Mark Cuban’s HDNet Gets CAA-AEG-Seacrest Makeover

Solid shared scoop late this afternoon from the gang at Broadcasting & Cable.

Per their report, Mark Cuban has decided to rebrand his HDNet channel as AXS TV (as in “Access” TV) in partnership with AEG, CAA and Ryan Seacrest Media.

The new channel is scheduled to kick off in June, with expanded DISH distribution already in place. From the B&C report:

As part of the agreement with DISH, the satellite operator will make AXS-branded concerts available on VOD starting March 15…

AXS will capitalize on AEG’s presence in live events and affiliation with more than 100 of the industry’s venues around the world to “connect audiences with the complete live experience,” from show creation to rehearsals, sound-check, performance and after-party, according to the companies involved.

Lots more info in the B&C article, for which Cuban, AEG’s Tim Leiweke and DISH exec Dave Shull were jointly interviewed. The bulk of production activities for the reformed channel will take place in LA.

[A half-hour after the B&C dispatch and similarly timed articles at Deadline.com, Variety and the New York Times, news of the deal was officially posted on the HDNet website.]