AZN Television

From Vero - Wikipedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Template:Short description Template:Use American EnglishTemplate:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox television channel AZN Television (formerly called International Channel) was an American cable TV channel which promoted itself as "the network for Asian America". It was run by International Networks, a wholly owned subsidiary of Comcast Corporation. The channel's programming targeted the fast-growing, young, affluent, English-speaking Asian-American community. Genres included the most popular Asian films, dramas, documentaries and music as well as a diverse slate of original programming. Until the 2005 reformatting, it had a broader schedule, which also had European and Middle Eastern programming which were gradually dropped when the channel was bought by Comcast. It competed in certain markets with ImaginAsian Television.

History

The International Channel

The channel was launched as the International Channel in July 1990,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and was initially owned by a joint venture of Liberty Media (which had a 90% stake) and JJS II Communications, LLC (which had the remaining 10% stake).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The channel was led by George Leitner; as of March 1992, the channel was already popular among certain ethnic enclaves with potential, and had seen growth due to its rights to the 1992 Cricket World Cup, shared with Netlink.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 1996, the two companies founded the International Cable Channels Partnership, Ltd., which oversaw the channel. The channel was sold to Comcast when it purchased its parent company, International Networks (now International Media Distribution) in July 2004.

Comcast takeover, repositioning as AZN Television

Under Comcast, beginning in the final quarter of 2004, the network began a transitional phase to cater more towards Asian audiences, beginning the gradual removal of European and Middle Eastern programs from its schedule, before removing them completely by the second quarter of 2005. This repositioning was officially announced in January 2005, aiming to expand access to easily-accessible Asian programming in English, while its former audiences moved to international channels distributed by ICN.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On March 28, 2005, Comcast rebranded The International Channel to AZN Television, which now focused purely on Asian and Asian-American culture.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="flaws">Template:Cite web</ref> The name AZN came from the mobile phone shorthand slang for "Asian".<ref name="leaflet">Template:Cite web</ref>

In order to better accommodate its new target audience, the channel added a third timezone (Hawaii–Aleutian) and readjusted its Asian programming to new timeslots.<ref name="leaflet"/>

The channel also increased its original productions, including the sketch comedy series Asia Street Comedy, short film showcase Popcorn Zen, the Cinema AZN newsmagazine and documentaries on topics related to the community. The foreign programming was narrowed down to just Asian content, drawn in from countries such as India, Thailand, Singapore, Japan and other countries.<ref name="flaws"/>

In late 2005, news of mass layoffs at the network prompted fears that Comcast would shut down AZN.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> However, the network remained on the air and continued to sponsor the annual Asian Excellence Awards, which highlights Asian American achievement in film and television. The network planned to premiere a new original show in September 2006, about four Asian-Americans tackling college application, the only such show announced.<ref name="flaws"/>

Shutdown

In January 2008, Comcast announced it would be shutting down AZN and moving the Asian Excellence Awards show to E!<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The channel went off the air on April 9, 2008, at noon.<ref name="Comcast Pulls Plug on AZN">Comcast Pulls Plug on AZN, Broadcasting & Cable, January 28, 2008</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The network was shut down as foreign language tiers with international networks, which have their own charges and feature content on networks International Channel struggled to balance onto a 168-hour weekly schedule, became much more popular, cost-effective, and had better quality controls, and more importantly, had programming originated on their own domestic networks.<ref name="Comcast Pulls Plug on AZN" />

