High-Def Channel Gets New Definition: Mark Cuban's HDNet Rebranded AXS TV

Mark Cuban, Ryan Seacrest, live entertainment impresario AEG and Creative Artists Agency will rebrand Cuban's small cable network HDNet into a bigger new music-entertainment-lifestyle channel.

The new network called AXS TV (pronounced "access") is scheduled to debut this summer, building on the content of AEG’s live events, run in more than 100 venues worldwide.

TV programming will include behind-the-scenes access to live concerts and music festivals, red carpet premieres, award shows, parties, pop culture events and in-depth interviews.

The new network will meld content with HDNet’s existing programming -- HDNet Fights, "Inside MMA," "Dan Rather Reports," Sunday concert series  and other nonscripted series.

The announcement says the agreement will included an expanded deal with Dish Network, which will count a variety of unique music services for Dish subscribers. The new network, along with existing TV distribution deals, will get AXS TV into 35 million U.S. TV homes.

Mark Cuban, co-founder/chairman of HDNet, stated: “AXS TV will unquestionably be able to leverage our unique assets to do things no other network will be able to replicate."

AEG owns and operates L.A. LIVE, which includes venues such as Staples Center, Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE, Club Nokia and The GRAMMY Museum’s Clive Davis Theater.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

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