Pennsylvania Plaza (Penn Plaza) is a complex of 14 buildings in Midtown Manhattan , New York City , including New York Penn Station and Madison Square Garden . It is one of the busier transportation, business, and retailing areas in Manhattan.
61-583: AMC Networks Inc. is an American entertainment company headquartered in 11 Penn Plaza , New York . The company owns and operates the eponymous cable channel and its siblings, IFC , We TV , and Sundance TV ; the art house movie theater IFC Center in New York City ; the independent film companies IFC Films and RLJE Films ; the anime licensor Sentai Filmworks ; the premium subscription streaming services AMC+ , IFC Films Unlimited , Acorn TV , Allblk , Shudder , Sundance Now, Philo , and Hidive ; and
122-563: A Māori –theme supernatural series set in pre-contact New Zealand. The series was distributed by AMC's streaming service Shudder in the US, Canada, UK, and Ireland and by TVNZ On Demand in New Zealand. In early 2020, the AMC Networks involved Switzer Group to lead the redesign of its tenth-floor headquarters at 11 Penn Plaza, New York. On May 13, 2020, AMC Networks announced it was acquiring
183-402: A gorilla costume to represent his status as " second banana " to Malone. Yet he had a reputation as "a shrewd and sometimes vicious negotiator". In 1995, TCI acquired the cable television assets of Viacom . In May 1991 United Artists announced a merger deal with their largest shareholder TCI (now Liberty Media ) to form the largest cable operator in the US, a deal valued at $ 142.5m for
244-606: A 49.9% stake in BBC America , with BBC Studios retaining the remaining share of the network. In 2015, AMC Networks, along with Upfront Ventures , Daher Capital, Northgate Ventures, invested a round of funding in the Latin YouTube network MiTú. In 2016, AMC Networks finalized a partnership agreement with former BET founder Robert L. Johnson ' s RLJ Company. According to the agreement, AMC will use its programming and distribution clout to benefit Acorn and UMC . Additionally,
305-434: A channel that had been in planning for over five year and had its launch date pushed back multiple times was finally launched. But Rainbow's largest venture that year was the merger of SportsChannel into Fox Sports Net . Rainbow retained varying ownership interests in all of the former SportsChannel networks except PRISM and SportsChannel Philadelphia, which were both shut down to make way for the first Comcast SportsNet . Over
366-644: A comeback, and Michael Mahoney of GT Capital expected the proposed deregulation of the cable and telephone industries to increase cable company revenues. Both expected TCI to benefit, especially since TCI owned 30 percent of a joint venture that included Sprint and 10 cable companies with the ability to serve 40 percent of American homes. Cable and phone companies could both offer each other's services, benefiting both companies and customers with product bundling . TCI had plans to upgrade to digital cable and offer more channels and services. Satellite TV providers would be competing to offer digital service, but TCI owned
427-553: A major threat yet, represented a possible problem in the future. The good news: satellite companies could not offer local channels or phone service, and individual dishes served only one TV. The new technologies had two benefits for TCI. First, customers would need set-top boxes, which TCI already had ordered from General Instrument. Another advantage was technology developed by a new company called Imedia which would allow four times as many channels to be delivered using existing technology, even in areas not getting fiber-optic service. On
488-501: A minority interest in the leading Canadian production studio Shaftesbury Films . The company operates in Europe and Latin America through its international division, AMC Networks International . Through joint ventures with BBC Studios , the company manages BBC America and BBC World News cable channels in the US. That relationship makes AMC Networks additionally maintain a minority share in
549-469: A nationwide system upgrade. The Bell Atlantic deal also fell victim to new federal regulations that reduced cable bills up to 16 percent, costing TCI $ 300 million over two years. Higher spending coupled with lower cash receipts made TCI less attractive to investors, and the stock price dropped to $ 17 a share, half what experts believed the company was worth. Bill Nygren of Harris Associates , known for profiting from TCI's Liberty Media, said TCI could make
610-521: A new agreement to bring the AMC Networks owned channels back on the Dish lineup with AMC returning October 21 and the rest on November 1. From 2013 to 2015, the company acquired or joined a joint venture each year. On October 28, 2013, AMC Networks announced it would acquire most of Chellomedia , sans Chello Benelux , an international operator of cable networks, from Liberty Global for around $ 1.04 billion. On October 23, 2014, AMC confirmed it had purchased
671-760: A new programming block to the channel in early 1982. By the end of that year the network would relaunch as The Playboy Channel . In the years that followed, the three other cable companies would exit the partnership, leaving Cablevision as the sole owner of Rainbow by 1983. Cablevision transferred control of its previously launched regional sports network SportsChannel New York to Rainbow. In 1983, three other regional sports networks were acquired: PRISM New England (soon to be relaunched as SportsChannel New England), Philadelphia-based PRISM , and Chicago-based SportsVision . Playboy also bought out Rainbow's share in The Playboy Channel, although it would continue to market
