Entertainment Studios Networks
| Entertainment Studios Networks | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Launched | May 2009 |
| Owned by | Entertainment Studios |
| Picture format | 1080i (HDTV) |
| Country |
 |
| Language | American English |
| Broadcast area | United States |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles, California |
| Website | |
Availability | |
| Satellite | |
| DirecTV |
|
| Cable | |
| Verizon FiOS |
|
| IPTV | |
| AT&T U-verse |
|
| Streaming media | |
| Roku & Amazon Fire TV |
|
Entertainment Studios Networks is a group of nine high definition cable networks operated by Entertainment Studios Inc., a company owned by and featuring comedian Byron Allen. The networks were launched in May 2009 through a deal with Verizon FIOS and have since expanded to several other pay-TV services. The networks are also offered direct-to-consumer through a Roku/Amazon Fire TV channel known as "SmartTV.com".
The eight networks include Automotive.TV, Cars.TV, Comedy.TV, ES.TV, Justice Central, MyDestination.TV, Pets.TV and Recipe.TV.[1] All the shows appearing on the networks are produced and distributed exclusively by Entertainment Studios. In addition, Byron Allen acquired The Weather Channel in the spring of 2018, but as it remains mainly under carriage agreements under their old management, along with its own separate corporate structure, is currently not part of ESN itself.
The suite of networks and their carriage on cable and satellite systems have been controversial for several reasons, including that most of the programs seen on the networks are also distributed by Entertainment Studios in broadcast syndication on over-the-air stations, and provide little value for the provider or the consumer (most Entertainment Studios programs over-the-air are mainly carried in non-prime timeslots by its stations). Another issue is the means of how Entertainment Studios has asked for carriage, rather on asking for carriage on the merit of ES's content, but mainly through civil rights lawsuits alleging that providers have not pushed enough to add minority-owned networks to their lineups, and asking for carriage through those means.
As of the end of 2017, only two of the channels in the suite, Justice Central and Comedy.TV, maintained a nightly Nielsen average enough to tabulate a rating, while the latter five 'scratch' and were unable to be rated; the two channels also are regularly among the least rated Nielsen-measured networks in the United States.[2] ESN has since classed the later five networks together as one unit known as "ESN Lifestyle" for ratings purposes to allow Nielsen classification, though this has not been reflected on-air.[3]
On March 22, 2018, Byron Allen's Entertainment Studios announced its intent to acquire The Weather Channel's television assets from an NBCUniversal/Blackstone Group partnership. The actual value is undisclosed, but was reported to be around $300 million; the channel's non-television assets, which were separately sold to IBM two years prior, were not included in the sale.[4][5]
Channels
- Automotive.TV - dedicated to cars from celebrity collections, restoration pros, museums, concourses and auto shows from around the world.
- Cars.TV - dedicated to notable cars, showcasing the collectors, designers, innovators, and ultimate car enthusiasts.
- Comedy.TV - comedians performing live and taped, as well as hosted talk and variety shows such as Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen and Comedy.TV.
- ES.TV - entertainment news, variety shows, and celebrity profiles.
- Justice Central - reruns of Entertainment Studios' court shows America's Court with Judge Ross, We the People With Gloria Allred, and Justice for All with Judge Cristina Pérez.
- MyDestination.TV - dedicated to showcasing exotic destinations around the world, and Beautiful Homes & Great Estates
- Pets.TV - dedicated to pets and pet lovers, celebrating the best in show and the people who love them.
- Recipe.TV - showcasing chefs, recipes, food and cuisine from around the world.
Carriage lawsuits
On December 3, 2014 a $10 billion racial discrimination lawsuit was filed against AT&T's U-verse division and DirecTV by the National Association of African American Owned Media (NAAAOM) for allegedly violating the Civil Rights Act of 1866. NAAAOM is headed by Entertainment Studios Vice-President Mark DeVitre. The lawsuit claimed that Entertainment Studio Networks were denied carriage by the two providers on racial concerns.[6] In December 2015, AT&T and DirecTV (by then part of AT&T) reached a settlement with Entertainment Studios to carry the networks, with Comedy and Justice Central carried on DirecTV, and Comedy, Recipe, ES, MyDestination, Cars and Pets added to U-verse, along with Justice Central's existing carriage.[7] The same type of lawsuit, again for $10 billion, was filed against Charter on January 28, 2016, which seeks carriage as part of Charter's merger with Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks into the front-facing Spectrum brand.[8][9][10]
See also
- Entertainers with Byron Allen, ESN's flagship program
References
- "Byron Allen's Entertainment Studios Signs Distribution Deal With Vivicast Media". Deadline Hollywood. April 9, 2012. Retrieved April 9, 2012.
- ↑ SmartTV.com
- ↑ Schneider, Michael (December 28, 2017). "Highest Network Ratings of 2017: Most Watched Winners & Losers". IndieWire. Retrieved December 28, 2017.
- ↑ "Basic Cable Ranker: Week of May 28 (Total Viewers)". Scribd. TVNewser. 5 June 2018. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
- ↑ Andreeva, Nellie; Fleming, Mike (March 22, 2018). "Byron Allen's Entertainment Studios Acquires The Weather Channel TV Network For $300 Million". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
- ↑ Albiniak, Paige (March 22, 2018). "Byron Allen Acquires The Weather Group in $300 Million Deal". Broadcasting & Cable. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
- ↑ Zara, Christopher (December 4, 2014). "AT&T And DirecTV Hit With $10 Billion Racial Discrimination Lawsuit Claiming Providers Denied Carriage To Black-Owned Media". International Business Times. Retrieved December 23, 2016.
- ↑ Littleton, Cynthia (December 28, 2015). "AT&T Settles Byron Allen Racial Discrimination Lawsuit, Picks Up 7 Channels". Variety. Retrieved December 23, 2016.
- ↑ Littleton, Cynthia (January 28, 2016). "Byron Allen's Entertainment Studios Files $10 Billion Discrimination Lawsuit Against Charter Communications, FCC". Variety. Retrieved December 23, 2016.
- ↑ Soule, Alexander (February 4, 2016). "Charter revenue, losses up amid diversity row". Stamford Advocate. Retrieved December 23, 2016.
- ↑ Entertainment Studios, Inc. (March 31, 2016). "Byron Allen's Entertainment Studios And NAAAOM Meet With FCC And Confirm Charter/Time Warner Cable Merger Is Not A Lock Amid Ongoing Investigations". PR Newswire. Retrieved December 23, 2016.
External links