For the Record
by Staff -- Multichannel News, 3/2/2009 2:00:00 AM
RFD-TV Parent Launches Rural TV On U.K.’s BSkyB Satellite Provider
Nashville — Patrick Gottsch’s Rural Media, parent of 40-million-subscriber U.S. cable network RFD-TV, March 2 launched Rural TV on satellite-TV provider BSkyB in the United Kingdom. It also plans to add additional U.K. homes later this month with a launch on the FreeSat platform.
Rural TV — which gains a platform of 8 million U.K. homes via channel 281 on News Corp.-owned BSkyB — is described as the world’s first 24-hour international television network dedicated to crossing borders with farming, equine, rural lifestyle and traditional country music entertainment programs. Rural TV will reach into 20 countries in Western Europe via satellite.
“We are most excited about these opportunities as we firmly believe that 'rural’ has no borders,” Gottsch said in a statement scheduled for release today.
Rural Media would not disclose carriage terms, including whether it is paying for the satellite carriage or is being paid a license fee.
Country Channel TV is the primary programming resource for local U.K. programming, providing two hours of time in each six-program block, with half-hour daily segments further devoted to country pursuits and country kaleidoscope. CCTV programming is featured 56 hours each week in the Rural TV schedule, including during weekday primetime hours.
Parelli Natural Horsemanship is the first show to be seen at launch. Other programs include California Country, Classic Tractor Showcase, Wide World of Horses, Trains and Locomotives, Brazil Ag Report, Prairie Farm Report and Cumberland Highlanders.
A-Rod Draws Record Viewers To YES Spring-Training Telecast
New York — With more than a few fans interested in checking out controversial slugger Alex Rodriguez, a record number tuned in for YES Network’s spring training telecast Thursday. The regional sports network scored a 1.19 household rating in the New York DMA on Feb. 26 with its coverage of the New York Yankees-Tampa Bay Rays game at 1 p.m.
The contest — in which the Yanks beat the defending American League champions 5-1 and Rodriguez, who admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs when he was with the Texas Rangers from 2001-03, went 0-for-2 — topped YES’s previous high spring training telecast, the Bronx Bombers’ exhibition against Virginia Tech on March 18, 2008.
That game, which garnered a 1.17 rating and 86,000 households, commemorated the tragic shooting that took place on the college’s campus the year before.
CBS College Sports Moves Up To DirecTV’s Choice Xtra Package
New York — CBS College Sports has expanded its footprint with DirecTV, moving up to the satellite leader’s Choice Xtra package.
Through the deal, terms of which were not disclosed, CBS College Sports will add another 3 million to its subscriber rolls in lifting its count to more 30 million overall.
In addition to Choice Xtra, the network — on channel 613 — remains accessible in both standard and high-definition through the provider’s Premier Package and Sports Pack.
DirecTV was the first affiliate of the network, then known as CSTV.
“DirecTV embraces collegiate sports and we are extremely pleased to expand our partnership by over 40%,” CBS College Sports executive vice president of distribution Bob Rose said in a statement. “They were our first affiliate and the first to carry our HD product, and now, fittingly, have helped drive our carriage past 30 million subscribers. The timing is perfect for us as DirecTV is signing up new customers in record numbers.”
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