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#1733093023059732-535: A partner with Magness in establishing a partnership for cable TV in Montana. George C. Hatch and Brian Glasmann were also partners in the companies known as Community Television Inc. and Western Microwave Inc. The Magness family moved to Bozeman. Six systems were built, serving a total of 12,000 homes. In 1962, Magness purchased Collier Electric Company, which had subscribers in Wyoming , Colorado , and Nebraska , bringing
793-410: A plan to buy TCI, second to Time Warner among cable operators with 13 million customers, for $ 32 billion in stock and $ 16 billion in assumed debt. This marked the first major merger between phone and cable since deregulation. The new company, to be called AT&T Consumer Services, planned to "significantly accelerate" efforts to offer digital telephone , data and video services as the companies combined
854-544: A publicly traded company, and making their core cable business private, but withdrew the plan. In 2006, a new plan emerged to privatize all of Cablevision, including Rainbow Media. In January 2007, with no word on if the privatization would go through, Liberty Media expressed interest in acquiring Rainbow Media from Cablevision. In June 2008, Rainbow acquired the Sundance Channel from NBCUniversal , CBS , and Robert Redford . Rainbow Media also owned Wedding Central which
915-521: A revered piece of New York architecture . Its replacements were what architects and civic purists regard as mediocre office and entertainment structures. The demolition of the first Penn Station led to the city's landmarks preservation movement and helped save another landmark of railway architecture, Grand Central Terminal . 40°45′02″N 73°59′34″W / 40.750634°N 73.992703°W / 40.750634; -73.992703 Tele-Communications Inc. Tele-Communications, Inc. ( TCI )
976-657: A share of Primestar , and predicted a 28 percent share of the satellite market by the end of 1995. In Fall 1995, Time Warner agreed to exchange $ 8 billion in stock for 82 percent of Turner Broadcasting System . TCI would trade its 21 percent interest in Turner for the third largest stake in Time Warner, or 9 percent. Since the resulting companies would have 40 percent of cable households, enough to cause anti-trust concern, TCI agreed to let Time Warner's Gerald Levin represent TCI. This did not satisfy federal regulators. Malone ended
1037-448: Is open-ended, AMC said. On November 15, 2016, AMC acquired a minority stake in comedy video website and film and television production company Funny or Die , with plans to integrate it with IFC. On April 27, 2018, the company, as the owner of IFC, acquired a majority stake in comedy venue operator Levity Live. On July 30, 2018, AMC Networks reached a definitive agreement to acquire RLJ Entertainment where AMC would pay $ 59 million for
1098-411: Is seeking more than $ 2.5 billion in damages against Dish Network for improperly terminating its carriage contract; Voom's high-definition channels were carried on the provider from May 1, 2005, until May 12, 2008, when Dish removed ten of Voom's fifteen channels from its lineup and the five remaining channels the following day. Dish Network stated that the lawsuit is unrelated to the decision to remove
1159-457: The Dolan family . Rainbow Media, AMC Networks' predecessor company, was first founded in 1980 and was initially a joint venture between the cable television companies Cablevision , Comcast , Cox Communications , and Daniels & Associates . The first service to come out of the partnership was launched on December 8, 1980. The hybrid service, which broadcast nightly on satellite time subleased from
1220-496: The National Christian Network featured culture events network Bravo on Sunday and Monday nights and adult-oriented B movie network Escapade the rest of the week. Due to the involvement of the four cable companies, the new service quickly gained subscribers. By July 1981, both channels expanded their offerings to seven nights a week. In August 1981, Playboy Enterprises became half-owner of Escapade which introduced
1281-661: The National Hockey League . Cablevision gained a new partner that year, NBC , which obtained 50% ownership in Rainbow. Through this partnership, five additional regional sports networks were created in the Bay Area , Cincinnati , Cleveland , Philadelphia , and Los Angeles . The partnership also produced the Olympics Triplecast , a pay-per-view service providing additional coverage of the 1992 Summer Olympics . 1994 saw
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#17330930230591342-604: The United States at one time. After going public in 1970, the company grew rapidly, and became the top cable provider in the United States. After a failed merger attempt with Bell Atlantic in 1994, it was purchased in 1999 by AT&T , whose cable television assets in select markets were later acquired by Charter Communications , Cox Communications , and then Cablevision and Comcast Corporation . After graduating from Southwestern Oklahoma State University , Bob Magness
1403-520: The 15 percent discount on Turner programming that would have lasted 20 years, and Time Warner had to pay $ 67 million to cover TCI's taxes due. Magness died in November 1996, with a 26 percent share of the company. No one believed this meant the end of Malone's tenure as head of TCI, even though Malone called Magness his "mentor" and "father figure". Still, TCI had $ 15 billion in debt and negative cash flow of $ 400 million for 1996. Malone believed he could turn
1464-426: The 50% not already owned by TCI. TCI and US West announced a joint venture, and in 1992 the joint venture company became Telewest Communications . By June, the deal was approved. A week later on June 8 the deal was finalized with TCI acquiring the remaining 46% of United Artists, to allow full control. During the autumn of 1993 talks were also held with Flextech (a British television programming provider). Under