Programming

Dramas and sitcoms

Template:Div col

  • Abarenbou Mama (Japanese drama).
  • Jumong (Korean historical drama)
  • Dong yi (Korean historical drama)
  • ABC DJ (Singaporean comedy)
  • Achar! (Singaporean comedy)<ref name="flaws"/>
  • Akash (Hindi drama)<ref name="schedule 20011013" />
  • Alejandra (Portuguese drama)<ref name="schedule 20010816" />
  • Babul Ki Duayein Leti Ja (Hindi drama)<ref name="schedule 20020407" />
  • Best Theater (Korean drama)<ref name="schedule 20010816" /><ref name="schedule 20020223" />
  • Bonds of Blood (Cantonese drama)<ref name="schedule 20011013" />
  • Book and Sword, Gratitude and Revenge (Chinese drama)
  • Chandan Ka Paina Resham Ki Dori (Hindi drama)<ref name="schedule 20020223" />
  • Chattan (Hindi drama)<ref name="schedule 20010816" />
  • Coffee Prince (Korean drama)
  • Dae Jo Young (Korean drama)
  • The Daughter of a Thief (Korean drama)<ref name="schedule 20020602" />
  • Dead Men Do Tell Tales (Chinese drama)
  • The Dragon's Pearl (Thai drama)<ref name="schedule 20020803" />
  • Dreams of Red Mansions (Mandarin drama)<ref name="schedule 20020803" />
  • Emperor Kang Xi (Mandarin drama)<ref name="schedule 20020602" />
  • Esperanza (Tagalog drama)<ref name="schedule 20010816" />
  • Flames (Tagalog drama)<ref name="schedule 20010816" />
  • Food, Glorious Food (Vietnamese drama)<ref name="schedule 20020223" />
  • Full House (Korean drama)
  • Good Morning General (Cantonese drama)<ref name="schedule 20010816" />
  • Happy Flying Dragon (Cantonese drama)<ref name="schedule 20020407" />
  • Happy Flying Dragon III (Cantonese drama)<ref name="schedule 20020602" />
  • Here Comes the God of Wealth (Cambodian drama)<ref name="schedule 20020223" />
  • High Kick! (Korean sitcom)
  • Hong Gil-dong (Korean drama)<ref name="schedule 20020223" />
  • Hotelier (Korean drama)
  • Hwang Jini (Korean drama)
  • Iryu 2 (Japanese drama)
  • It started with a kiss (Taiwanese drama)
  • Ivy Dreams (reality)
  • Jewel in the Palace (Korean historical drama)
  • Joyful Family (Vietnamese drama)<ref name="schedule 20020602" />
  • King of Hades (Chinese folklore drama)
  • Krystala (Filipino Fantasy/Adventure)
  • Last Emperor (Mandarin drama)<ref name="schedule 20020223" />
  • The Legend of Ne Zha (Cambodian drama)<ref name="schedule 20011013" />
  • Legend of Yung Ching II (Cantonese drama)<ref name="schedule 20020803" />
  • Living with Lydia (Singaporean sitcom)
  • Love Revolution (Japanese drama)<ref name="schedule 20010816" />
  • Love Truly (Korean drama)
  • Mangang (Korean drama)<ref name="schedule 20020223" />
  • MARS (Taiwanese drama)
  • My Lovely Sam Soon (Korean drama)
  • The Name of Love (Korean drama)<ref name="schedule 20020407" />
  • One Gloomy Day (Korean drama)<ref name="schedule 20020223" />
  • OP-7 (Swedish drama)<ref name="schedule 20020803" />
  • Pangako Sa 'Yo (Tagalog drama)<ref name="schedule 20020223" />
  • Popcorn (Korean drama)<ref name="schedule 20010816" />
  • Popcorn Zen (short films)
  • Power of Love (Japanese drama)<ref name="schedule 20020602" />
  • Return of the Condor Heroes (Vietnamese drama)<ref name="schedule 20010816" />
  • Riding the Storm (Cambodian drama)<ref name="schedule 20010816" />
  • Righteous Guards II (Cantonese drama)<ref name="schedule 20020223" />
  • Romantic Express (Mandarin drama)<ref name="schedule 20010816" />
  • Cats on the Roof (a.k.a. Attic Cat) (Korean drama)
  • Saara Akaash (Hindi drama)
  • The Seven Swordsmen (Chinese drama)
  • Legend of Heaven & Earth (Taiwanese/Vietnamese Fantasy Drama)
  • Someday (Korean drama)
  • The Song of Wind (Korean drama)<ref name="schedule 20010816" />
  • Stories of the Han Dynasty (Chinese drama)
  • The Story of Duk-Yi (Korean drama)<ref name="schedule 20020602" />
  • Sun Wu (Vietnamese drama)<ref name="schedule 20011013" />
  • Sweet Bride (Korean drama)<ref name="schedule 20010816" />
  • Little Fish (Chinese Fantasy Drama)
  • Thank You (Korean drama)
  • A Wednesday Love Affair (Japanese drama)<ref name="schedule 20020223" />
  • The Wedding Planner (Japanese drama)<ref name="schedule 20020803" />
  • Winter Sonata (Korean drama)<ref name="flaws"/>
  • Young Master of Shaolin (Vietnamese drama)<ref name="schedule 20020803" />

