AMC (TV network)


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AMC
Launched October 1, 1984
Owned by Rainbow Media
Slogan The Future Of Classic
Headquarters Alexandria, Virginia, USA
Sister channel(s) IFC, WE tv
Website AMCTV.com
Availability
Satellite
DirecTV Channel 254
Dish Network Channel 130
Star Choice Channel 609
Cable
Available on many cable systems Check local listings for channels

AMC is a cable television network that primarily airs movies. The letters originally stood for American Movie Classics. However, since 2003, the full name has been deemphasized (as is the case for TLC, and formerly TNN) as a result of a major shift in programming.[1][2] AMC is owned by Rainbow Media Holdings, LLC, a subsidiary of Cablevision Systems Corporation, and signed on October 1, 1984.

Contents

History

1980s

AMC was originally a premium cable channel that aired classic movies during the afternoons and early evenings, largely pre-1950s, in a commercial-free, generally unedited format.[3] It was not uncommon for the channel to host a Marx Brothers marathon, or show such classics as the original Phantom of the Opera. In 1987, the channel first became available on basic cable television systems. [3][4] By 1989, the channel had 39 million subscribers alone in the United States.[4]

1990s

Beginning in 1993, AMC presented an annual Film Preservation Festival to raise awareness of and funding for film preservation. Coordinated with The Film Foundation, an industry group founded by Martin Scorsese, the festival as originally conceived was a multi-day marathon presenting rare and previously lost films, many for the first time on television, along with behind-the-scenes reports on the technical and monetary issues faced by those engaged in archival restoration. Portions of the festival were often dedicated to all-day single artist marathons. During its fifth anniversary year, Scorsese credited the Festival for creating "not only a greater awareness, but (...) more of an expectation now to see restored films."[5] In 1996, curator of the Museum of Modern Art Mary Lee Bandy called the Festival "the most important public event in support of film preservation."[6] By its tenth anniversary, the Festival had raised $2 million from the general public, which The Film Foundation divided among its five member archives.[7]

From 1996 to 1998, AMC aired its first original series, Remember WENN, a half-hour show about a radio station during the peak of radio's influence in the 1930s. The show was generally a success, and was originally renewed for a fifth season, but the change in management led to its abrupt cancellation in favor of a new show, The Lot, which only lasted two seasons, at 16 episodes (a 4-episode run in 1999, and a 13-episode run in 2001), and was considered a failure, both in ratings and by critics.

In 1997, AMC started Monsterfest, a week long marathon of scary movies that airs in late October. The final edition of this popular week long theme was aired in 2007, ending without fanfare or mention from AMC until Fall 2008 with the announcement of the new Fearfest. AMC's website has started a Monsterfest blog[8], chronicling the latest horror news in movies and on television. In addition, late at night every Friday AMC presents Fear Friday, a horror movie double feature. One popular AMC program was American Pop! (originally intended as a preview of a new 24 hour cable channel)[9], which ran from 1998 to 2002 and featured 50s and 60s movies aimed at baby boomers, such as Beach Blanket Bingo and Ski Party. Of particular interest to movie completists were the segments AMC played to fill out the time slot (Saturday nights from 10pm to midnight): classic movie trailers, drive-in movie ads and snipes (bits extolling viewers to visit the snack bar, etc.), plus music videos cribbed from musical movies from the period.

The majority of films presented on AMC during the 1990s had originally been released by Paramount Pictures, 20th Century Fox, and Universal Studios. There were occasional showings of silent film classics. The regular hosts of the telecasts were Bob Dorian and Nick Clooney (brother of Rosemary Clooney and father of George Clooney).

2000s

In October 2002, AMC changed its format from a classic movie network to a more general movie network, airing movies from the 1970s onwards in order to appeal to a wider audience.[10] It is argued that the format change has led newer films to have higher priority to be shown on the network than are older films.[3] The channel now tends to present widescreen films in a pan and scan format, as opposed to the letterbox format it once favored. The commercial-free format has also been abandoned, although the network has claimed to air fewer commercials per hour than any other basic cable channel. [11] As it is now an advertiser-supported network, movies are edited for nudity, sexuality, language and other objectionable content. Whenever possible, the network television version of a movie is aired. [12][13]

AMC officially became available in Canada for cable customers of Shaw Cable and satellite customers of Star Choice on September 1, 2006, marking the first time the network was made available outside of the United States. Other cable companies have followed by adding AMC to their lineup as well.

