From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Defunct U.S. premium cable TV channel
Television channel
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
[
edit
]
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
[
edit
]
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
[
edit
]
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
[
edit
]
See also
[
edit
]
References
[
edit
]
- ^
"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
.
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
. 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 Promo,s 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
. 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
.
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
. 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
.
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
.
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
. Retrieved
2018-07-19
.
- ^
"Z Channel break- December 1977"
.
YouTube
. 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
.
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
.
Archived
from the original on 2021-12-21
. Retrieved
2018-07-19
.
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1
Indicates the channel is still in existence, but currently operates as a basic cable channel.
2
Star Channel was part of
Warner Communications
'
QUBE
interactive cable service, and was the precursor to present-day
The Movie Channel
.
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