FINALLY! THE ANIME NETWORK(tm) 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(tm). 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(tm)-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(tm) 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(tm) 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(tm) model is structured around
four categorized content areas: Action Zone, Sci-Fi, Comedy, and Martial Arts.
The mid-December launch of The Anime Network(tm) 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 http://www.comcast.com.
The Anime Networkä: 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 Networkä to millions of viewers in
service areas across North America. The Anime Network's web address is http://www.theanimenetwork.com .
About ADV Films:
In 1992, ADV Films (ADV) began to forge
the international market for Japanese animation ("anime") by combining unique
titles, outstanding production values and efficient large-scale distribution.
Today, ADV is the #1 producer-distributor of Japanese animation to the North
American market, with the firm's holdings including such premier titles as
"Spriggan",
"Sailor Moon," "Samurai X,"
"Medabots," "Robotech," "Gasaraki" and "Neon Genesis
Evangelion." ADV has also expanded into other forms of genre
programming, including live-action science fiction programs "Gene Roddenberry's
Andromeda" and
"Farscape," and classic
science fiction such as "Gamera: Guardian of the Universe." ADV's corporate
parent, A.D. Vision, Inc., publishes Newtype USA, the premiere anime and manga
monthly in the English-speaking world, and operates The Anime Network(tm),
broadcasting anime and anime-related programming via digital cable, 24 hours a
day. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, USA, with additional offices in the EU and
Japan, and distribution on four continents, ADV is fast becoming an
international entertainment powerhouse. For more information, visit ADV on the
web at http://www.advfilms.com.
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