The one-hour blocks include 'VH1 Classic Tuesday 2play,' 'VH1 Classic
Headliner,' 'VH1 Classic All Star Jam,' 'VH1 Classic Soul Power,' 'VH1 Classic
Rockfest,' 'VH1 Classic We Are the 80s,' 'VH1 Classic Super 70s,' 'VH1 Classic
60s Generation,' 'VH1 Classic Metal Mania' and 'VH1 Classic Pop Show.'

VH1 Classic is also close to finalizing a deal to sponsor pop-music veteran
James Taylor's upcoming national tour, Sherman said.

R. Thomas Umstead

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.