One of the founders and former president of The Tennis Channel is eyeing the mountains now.
Steve Bellamy, head of Atonal Sports and Entertainment, said his company reached a long-term affiliation deal with Time Warner Cable to launch The Ski Channel in the first quarter of 2008 as a video-on-demand service.
The Ski Channel -- which Bellamy said will cover an array of mountain activities ranging from skiing, snowboarding, hiking, rock climbing, orienteering, caving, plus off-slope activities -- will also manifest on other multimedia platforms.
Targeting enthusiasts and travelers, the programming -- both original and acquired fare -- will include attendant entertainment, news, destination travel, real estate, equipment, instruction and magazine formats, as well as coverage of profession mountain-sports events.
Bellamy said The Ski Channel -- which is taking aim at a travel/resort industry that takes in more than $10 billion annually -- already secured charter-advertising agreements with a number of top brands including Panasonic, Mirage Resorts, Marquis Jets and Fender Guitars.
Atonal owns and operates a number of tennis clubs and golf academies in California, as well as a film company and recording studio.
