Z Channel
 | |
| Country | United States |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Southern California |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles, California |
| Programming | |
| Language(s) | English |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Theta Cable (1974–1981) Group W (1981–1987) Rock Associates (1987–1988) American Spectacor (1988–1989) Cablevision/NBC (1989) |
| History | |
| Launched | 1974 |
| Closed | June 29, 1989 |
| Replaced by | SportsChannel Los Angeles |
The Z Channel was one of the early pay television stations in the United States (1974–1989) best known for its devotion to the art of cinema due to the eclectic choice of films[1] by the programming chief Jerry Harvey.
History
Z Channel was launched in 1974 by Theta Cable[2] (a division of TelePrompTer Corporation and Hughes Aircraft Co.) which was acquired by Group W (Westinghouse) in 1981. Operations were located in Santa Monica, California. Jerry Harvey was hired as program director in 1980. As program director, Harvey was given permission to program the network the way he saw fit. As such, the network featured a wide variety of films not typically shown on other pay television services at the time.[3][4][5][6]
These included many B movies, silent films, foreign films, and original unedited versions of films. On Christmas Eve 1982, Harvey made the decision to show the original (previously unreleased in two years) version of Heaven's Gate, a movie that had been considered a disaster by all accounts. His decision was a success as the movie became the most watched feature ever shown on Z Channel. Other networks soon followed and aired Heaven's Gate.
By the mid-1980s, Z Channel had 90,000 subscribers. In 1987, Group W sold Z Channel to Seattle-based Rock Associates for $5 million.[7] Both increased competition and lack of interest by Group W leading up to the sale led to a decrease in subscribers. In January 1988, Rock Associates merged with American Spectacor.
Demise
In April 1988, there were two major changes to the network: the death of Jerry Harvey and the addition of sports to regular programming.[8] (It had broadcast a UCLA–USC basketball game around 1978.) Deals were made to show games from the Los Angeles Angels, Clippers and Dodgers.[9] This increased the numbers of subscribers to 110,000. The sports deals were funded by selling advertising during the games. However, a lawsuit ensued with a court ruling that contracts with the movie studios stipulated that the service be commercial-free.
Out of options, the channel was sold to Cablevision and NBC on March 16, 1989, who were partners in the joint-venture SportsChannel and set to launch Consumer News and Business Channel (now CNBC). On June 29, 1989, Z Channel faded to black[10] and was replaced by SportsChannel Los Angeles.[11] The last film shown on Z Channel was John Ford's My Darling Clementine.[12]
Legacy
Z Channel popularized the use of letterboxing on television, as well as showing "director's cut" versions of films (which is a term popularized after Z Channel's showing of Heaven's Gate). Z Channel's devotion to cinema and choice of rare and important films had an influence on such directors as Robert Altman, Quentin Tarantino, Alexander Payne and Jim Jarmusch.
The channel was the subject of the 2004 documentary Z Channel: A Magnificent Obsession, which was directed by Alexandra Cassavetes, daughter of John Cassavetes.[13]
Selected films that aired on Z Channel
- 1900[14]
- 48 Hrs.[15]
- A Clockwork Orange[16]
- A Touch of Class[17]
- Airplane![18]
- Airport 1975[19]
- Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore[20][21]
- All That Jazz[22]
- American Graffiti[23]
- ...And Justice for All[24]
- Apocalypse Now[22]
- The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz[21]
- At Long Last Love[25]
- Beverly Hills Cop[26]
- Black Christmas[27]
- Black Orpheus[28]
- Blazing Saddles[29]
- The Blue Lagoon[30]
- The Blues Brothers[31]
- Das Boot[28]
- Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia[32]
- Caddyshack[33]
- California Suite[34]
- Candleshoe[33]
- Chan Is Missing[35]
- The Charge of the Light Brigade[36]
- The China Syndrome[37]
