Sign in Subscribe
Cable television broadcasting industry

Odyssey Channel Expands Carriage and Launches in Central Florida

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The Odyssey Channel, a cable television network, announced affiliation agreements with Tele-Communications, Inc. (TCI) and Time Warner Communications, significantly expanding its carriage and launching its programming service in central Florida on January 1, 1999. The network has completed a multi-year affiliation agreement renewal with Satellite Services, Inc. (SSI), a subsidiary of TCI Communications, Inc., committing SSI to increase Odyssey's carriage to approximately 85% of TCI's analog subscriber base. Odyssey has also reached an agreement with Time Warner Communications to launch its service to nearly 500,000 customers in central Florida, covering counties such as Orange, Seminole, and Volusia.

Key Takeaways:

  • Odyssey Channel completed a multi-year affiliation agreement renewal with Satellite Services, Inc. (SSI), a subsidiary of TCI Communications, Inc., which includes a commitment to increase carriage to 85% of TCI's analog subscriber base.
  • The network reached an agreement with Time Warner Communications to launch its programming service in central Florida, covering nearly 500,000 customers in counties such as Orange, Seminole, and Volusia.
  • The carriage agreements follow the recent announcement of a partnership with Hallmark Entertainment and The Jim Henson Company, which will supplement Odyssey's faith-and-values lineup with new, original programming.
  • The Odyssey Channel is owned and operated by Liberty Media, Corp., a subsidiary of Tele-Communications, Inc., Hallmark Entertainment, The Jim Henson Company, and the National Interfaith Cable Coalition (NICC), a consortium of nearly 70 Protestant, Jewish, Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Evangelical, and Pentecostal faith groups.
  • The network is available to 30 million homes through 1,500 cable systems, the Primestar direct-to-home satellite service, and to C-Band dish owners nationwide.

Statistics:

  • Approximately 85% of TCI's analog subscriber base will have access to Odyssey Channel programming.
  • Nearly 500,000 customers in central Florida will have access to Odyssey Channel programming.
  • The network is available to 30 million homes nationwide through various distribution channels.

Sources:

  • PR Newswire, "Odyssey Channel Announces Affiliation Agreements and Central Florida Launch," December 2, 1998.

Read more