DangerousDamon 0 Report post Posted January 26, 2009 "HDNET FIGHTS ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP WITH RING OF HONOR Monday, January 26, 2009 HDNET FIGHTS ANNOUNCES LONG TERM PARTNERSHIP WITH “RING OF HONOR” WRESTLING New partnership brings unique brand of professional wrestling to HDNet. DALLAS (January 26, 2009) HDNet Fights today announced a long term partnership with “Ring of Honor Wrestling.” Coming soon, HDNet will debut a new weekly television series, which will bring “Ring of Honor Wrestling” to a national television audience for the very first time. “Ring of Honor Wrestling” and its stars are prominently featured in the recent, critically acclaimed movie “The Wrestler” starring Mickey Rourke. “’Ring of Honor’ is an exciting addition to our programming lineup at HDNet,” said Mark Cuban, chairman and co-founder of HDNet. “ROH has developed a cult following thanks to its special brand of professional wrestling and we are pleased to present it for the first time to a mass television audience.” “’Ring of Honor’ is proud and excited to enter a partnership with HDNet,” said Cary Silkin, president of Ring of Honor. “Our in-ring action is the perfect compliment to HDNet's respected programming and growing stature in the broadcast industry. It's a match most definitely made for a Main Event." Founded in 2002, “Ring of Honor” has become one of the most successful and recognized promotions in the world thanks to its focus on authentic professional wrestling. Over the last seven years it has produced some of the biggest stars in the industry, including Samoa Joe and CM Punk, while featuring the best in-ring competition in the world. The stars of “Ring of Honor” include ROH World Champion Nigel McGuiness, the 3-time reigning Wrestling Observer Newsletter Most Outstanding Wrestler Bryan Danielson, Necro Butcher, Austin Aries, Tyler Black, Jerry Lynn, and Mark and Jay Briscoe. Air dates and times will be announced at a later date. About HDNet HDNet (www.hd.net) provides viewers with the best in original comedy, drama, news, sports and music programming. HDNet is your exclusive, high definition home for popular, critically acclaimed original programming, including television’s only HD news feature programs “HDNet World Report,” the Emmy Award winning “Dan Rather Reports,” featuring legendary journalist Dan Rather and “NASA on HDNet” (presenting live shuttle launches through 2010). HDNet presents championship sports coverage featuring Major League Soccer, the NASCAR Camping World Series, NASCAR Sprint Cup re-broadcasts, and premiere Mixed Martial Arts from “HDNet Fights;” behind-the-scenes sports news with “Inside MMA;” groundbreaking music programming with the HDNet Concert Series featuring leading artists and bands including Coldplay, Gwen Stefani, John Mayer and more; and entertaining and irreverent lifestyle programming including “Deadline!,” “Art Mann Presents,” and “Get Out!” HDNet is also the exclusive high definition home to critically acclaimed and award winning programs such as the Emmy Award winning “Arrested Development,” “The Black Donnellys,” “Dead Like Me,” “Smallville” and the hit series “Torchwood.” HDNet Movies features a wide selection of major studio theatrical releases – all uncut, unedited, and appearing in their original aspect ratio so that HDNet Movies viewers get the best possible home theater experience. Only HDNet Movies’ exclusive Sneak Previews bring feature films to viewers before they premiere in theaters! Some of the HDNet Movies Sneak Previews have included the Academy Award nominated “Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room,” Toronto Film Festival nominee “The War Within,” and “Bubble,” the first of six movies by acclaimed director Steven Soderbergh and produced exclusively for HDNet Films. Other featured films include “Cashback,” written and produced by Sean Ellis, “Broken English,” from Zoe Cassavetes, starring Gena Rowlands, Parker Posey, Drea de Matteo and Griffin Dunne, the critically acclaimed “Redacted” directed by Brian De Palma, “Flawless,” starring Michael Caine and Demi Moore, “Quid Pro Quo,” starring Nick Stahl and Vera Farmiga, “Finding Amanda,” starring Matthew Broderick and Brittany Snow, “Red,” starring Brian Cox and most recently “Humboldt County,” starring Fairuza Balk, Peter Bogdanovich and Frances Conroy and “Special,” starring Michael Rapaport. Upcoming Sneak Previews include “Great Buck Howard,” starring Colin Hanks, John Malkovich and Tom Hanks, and “Harlem Aria,” starring Damon Wayans. Launched in 2001 by Mark Cuban and General Manager Philip Garvin, the HDNet networks are available on AT&T, Bright House Networks, Charter Communications, Comcast, DIRECTV, DISH Network, Insight, Mediacom, Time Warner Cable, Verizon and more than 40 NCTC cable affiliate companies. For more information visit www.hd.net. About Ring of Honor Ring of Honor Wrestling (www.rohwrestling.com) was created as a response to wrestling fans that appreciated the athleticism and entertainment that the sport can bring. Founded in 2002, Ring of Honor's hard hitting, action packed style has been its hallmark with wrestling fans throughout the world. In its 7 year history, ROH has promoted over 200 live events between 15 states in addition to international events held in Canada, Japan and the United Kingdom. Since 2007, Ring of Honor Wrestling has been available on PPV though Direct TV, iN DEMAND, DISH Network and TVN cable systems in the U.S. as well as Viewer’s Choice and Bell ExpressVu in Canada." Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RedJed 0 Report post Posted January 26, 2009 I'm really looking forward to this since I have HDNet, and from the sounds of it, HDNet will handle all ends of production, which is nothing but a great thing for the company at this point. Question is if they actually are making any money off this or not......even if they aren't, this can't hurt. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cabbageboy 0 Report post Posted January 26, 2009 Definitely. I have HD Net as well so this will be a treat. I've been wanting to check out more ROH but wanted them to simply have a TV show rather than just DVDs. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Thanks for the Fish 0 Report post Posted January 26, 2009 Will be interesting seeing their business and creative plan. Will they still base their business plan around selling DVD's? With the HDNet programming essentially being commercials for the PPV and the DVD's? Will tapings be made twice a month at the Friday Night show, with the Saturday Night show being the DVD sale? Will cans be able to follow along storylines by just watching HDNet? How will this effect PPV's that are basically taped two-three months before they air? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MillenniumMan831 0 Report post Posted January 26, 2009 From someone who has never bothered w/ ROH but has HD-Net, I'd be willing to see what kind of a television product they can turn out. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dobbs 3K 0 Report post Posted January 27, 2009 Plus we'll be able to hear all the self-indulgent chants in Dolby 5.1! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hawkius Maximus 0 Report post Posted January 27, 2009 HDNET isn't huge, but this is a major step forward for ROH. They were never going to grow any further with the DVD system. Going to TV was their only option. That or eventual death. Now, what I think would be the ideal format for ROH would be an ECW approach. One or two good matches on a TV taping, mostly angles/interviews all building to big shows, and then you never show any of the big shows but you mention them. ALOT. Ideally, you'd want to increase attendance and keep DVD buys at the same rate. It'll be the only way to see these one or two a month huge shows. But the TV show *Has* to have enough content to keep people tuning in. Then in a few years (or sooner depending on growth) you can abandon the DVD market as secondary, and eventually move into a huge PPV's. If HD NET is paying production, then there's absolutely no reason ROH can't make this isn't a huge deal for them. ROH has made a major, major step. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MarvinisaLunatic 0 Report post Posted January 27, 2009 I'll watch! What would be totally awesome is if Mark Cuban would just buy ROH and then Vince would be the little man in the wrestling world money wise at least (Cuban is worth almost 3 Billion Dollars). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DMann2003 0 Report post Posted January 27, 2009 I have HDNet, so it'll be cool to have weekly ROH programming. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bob_barron 0 Report post Posted January 27, 2009 Plus we'll be able to hear all the self-indulgent chants in Dolby 5.1! We get it, you don't like ROH fans. Getting old Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mfn 0 Report post Posted January 27, 2009 So pumped. I've only seen clips of ROH matches. Can't wait to find out when they will start to air some shows. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Thanks for the Fish 0 Report post Posted January 27, 2009 I wonder if VKM will make a play for Danielson, McGuinness, Aries, etc to try and poach them away before ROH gets the tv deal. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hawkius Maximus 0 Report post Posted January 28, 2009 It's possible. TNA's more likely though. ROH is more direct competition to TNA then WWE. If WWE REALLY wanted ROH talent, they could get ROH talent. Out of the entire ROH roster, they may make a play for Danielson but I think that'd be about it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stunner810 0 Report post Posted January 28, 2009 Is HDNet an OnDemand program or is it an actual channel? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Thanks for the Fish 0 Report post Posted January 28, 2009 It's possible. TNA's more likely though. ROH is more direct competition to TNA then WWE. If WWE REALLY wanted ROH talent, they could get ROH talent. Out of the entire ROH roster, they may make a play for Danielson but I think that'd be about it. I'm not sure Danielson wants to go to the wwe. I mean what gimmick and ring name would they give him? I think Danielson would happily earn a living in ROH if he could (or if Heyman ever got the book in TNA). I read somewhere that Nigel and Johnny Ace have some sort of heat, which is why Nigel has never been brought in despite Regal really trying to sell him to the decision makers. Roddy Strong is really getting himself into shape - I wonder if he's looking for a deal or just knew the new television show was coming. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RedJed 0 Report post Posted January 28, 2009 Is HDNet an OnDemand program or is it an actual channel? It's an actual high-def channel on most cable carriers and Dish Network/Directv. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jingus 0 Report post Posted January 28, 2009 So you have to have the hi-def setup in order to get it? I browsed through the channel listings on Dish and didn't see HDNet anywhere. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
daileyxplanet 0 Report post Posted January 28, 2009 Yes. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jingus 0 Report post Posted January 28, 2009 Huh. Okay. I understand that ROH was probably taking the best deal they could get. But still, having your program only be available to customers with hi-def televisions and cable packages seems kinda limiting in terms of how many homes you can reach. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dobbs 3K 0 Report post Posted January 28, 2009 Well, with HD sets becoming more affordable and more prevalent in US households, I doubt that will be that much of an issue down the line. Although according to Nielsen, as of December '08, only about 25% of US households have an HDTV set right now. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stunner810 0 Report post Posted January 28, 2009 Is HDNet an OnDemand program or is it an actual channel? It's an actual high-def channel on most cable carriers and Dish Network/Directv. . I guess that it doesn't even matter even if I have hi-def because I have Comcast cable. Personally I'd rather watch WWE 24/7 than ROH anyway. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
daileyxplanet 0 Report post Posted January 28, 2009 It's available on Comcast. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
treble 0 Report post Posted January 28, 2009 I hope they'll still have time to show all their Rick Springfield and Poison concerts. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Truthiness 0 Report post Posted January 29, 2009 Huh. Okay. I understand that ROH was probably taking the best deal they could get. But still, having your program only be available to customers with hi-def televisions and cable packages seems kinda limiting in terms of how many homes you can reach. It's a pretty damn good deal. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Matt Young 0 Report post Posted January 29, 2009 So you have to have the hi-def setup in order to get it? I browsed through the channel listings on Dish and didn't see HDNet anywhere. The channel is called HDNet. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dr Funkenstein PhD 0 Report post Posted January 29, 2009 I wonder if VKM will make a play for Danielson, McGuinness, Aries, etc to try and poach them away before ROH gets the tv deal. Brother, I am willing to bet my nuts that Vince McMahon doesn't even know what an austin aries is and the only time he had ever seen Nigel was in The Wrestler. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
garfieldsnose 0 Report post Posted January 29, 2009 It's available on Comcast. Not in all areas. They signed a deal a while ago but nothing new has come out, as far as I know, about when HDNet will get added to Comcast in the Philadelphia area. I would expect soon, since it's a large market, but I can't find any source to where it says when it will become available. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GreatWhiteNope 0 Report post Posted February 1, 2009 http://rohwrestling.com/news/article.aspx?id=2566 First TV Tapings Announced Sunday, February 01, 2009 The first TV tapings for Ring of Honor on HDNet will take place on Saturday, February 28th at 7:30pm and Sunday, March 1st at 3:00pm. History will be made when ROH holds its first two television tapings. Both events will take place at The Arena (formerly the New Alhambra Arena or ECW Arena) on 7 Ritner Street, Philadelphia, PA 19148. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