In August 2007, AMC unveiled a new slogan: "The Future Of Classic"; the new slogan can be seen on the channel's newly redesigned website (as part of the title of the website's front page). AMC's other promotional campaign is "Long Live Cool".

On September 26th 2008, AMC announced the arrival of their latest October horror-themed movie marathon called Fearfest (replacing the popular Monsterfest). Coinciding, was the Monsterfest blog now being called the Horror Hacker blog.

A high definition of the channel is currently available on Comcast and other select cable providers.

Original programs

AMC Backstory, which ran from 2000 to 2004, was a half-hour series about the "backstory" (or behind the scenes look) at various movies, ranging from classic (All About Eve) to contemporary (There's Something About Mary). While glossy and somewhat more of a 22-minute trivia and anecdote session, it featured interviews with the cast and crew of the films, along with movie critics and film historians. Episodes dealing with films from 20th Century Fox can normally be found on the DVD release as well.

Shootout (2003–present), an interview and talk show about the film business, hosted by Peter Bart and Peter Guber.

In December 2006, The Hollywood Reporter reported that AMC was developing a series remake of the 1960s British TV series The Prisoner to run at least six to eight episodes, beginning in 2009. AMC plans to re-air the original series at about the same time.[14]

On Thursday, July 19, 2007, AMC's first ever original drama series Mad Men debuted. The network's second drama series, Breaking Bad starring Bryan Cranston aired its first season from January to March 2008. The network ordered nine episodes, but due to the writers' strike, was limited to a seven episode debut season. Both have been met with critical acclaim and have won Emmy Awards.

Sugar Hill: a drama about a black cop and a white cop who team up on the turbulent and unpredictable streets of late-1960s Harlem. "As with all our other projects, this seemed to lend itself to unique and interesting characters and the promise of a really cinematic series," said Jeremy Elice, AMC's vp original programing. The series comes from former actor Alex Winter ("Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure"), who most recently directed Cartoon Network's movie "Ben 10: Race Against Time"; Steven Pearl (A&E's upcoming "The Beast"); and Allan Loeb ("New Amsterdam"). [1]

Logo gallery

The SD logo with the "TV For Movie People" slogan used from 2002-2007.

References

  1. ^ Gildemeister, Christopher (2006-10-16). "What Your Kids are Discovering on Discovery Channel". Parents Television Council. Retrieved on 2008-01-22.
  2. ^ "When TV network changes name, look close", CNN.com, Associated Press (2003-03-03). Retrieved on 31 May 2008. 
  3. ^ a b c Gildemeister, Christopher. The Fine Arts Are Hard To Find. Parents Television Council: October 2, 2006
  4. ^ a b Gomery, Douglas. American Movie Classics. Museum of Broadcast Communications
  5. ^ King, Susan (1997-10-02), "Save That Movie! - After a slow start, AMC’s Film Preservation Festival has raised $1.3 million," Los Angeles Times. Retrieved on 2008-September 20.
  6. ^ Van Gelder, Lawrence, (1996-06-30) "Restoring Films to a Former Glory", New York Times. Retrieved on 2008-September 20.
  7. ^ Elber, Lynn (2002-08-30), "Even 1970s Rock Fests Need Film Preservation", Los Angeles Times. Retrieved on 2008-September 20.
  8. ^ AMC TV: Monsterfest
  9. ^ "AMC Ushering In Nostalgic American Pop" (1998-06-20), Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved on 2008-September 20 via AllBusiness.com.
  10. ^ Why did AMC change its format? From the AMCtv.com FAQ
  11. ^ Why did AMC add commercials?
  12. ^ Does AMC edit movies for content?
  13. ^ Hofstede, David (2004). What Were They Thinking?: The 100 Dumbest Events in Television History. New York, New York: Back Stage Books. pp.pp. 3-4. ISBN 0823084418, http://www.watsonguptill.com/detail.html?id=0-8230-8441-8. 
  14. ^ AMC Remaking 'The Prisoner'. ICv2.com: December 20, 2006

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