Anime Network details announced!

[Andrew]

Hope you happen to live in Philadelphia, happen to subscribe to Comcast Cable video-on-demand, and happen to really like ADV titles. As for me, I'll be watching anime on Cartoon Network and TechTV, two channels that I can actually, you know, watch, that also carry a wide variety of anime from various companies.

*shrug*

Here's the full press release:

FINALLY! THE ANIME NETWORK™ FORMAT DETAILS

FIRST DEBUT AS PART OF COMCAST’S VIDEO-ON-DEMAND SERVICE

HOUSTON, December 13, 2002—After an initial news release that created a veritable storm of curiosity and speculation within the fan community and the industry at large, ADV Films today announced details about the impending launch of The Anime Network™. The network will go on the air in a series of stepped-up phases, with Phase One a mid-December launch as part of Comcast Cable’s video-on-demand (VOD) initiative in the Philadelphia area, delivering programs directly to viewers, at their request, at any time.

Comcast’s VOD service—including The Anime Network™—is available to approximately 1.2 million customers in the Philadelphia area. The Anime Networkä is the first television channel in North America dedicated to anime (Japanese animation) and anime-related content.

Leadership at The Anime Network™ described the decision to launch Phase One via VOD service as one of complementary strengths. “We’re very excited to have completed this deal with Comcast; their VOD functionality is a perfect fit for our first step. Plus, we believe that on-demand systems are going to be a strong and enduring element of the direct-delivered home entertainment industry,” said John Ledford, President and CEO of A.D. Vision, Inc., parent company of The Anime Network™ and ADV Films.

“For our audience, a video-on-demand-based launch is quite perfect,” Ledford continued. “Anime fans are really the ultimate early-adopters—they’re very tech savvy, and will be quick to appreciate the benefits of on-demand functionality.”

Content
The Anime Network™ model is structured around four categorized content areas: Action Zone, Sci-Fi, Comedy, and Martial Arts. The mid-December launch of The Anime Network™ will include approximately 25 hours of available content, including both feature films and episodes from series. Titles will include “Spriggan,” “Neon Genesis Evangelion,” “Excel Saga,” “Martian Successor Nadesico,” “Gasaraki,” “Noir,” “Dai-Guard,” “Bubblegum Crisis Tokyo 2040,” “Orphen,” Golden Boy,” “Sorcerer Hunters,” Kimera,” “Ninja Resurrection,” “Tekken,” “Those Who Hunt Elves,” “Gunsmith Cats,” “Burn Up W” and “Samurai X: The Motion Picture.” Viewers in the Philadelphia area wishing to confirm availability of The Anime Network in their specific areas can do so by visiting www.comcast.com.

The Anime Network™: Ongoing Plans
Leadership at The Anime Network confirms that the network will be going online with several other major national cable providers to bring The Anime Network™ to millions of viewers in service areas across North America. The Anime Network’s web address is www.theanimenetwork.com.

If you're interested, the official website (address in the PR) has been updated with info on the series that you won't be seeing.

[ohmrbill]

No Comcast and certainly not in Philadelphia. Oh well.

Too bad; there's some stuff there I really want to see, too. =\

[HellCat]

I was kind of hoping that the UK TV airings of Nadesico and Eva were going to be followed by a UK DVD release of Nadesico. But now it looks more like it was a prototype for this new channel Oh well, there's always US imports.

[JohnCrichton]

I live in the mid-west. We never get anything. Some of my friends in Milwaukee don't even get TechTV.

[lupin the 3rd]

How cN I FIND OUT WHAT CABLE provider will carry it?

[Elven Moon]

Is is moving on to other areas too... right?

[Killtacular]

Well, Comcast said G4TV would spread to other areas and that has yet to happen, many many months into the life of the channel.

[The Man in Black]

any chance of Charter getting it?

[Andrew]

Originally posted by Elven Moon
Is is moving on to other areas too... right?

From the release:
Leadership at The Anime Network confirms that the network will be going online with several other major national cable providers to bring The Anime Network™ to millions of viewers in service areas across North America.

