The Ski Channel signed its second significant distribution deal, inking an agreement with Cox Communications, the country’s third-largest cable operator.
The deal will make the video-on-demand channel available to Cox’s VOD subscribers when it launches later this year. Steve Bellamy, who was one of the founders of the Tennis Channel, is launching the Ski Channel.
The Ski Channel has similar deals in place with Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks. It expects 20 million cable subscribers to have access to the network when it launches.
Cox found the deal attractive since The Ski Channel is a VOD channel, meaning it will not require the same amount of space as a 24/7 channel on Cox’s systems.
“We like it because we don’t have to make a lot of commitment to the channel, in terms of bandwidth and economics,” said Bob Wilson, Cox’s senior vice president of programming.
Wilson said Cox’s VOD business has performed well so far, particularly programming from premium channels such as HBO and Showtime, as well as music videos.
To that end, The Ski Channel is forming a film festival devoted to mountain sports. The Ski Channel Film Festival has not yet picked a location or dates.