- City Lights[32]
- Coal Miner's Daughter[38]
- Corvette Summer[38]
- Crocodile Dundee[39]
- Day of the Dolphin[21]
- The Dark Crystal[40]
- Death Race 2000[41]
- Desperately Seeking Susan[42]
- Diva[43]
- Dressed to Kill[16]
- Electra Glide in Blue[44]
- The Electric Horseman[22]
- Eyes of Laura Mars[45]
- Farewell, My Lovely[21]
- Fatso[31]
- Fiddler on the Roof[24]
- Freebie and the Bean[46]
- French Connection 2[21]
- The Front[47]
- The Front Page[47]
- The Goodbye Girl[48]
- Gone With the Wind[21]
- The Great American Cowboy[49][21]
- The Great Gatsby[44]
- The Great Santini[50]
- The Great Waldo Pepper[21]
- Harry and Tonto[25]
- Heaven's Gate[14]
- How I Won the War[16]
- I Vitelloni[32]
- Ikiru[32]
- It's Alive[47]
- Jesus Christ Superstar[51]
- Johnny Guitar[32]
- Julia[52]
- The Last Starfighter[53]
- The Leopard[14]
- Let It Be[47]
- The Little Prince[21]
- The Longest Yard[21]
- Los Olvidados[32]
- Love and Death[54]
- MacArthur[55]
- Magnum Force[56]
- The Man Who Fell to Earth[32]
- McCabe and Mrs. Miller[28]
- Midnight Cowboy[32]
- The Mission[39]
- My Darling Clementine[12]
- National Lampoon's Vacation[40]
- North Dallas Forty[57]
- On Golden Pond[35]
- Once Upon A Time in America[14]
- One on One[35]
- The Onion Field[32]
- Ordinary People[30]
- Overlord[58]
- The Parallax View[59]
- Pat Garrett and Billy The Kid[28]
- Paths of Glory[28]
- Prince of the City[35]
- The Prisoner of Second Avenue[60]
- Private Benjamin[18]
- Rear Window[32]
- Ride the High Country[61]
- Rocky[62]
- Running Scared[63]
- Salvador[28]
- Same Time, Next Year[38]
- Scarecrow[56]
- The Seduction of Mimi[64]
- Silver Streak[28]
- Something for Everyone[65]
- Somewhere in Time[31]
- The Song Remains the Same[32]
- The Spider's Stratagem[32]
- A Star is Born (1937)[47][16]
- A Star is Born (1976)[47][16]
- Stardust Memories[18]
- The Sting[56]
- The Story of Adele H[32]
- Straw Dogs[32]
- The Super Cops[44]
- Swept Away[21]
- That Most Important Thing: Love[66]
- The Towering Inferno[21]
- The Wind and the Lion[49][21]
- The Yakuza[64]
- Thieves Like Us[20]
- Throne of Blood[32]
- Thunderbolt and Lightfoot[44]
- Time Bandits[36]
- The Turning Point[67]
- An Unmarried Woman[68]
- Valentino[69]
- Vertigo[70]
- Videodrome[71]
- Weird Science[15]
- Westworld[44]
- Whose Life Is It Anyway[35]
- The Wild Bunch[28][32]
See also
- The Criterion Collection, similar in content
- Home Box Office, one of Z's competitors
- Showtime, one of the competitors
References
- ^ "Film-News and Notes." Daily News of Los Angeles October 3, 1986
- ^ Theater, New Beverly. "Z Channel | New Beverly Cinema". New Beverly Cinema - The premier revival theater in Los Angeles. Retrieved 2020-12-17.
- ^ Z Magazine: The Entertainment Guide for Subscribers to the Z Channel and Theta Cable Television - Feb/Mar/Apr, 1979 - Vol. 5, No. 9 - High Anxiety on cover-Amazon.com Z Magazine: The Entertainment Guide for Subscribers to the Z Channel and Theta Cable Television - Sept/Oct, 1978 - Vol. 5, No. 5 - MacArthur on cover
- ^ Z Magazine: The Entertainment Guide for Subscribers to the Z Channel and Theta Cable Television - Sept/Oct, 1978 - Vol. 5, No. 5 - MacArthur on cover
- ^ Z Magazine: The Entertainment Guide for Subscribers to the Z Channel and Theta Cable Television - Aug/Sept, 1979 - Vol. 6, No. 4 - Jaws on cover-Amazon.com
- ^ Z Magazine: The Entertainment Guide for Subscribers to the Z Channel and Theta Cable Television - Sept/Oct, 1978 - Vol. 5, No. 5 - MacArthur on cover
- ^ "Rainbow to Add Hockey Games : Z Channel Sold to Sports, News Programming Firm". Los Angeles Times. 22 February 1989. Retrieved 2018-07-19.
- ^ DEC 1978 Z MOVIE/TELEVISION MAGAZINE TURNING POINT - UCLA BASKETBALL|Worthpoint.com
- ^ "Z Channel 1987". YouTube. 12 October 2011. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved 2018-07-19.
- ^ "Z Channel Fading to Black Amid Film Industry Tributes." The Hollywood Reporter April 27, 1989
- ^ "Hollywood Freeway." Daily News of Los Angeles June 26, 1989
- ^ a b "The Death of Z Channel--What Now? : The History : Beset by troubles, quirky station will switch to all-sports". Los Angeles Times. 25 June 1989. Retrieved 2018-07-19.