But as Matt pointed out...I wouldn't get your hopes up just yet.

My biggest concern is the format -- this video-on-demand nonsense. No wonder they weren't worried about having enough anime to fill up twenty-four hours a day. They don't have to, since viewers can watch whatever they want at any time.

But how will that work when (if) they expand? Will it remain in that format? What about cable providers that don't offer that kind of service? What good would it do to call up your cable company and "demand your anime" if the company isn't even capable of airing the network?

[Sir Gatts]

VIDEO-ON-DEMAND SERVICE

Now I understand as to why TAN choose the digital cable network. But hell, this On-Demand is not what I had in mind. I might as well go buy the DVDs.

[Sandro]

Damn, I live one state over and I can't get it. I want to see some of those titles too.

[Gary L Thompson]

I know Comcast has been talking about introducing Video-on-Demand in Michigan. Its basic idea is to replace Blockbuster, ordering a video, and then playing it anytime in the following 24-hour period (even freezing or rewinding it, just like a real VCR). I always thought Comcast could really put Blockbuster at a disadvantage (and in fact I've come out and said so to its management) if it carried movie genera that Blockbuster carries only a few titles in. Anime obviously, but also westerns, PBS documentaries, musicals, silent movies, foreign films, classic TV shows--just a few of the categories that video stores generally neglect.

This could be a promising development. If the Anime Network does get carried on Comcast systems nationwide, it would assure itself of some considerable exposure--with the AT & T merger, Comcast will be about the biggest cable provider in the country.

[Matsuo]

HHHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHHHA!!!!!!

ANIME CHANNEL HERE I COME!!!
(by the way if you haven't figured it out yet I live in Philly )

[Galaxia]

:: prays long and hard that it comes to satellite TV ::

Come oooonnnn, DirecTV! Don't fail me now!

[Kaiser0120]

Originally posted by Duelist Goku
any chance of Charter getting it?

If you mean Charter Com, in California, it damn well BETTER spread out here.

Oh, and someone tell Jeff we're sorry about the crow hat. Seems he only had to eat a little bit of it, not the whole thing. Atleast, not yet.

...

Damn it! >.<

[BlackCat]

:SIGH:

I just hope that Phase Two actually starts to lead to an actual channel. I'm happy to see that A.D. Vision is starting up the Anime Network so soon, which will hopefully soon lead to the creation of the actual channel.

[Killtacular]

Video-On-Demand doesn't cost any money at the moment.

You must be thinking of IN DEMAND, which is basically just a PPV station. Comcast offers both VOD and IN DEMAND, which I guess is why people could confuse the two.

[Raziel]

Originally posted by Matt Wilson
Well, Comcast said G4TV would spread to other areas and that has yet to happen, many many months into the life of the channel.

It's in San Diego and that's Cox Communications.

[Matthew Williams]

hahahahahahahahWOOHOOHAAHAAAHAAAAAAAA!!!!

Comcast Cable... Northeast Philadelphia... Digital Cable... COMAST ON DEMAND...

Woohoo!

Annnnyways, if it's not obvious, I have used the Comcast on Demand service. It's completely free for most areas of the service and it is pretty convenient, though they're really skimping on the updates for some of the areas(Cartoon Network, I am staring you directly in the face). While this is a really curious way to launch a network, I'm not complaining(cuz I have it and can use it).

Expect a review when this launches. Me, I'm gonna go sleep, and celebrate in the morning.

[Dalamar13]

Originally posted by Matt Wilson
Video-On-Demand doesn't cost any money at the moment.

You must be thinking of IN DEMAND, which is basically just a PPV station. Comcast offers both VOD and IN DEMAND, which I guess is why people could confuse the two.

I don't know what planet you're from, but it costs money here. I live in Indiana and I get VOD from Insight Communications. It costs the same as regular PPV, only you can stop, rewind,FF and pause your movie. Plus you get it till midnight the next day.

So yeah, It does cost money.