Template:Div col end

News

Template:Div col

  • Al Jazeera Headline News (Arabic news)<ref name="schedule 20010816" />
  • American Muslim Hour (Israeli other/English news)<ref name="schedule 20010816" /><ref name="schedule 20020223" />
  • Antenna Satellite News (Greek news)<ref name="schedule 20010816" />
  • Balitang America with Cara Subijano (Filipino-American Newscast)
  • China News from Beijing (Mandarin news)<ref name="schedule 20010816" />
  • Deutsche Welle News (German news)<ref name="schedule 20010816" />
  • Fujisankei News (Japanese news)<ref name="schedule 20010816" />
  • Global Report News (Vietnamese news)<ref name="schedule 20010816" />
  • Hodo 2001 / Hodo 2002 (Japanese news)<ref name="schedule 20010816" /><ref name="schedule 20020223" />
  • Insight (German news)<ref name="schedule 20010816" />
  • International Report News (Cantonese news)<ref name="schedule 20010816" />
  • Journal de France 2 (French news)<ref name="schedule 20010816" />
  • LBC News (Arabic news)<ref name="schedule 20020223" />
  • News Desk From Seoul (Korean news)<ref name="schedule 20010816" />
  • NHK News (Japanese news)<ref name="schedule 20020803" />
  • Oriental Horizons (Mandarin news)<ref name="schedule 20010816" />
  • Pardres (Hindi news)<ref name="schedule 20010816" />
  • Philippines Tonight (Tagalog news)<ref name="schedule 20010816" />
  • Polsat News (Informacje, Polish news)<ref name="schedule 20010816" />
  • Power News (Mandarin news)<ref name="schedule 20010816" />
  • Romanian Voice (Romanian news)<ref name="schedule 20010816" />
  • Russian News from Moscow: Vremya (Russian news)<ref name="schedule 20010816" />
  • Russian News: NTV America (Russian news)<ref name="schedule 20020803" />
  • Télématin (French news)
  • Telegiornale (Italian news)<ref name="schedule 20010816" />
  • TV Asia News (Hindi news)<ref name="schedule 20010816" />
  • TV4 Daily (Dziennik TV4, Polish news)<ref name="schedule 20020602" />
  • U.N. World Chronicle (English news)<ref name="schedule 20010816" />
  • The Week in Review (Central America) (Spanish news)<ref name="schedule 20020407" />
  • World Report (Mandarin news)<ref name="schedule 20010816" />

