Ovation, a multi-platform network that covers art and contemporary culture, has selected the Comcast Media Center (CMC) to provide network origination and distribution for its HD simulcast channel.
As part of the multi-year deal, the CMC, which is a division of Comcast, will continue to provide similar services for Ovation’s SD version of the same channel.
“Comcast Media Center was one of the first content centers to support HD, and we are pleased to expand our relationship with the CMC as part of the launch of Ovation HD,” Ovation executive vice president Chad Gutstein said. “Our content lends itself extremely well to a high-definition experience, making it a great addition to our affiliates’ growing HD offerings.”
Since its launch in late September, Ovation HD has gained 4 million HD subscribers through distribution agreements with Time Warner in New York and New Jersey; Comcast in Boston, Philadelphia and central Pennsylvania; Bright House Networks in Tampa, Orlando and Birmingham, Ala.; and Cablevision Service Electric in Pennsylvania.
Ovation’s standard-definition channel also recently gained 2.5 million subscribers via Comcast distribution agreements in Seattle, Boston, Detroit, Minneapolis, St. Paul, Pittsburgh and New England.
“The CMC’s end-to-end content management solutions enable independently owned television networks such as Ovation to maintain autonomy, yet recognize economies of scale comparable with TV channels operated by major network groups,” said Richard Buchanan, vice president and general manager of content services for the Comcast Media Center. “We are grateful to the Ovation management team for entrusting us with the launch and operation of Ovation HD as part of our continuing and expanding relationship.”