Gephyrophillia | Watch This Space #13

Originally Posted on 11/06/2002 by Jeff Harris

I'm eating my hat, and it tastes like crow! When I relaunched the site not too long ago, I wrote a well-thought out article about the possibility of an all-anime network. I thought about it, and quite frankly, I reluctantly came up with the conclusion that it would never happen, not in this backwards thinking country.

Well, there are times when I think that things are going to pot and everybody just basically fall face down, submitting to the corporate idiots in charge of everything, somebody steps up in a big way, not only slapping cynics in the face, but actually making one of the nation's fastest growing fanbases so happy. ADV Films, once considered the worse thing to happen to anime by the rabid otakus, are now, as they should be, the gods of the industry. No longer wanting to cater to the whims of traditional networks, they actually did the impossible.

They announced plans for their own anime-oriented channel. The Anime Network is born, and the world will tremble in its wake. Here is the press release:

ADV FILMS ANNOUNCES LAUNCH OF THE ANIME NETWORK(tm) ON DIGITAL CABLE

FOR THE FIRST TIME, QUALITY ANIME PROGRAMMING TO BE AVAILABLE ON CABLE TELEVISION 24 HOURS A DAY

HOUSTON, November 6, 2002-ADV Films today announced publicly the creation of The Anime Network(tm), the first television channel in North America dedicated to anime (Japanese animation) and anime-related content. The Anime Network(tm) targets the nation's estimated 85 million cable television subscribers, and seeks to capitalize on cable's increasing dominance in the world of at-home entertainment.

Initially announced in June, 2002 at ADV Films' 10th Anniversary party in Tokyo, and announced in the U.S. at ADV's November 2 invitation-only 10th Anniversary party in Houston, the creation of The Anime Network(tm) has the industry abuzz with excitement and speculation.

"This has been in the works for some time," said ADV Films President, Founder and CEO John Ledford. "Until now, the market and the culture haven't been ready for it. But today ever-increasing numbers of Americans are becoming familiar with anime and its distinctive aesthetic; they're curious about anime, they're hungry for it, and The Anime Network(tm) is going to deliver it right to their televisions."

Competitive Advantage
While existing cable outlets have enjoyed strong ratings with limited blocks of anime and anime-inspired animated programming, The Anime Network(tm) will make fine anime programming available to viewers 24 hours a day.

"The Anime Network(tm) is the next logical step," said Ledford. "The television outlets that currently carry anime aren't meeting the potential demand; they offer very limited selections of titles, and only during very restricted hours. The Anime Network(tm) will change all of that, and we're excited to be leading the revolution."

Content
The Anime Network(tm) model is structured around four categorized content areas: Action Zone, Sci-Fi, Comedy Incorrect, and Horror/Martial Arts. These categories are designed to include virtually the entire spectrum of quality anime, while contextualizing content for new viewers unfamiliar with specific titles.

Coming Up
Coming soon, releases detailing geographic/service provider availability of The Anime Network,(tm) along with information about whom viewers can call regarding local availability; also, a sneak preview of programming that will be available in The Anime Network(tm)'s first months.

The Revolution, it seems, has a new playground. Stay tuned. It gets interesting.

Until we are one, later.
Jeff Harris
CNX Creator/Webmaster
November 6, 2002