Template:Div col end

Variety/music

Template:Div col

  • Asap (1999-2002) Variety Music show Philippines
  • Amanat (Hindi variety/music)<ref name="schedule 20010816" />
  • Antakshri (Hindi variety/music)<ref name="schedule 20010816" />
  • Arabic Variety (Arabic variety/music)<ref name="schedule 20010816" />
  • Asian Variety Show (Hindi variety/music)<ref name="schedule 20020407" />
  • Canape (French variety/music)<ref name="schedule 20020407" />
  • Chinese Top 20 (Mandarin variety/music)<ref name="schedule 20010816" />
  • Cinema AZN (30 minutes, weekly)
  • Culture Club (Korean variety/music)<ref name="schedule 20010816" />
  • French Feelings (French variety/music)<ref name="schedule 20010816" />
  • Hey! Hey! Hey! Music Champ (Japanese variety/music)<ref name="schedule 20010816" />
  • Hindi Variety (Hindi variety/music)<ref name="schedule 20011013" />
  • Hungary 2001 / Hungary 2002 (Hungarian variety/music)<ref name="schedule 20010816" /><ref name="schedule 20020223" />
  • inDialog (Hindi variety/music)<ref name="schedule 20010816" />
  • Inside Britain (English variety/music)<ref name="schedule 20010816" />
  • Italian Variety (Italian variety/music)<ref name="schedule 20010816" />
  • Jerusalem OnLine (English variety/music)<ref name="schedule 20020223" />
  • Joyful Gathering (Mandarin variety/music)<ref name="schedule 20010816" />
  • Kev Koom Siab (Hmong variety/music)<ref name="schedule 20010816" />
  • Khubsoorat (Hindi variety/music)<ref name="schedule 20010816" />
  • Korean Music Countdown (Korean popular music)
  • Kung Faux
  • Late Night V (Hindi variety/music)<ref name="schedule 20010816" />
  • Mexico de Mis Amores (Spanish variety/music)<ref name="schedule 20010816" />
  • Mix Music Bang (music videos)
  • Music Video Heaven (Korean variety/music)<ref name="schedule 20010816" />
  • Pasand Apni Apni (Hindi variety/music)<ref name="schedule 20020803" />
  • Pilipinas, Game KNB? (Filipino Game Show)
  • popjapan.tv (Japanese music videos and interviews from Sony Music Japan artists)
  • Punjabi Variety (Other variety/music)<ref name="schedule 20020407" />
  • Rang TV (Punjabi) (other variety/music)<ref name="schedule 20020602" />
  • Revolution (Korean and Japanese pop music videos)<ref name="schedule 20020803" />
  • Russian Variety (Russian variety/music)<ref name="schedule 20020223" />
  • Sa Re Ga Ma / Sa Re Ga Ma Pa (Hindi variety/music)<ref name="schedule 20010816" /><ref name="schedule 20020803" />
  • Search World Best (Korean variety/music)<ref name="schedule 20010816" />
  • Stateside (Tagalog variety/music)<ref name="schedule 20010816" />
  • Super Gourmet Mission (Mandarin variety/music/other)<ref name="schedule 20010816" /><ref name="schedule 20020407" />
  • Tanin (Persian variety/music)<ref name="schedule 20010816" />
  • Tea Time (Mandarin variety/music)<ref name="schedule 20011013" /><ref name="schedule 20020223" />
  • Unsolved Mystery (Korean variety/music)<ref name="schedule 20010816" />
  • Victoria to Uyen Show (Vietnamese variety)
  • What's Up Thailand (Thai music)
  • Yeh Hai Mere Apne (Hindi variety/music)<ref name="schedule 20010816" />
  • Zee Premiere Show (Hindi variety/music)<ref name="schedule 20010816" />

Template:Div col end

Anime

Anime shows were broadcast in Japanese with English subtitles, or English dub.<ref name="ANN" />

Template:Div col

Template:Div col end

Other

Template:Div col

  • Asia's Best Kept Secret (Singaporean, travel)
  • Asian Excellence Awards (annual)
  • Asian Wok (Singaporean, cooking)
  • Basta't Kasama Kita (Filipino Action/Adventure)
  • Bayani (Tagalog children's)<ref name="schedule 20010816" />
  • My Britain (English other)<ref name="schedule 20020602" />
  • Children's Animation (French children's)<ref name="schedule 20010816" />
  • Cross Talk (Mandarin other)<ref name="schedule 20020602" />
  • Game K N B? (Tagalog other)<ref name="schedule 20020407" />
  • Gourmet Moments (Singaporean cooking)
  • Get Drunk In China
  • Gilette World Sports (English sports)<ref name="schedule 20010816" />
  • Groundling Marsh (Spanish children's)<ref name="schedule 20010816" />
  • India Vision (Hindi other)<ref name="schedule 20020407" />
  • Italian Soccer (Italian sports)<ref name="schedule 20020223" />
  • LiAo Talk Show (Mandarin other)<ref name="schedule 20020223" />
  • Math Tinik (Tagalog children's)<ref name="schedule 20010816" />
  • The Message (English other)<ref name="schedule 20010816" />
  • NBA Timeout (sports)
  • Pocoyo (Spanish children's)
  • Sineskwela (Tagalog children's)<ref name="schedule 20020803" />
  • Stir TV (youth)
  • Strut (travel)
  • ToonHeads (Entertainment)
  • Unicef (English other)<ref name="schedule 20020407" />
  • Winx Club (Italian children's)
  • Wool 100 Percent
  • World of Rugby (English sports)<ref name="schedule 20010816" />

Template:Div col end

References

Template:Reflist

Template:Commons category

Template:American broadcast television (English) defunct Template:Chinese language television in North America

Retrieved from "https://wiki.sarg.dev/index.php?title=AZN_Television&oldid=551328"