- ^ Z Channel: A Magnificent Obsession-IGN
- ^ a b c d "'Z Channel' on the Air-Washington Post". washingtonpost.com. Retrieved 2018-07-19.
- ^ a b VINTAGE Z MAGAZINE. THE Z CHANNEL. 48 HRS, WEIRD SCIENCE. THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS | Worthpoint.com
- ^ a b c d e "Z Channel Magazine of the Air- April 24-30 1981". YouTube. 4 April 2011. Retrieved 2018-07-19.
- ^ Z Magazine: The Entertainment Guide for Subscribers to the Z Channel and Theta Cable Television - November/December, 1974 - Vol. 1, No. 6 - The Three Musketeers on cover
- ^ a b c SEPT/OCT 1981 Z vintage movie magazine AIRPLANE - CADDYSHACK | Worthpoint.com
- ^ Z Magazine: The Entertainment Guide for Subscribers to the Z Channel and Theta Cable Television - Oct/Nov, 1975 - Vol. 2, No. 5 - Airport 1975 on cover
- ^ a b Z Magazine: The Entertainment Guide for Subscribers to the Z Channel and Theta Cable Television - Aug/Sept, 1975 - Vol. 2, No. 3 - Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore on cover
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m The Z-Channel 1975-6 Promos and Pledge Drive - Obsolete Video on YouTube
- ^ a b c FEB/MARCH 1981 Z VINTAGE MOVIE MAGAZINE APOCALYPSE NOW - ALL THAT JAZZ | Worthpoint.com
- ^ Z Magazine: The Entertainment Guide for Subscribers to the Z Channel and Theta Cable Television - Apr/May, 1975 - Vol. 1, No. 9 - American Graffiti on cover-Amazon.com
- ^ a b NOV/DEC 1980 Z VINTAGE MOVIE MAGAZINE ALIEN - 10 - HOT STUFF | Worthpoint.com
- ^ a b Z Magazine: The Entertainment Guide for Subscribers to the Z Channel and Theta Cable Television - June/July, 1975 - Vol. 2, No. 2 - Harry & Tonto on cover
- ^ SEPT 16 1988 Z VINTAGE MOVIE MAGAZINE BEVERLY HILLS COP - EDDIE MURPHY | Worthpoint.com
- ^ Z Magazine: The Entertainment Guide for Subscribers to the Z Channel and Theta Cable Television - May/June, 1976 - Vol. 3, No. 2 - Gone With the Wind on cover
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Film Montage from "Z Channel: A Magnificent Obsession" (2004)". YouTube. 17 July 2008. Retrieved 2018-07-19.
- ^ Z Magazine: The Entertainment Guide for Subscribers to the Z Channel and Theta Cable Television - January/February, 1975 - Vol. 1, No. 7 - Blazing Saddles on cover-Amazon
- ^ a b OCT/NOV 1981 Z VINTAGE MOVIE MAGAZINE BLUE LAGOON - ORDINARY PEOPLE | Worthpoint.com
- ^ a b c JULY/AUG 1981 Z VINTAGE MOVIE MAGAZINE MGM STORY | Worthpoint.com
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Z Channel: A Magnificent Obsession (2004) - Trailer - YouTube
- ^ a b VINTAGE Z CHANNEL GUIDES . Z MAGAZINE. GREASE, JAWS 2, PRIVATE BENJAMIN | Worthpoint.com
- ^ Z Magazine: The Entertainment Guide for Subscribers to the Z Channel and Theta Cable Television - Jul/Aug, 1979 - Vol. 6, No. 3 - California Suite on cover
- ^ a b c d e GALAXY MAGAZINE..Z CHANNEL. HEAVENS GATE, RICH AND FAMOUS, TAPS, ON GOLDEN POND
- ^ a b Z Channel break - January 1982- The Media Hoarder on YouTube
- ^ VINTAGE Z MAGAZINE. THE Z CHANNEL. THE CHINA SYNDROME, DRESS TO KILL, HAIR | Worthpoint.com
- ^ a b c VINTAGE Z MAGAZINE. THE Z CHANNEL . LOT OF 5
- ^ a b VINTAGE Z MAGAZINE. THE Z CHANNEL. A VIEW TO A KILL, DRAGNET, THE MISSION | Worthpoint.com
- ^ a b VINTAGE Z CHANNEL GUIDES . Z MAGAZINE. STAYING ALIVE, VACATION | Worthpoint.com
- ^ "Z Channel movie bumper 1980". YouTube. 10 July 2015. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved 2018-07-19.
- ^ VINTAGE Z CHANNEL GUIDES . Z MAGAZINE. AMADEUS, BEVERLY HILLS COP, MADONNA | Worthpoint.com
- ^ "Z Channel break- January 1982". YouTube. 4 April 2011. Retrieved 2018-07-19.
- ^ a b c d e 1975 Theta Cable TV Z Channel - Obsolete Video on YouTube
- ^ Z Magazine: The Entertainment Guide for Subscribers to the Z Channel and Theta Cable Television - May/June, 1979 - Vol. 6, No. 2 - Eyes of Laura Mars on cover
- ^ Z Magazine: The Entertainment Guide for Subscribers to the Z Channel and Theta Cable Television - May/June, 1975 - Vol. 2, No. 1 - Freebie and the Bean on cover-Amazon.com
- ^ a b c d e f Z Channel break- December 1977 - The Media Hoarder on YouTube
- ^ Z Magazine: The Entertainment Guide for Subscribers to the Z Channel and Theta Cable Television - Apr/May, 1979 - Vol. 6, No. 1 - The Goodbye Girl on cover
- ^ a b Z Magazine: The Entertainment Guide for Subscribers to the Z Channel and Theta Cable Television - July/August, 1976 - Vol. 3, No. 3 - The Towering Inferno on cover
- ^ JUNE/JULY 1981 Z VINTAGE MOVIE MAGAZINE - SMOKEY AND THE BANDIT - THE SHINING | Worthpoint.com
- ^ Z Magazine: The Entertainment Guide for Subscribers to the Z Channel and Theta Cable Television - Dec/Jan, 1976 - Vol. 2, No. 6 - W.W. and The Dixie Dancekings on cover
- ^ Z Magazine: The Entertainment Guide for Subscribers to the Z Channel and Theta Cable Television - Oct/Nov, 1978 - Vol. 5, No. 6 - Julia on cover
- ^ "Z Channel Feature Presentation & MGM fanfare 1984". YouTube. 14 October 2011. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved 2018-07-19.
- ^ Z Magazine: The Entertainment Guide for Subscribers to the Z Channel and Theta Cable Television - Jan/Feb, 1976 - Vol. 2, No. 7 - The Return of the Pink Panther on cover
- ^ Z Magazine: The Entertainment Guide for Subscribers to the Z Channel and Theta Cable Television - Sept/Oct, 1978 - Vol. 5, No. 5 - MacArthur on cover
- ^ a b c Southern California 1975 Z-Channel Line up Cable TV - Obsolete Video on YouTube
- ^ OCT/NOV 1980 Z vintage movie magazine ROCKY II - STALLONE | Worthpoint.com
- ^ "Z Channel: Overlord". YouTube. 15 May 2007. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved 2018-07-19.
- ^ Z-Channel Movie Opener. The Parallax View - Obsolete Video on YouTube
- ^ Magazine: The Entertainment Guide for Subscribers to the Z Channel and Theta Cable Television - Aug/Sept, 1975 - Vol. 2, No. 3 - Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore on cover
- ^ "Z Channel: A Magnificent Obsession (2004) - Trailer". YouTube. 30 December 2012. Retrieved 2018-07-19.
- ^ "Z Channel break- December 1977". YouTube. 3 April 2011. Retrieved 2018-07-19.
- ^ JUNE 19 1987 Z VINTAGE MOVIE MAGAZINE FILMS OF STANLEY KUBRICK - ALIENS | Worthpoint.com
- ^ a b Z Magazine: The Entertainment Guide for Subscribers to the Z Channel and Theta Cable Television - Sept/Oct, 1975 - Vol. 2, No. 4 - Lenny on cover
- ^ Z Channel "Sleepers" intro - The Media Hoarder on YouTube
- ^ "Z Channel: The Important Thing is to Love". YouTube. 4 September 2007. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved 2018-07-19.
- ^ Z Magazine: The Entertainment Guide for Subscribers to the Z Channel and Theta Cable Television - Dec/Jan, 1979 - Vol. 5, No. 7 - The Turning Point on cover
- ^ Z Magazine: The Entertainment Guide for Subscribers to the Z Channel and Theta Cable Television - Jan/Feb, 1979 - Vol. 5, No. 8 - An Unmarried Woman on cover
- ^ Z Magazine: The Entertainment Guide for Subscribers to the Z Channel and Theta Cable Television - June/July, 1978 - Vol. 5, No. 3 - The Deep on cover
- ^ VINTAGE Z MAGAZINE. THE Z CHANNEL . LOT OF 5 | Worthpoint.com
- ^ "Z Channel Videodrome intro 1984". YouTube. 12 October 2011. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved 2018-07-19.