1525-402: The AMC Networks channels and that it ended the carriage agreement on its own terms. On May 20, 2012, Dish Network removed Sundance Channel from its channel lineup. Two weeks later on June 4, 2012, Dish relocated AMC, WEtv, and IFC to higher channel positions with AMC being split into two separate standard definition and high definition channel feeds (AMC moved from channel 130 to channel 9609 for
1586-599: The CATV provider for the city of Denver, Colorado and the city of Glendale, Colorado . Mile-Hi Cablevision had been in business since 1983. And prior to the merger, TCI served only the suburbs around the city & county of Denver. In Spring 1993, Bell Atlantic began looking at merger partners, including cable companies. TCI and Liberty Media would be acquired for $ 11.8 billion in stock and assumption of $ 9.8 billion in debt. And $ 5 billion in Liberty properties could likely be added to
1647-458: The RLJ-AMC partnership will allow for greater investment in content from African-American creatives, Johnson emphasized. The agreement called for AMC to provide RLJ with a $ 60 million loan on a seven-year term and $ 5 million on a one-year term. AMC has received warrants to purchase at least 20 million shares or the equivalent of 50.1% of the company. The time frame for exercising those warrants
1708-526: The SD feed and 9610 for the HD feed, WEtv moved from channel 128 to channel 9608 and IFC was moved from channel 393 to channel 9607); the former channel lineup spaces occupied by the three channels were respectively replaced with HDNet , Style and MoviePlex multiplex channel Indieplex. The move is believed to be in response to an ad run during a June 3 airing of an episode of Mad Men urging Dish Network customers to inform
1769-577: The US operations of the British-TV streaming service BritBox , a joint venture between the BBC and ITV plc . The current incarnation of the company, founded as a publicly traded company in July 2011, is the successor to the now defunct Rainbow Media Holdings, LLC (or alternately Rainbow Programming Holdings ), which was originally founded in 1980 as a subsidiary of Cablevision , and is majority-owned and controlled by
1830-520: The United States, operational control in BBC America, which will be managed as a stand-alone from AMC's other channels. Pennsylvania Plaza Buildings using the Penn Plaza address include: The numbering of the Penn Plaza addresses does not follow a consistent pattern. Development involved the destruction, beginning in 1963, of the original McKim, Mead and White –designed Penn Station (1910),
1891-563: The channel for the next few years. In 1984, Rainbow added another new network to its portfolio, American Movie Classics (AMC) which initially featured "classic" pre-1970 movies. Cablevision began packaging AMC and Bravo together as the Rainbow Service . Near the end of 1984, CBS and Cablevision announced a deal to have CBS take 50% ownership in the Rainbow Service and Rainbow's marketing. The agreement also gave CBS partial ownership in
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1952-498: The company around. This meant higher rates for customers as well as programmers. Malone even succeeded in getting Fox News Channel to pay $ 200 million for his companies to add the network. At the same time, cost cutting had to take place, and many of the cable customers were in rural areas with old equipment and limited offerings. Upgrading to fiber optic service, which could be used for Internet and telephone service, would be cost-effective only in urban areas. Satellite TV, while not
2013-537: The company to keep the three AMC Networks channels on the satellite provider, with Dish Network stating that the relocated channel positions better reflect the channels' ratings. On July 1, 2012, Dish Network dropped AMC, WEtv, and IFC from the channel line-up altogether. On July 12, 2012, AMC said in an e-mailed statement that it would stream over the Internet the season premiere of Breaking Bad to Dish customers. "Dish subscribers can register online starting July 13 for
2074-821: The company, thus giving them access to the latter's slate and expanding their content and development capabilities in Canada. On January 5, 2022, AMC Networks acquired American anime company Sentai Holdings, which includes the distributor Sentai Filmworks , the Anime Network , and the HIDIVE streaming service . The acquisition came months after Sony 's FUNimation (then a joint venture between its US-based Sony Pictures Television and Sony Music Entertainment Japan 's Aniplex units) acquired Crunchyroll from AT&T 's WarnerMedia in August 2021. On March 1, 2022, AMC Networks announced
2135-505: The deal, NBC gave up its then 20% share in Rainbow. 2003 saw Rainbow DBS Company launch a DBS satellite service, the HDTV-oriented Voom . The service ceased operations on April 30, 2005, and instead several of Voom's HD channels were launched on Dish Network and Cablevision, now bannered as Voom HD Networks . The networks were discontinued in 2009. In 2005, Cablevision considered spinning off its content subsidiary Rainbow Media as
2196-537: The deal. Numerous regulatory concerns made the deal tricky; regional telephone companies could not offer long distance service or transmit satellite television services such as Discovery Channel . TCI would also have to sell operations in Bell Atlantic territory. As for antitrust concerns, Bell Atlantic argued that competing telephone services could be offered where TCI had cable systems, and video services could compete with TCI. Vice President Al Gore supported
2257-667: The idea of improving the nation's infrastructure , and the business community took his statement to mean administration approval of the merger. The $ 33 billion deal, based on a $ 54 per share price for Bell Atlantic stock, would have been the largest in American telecommunications history, the resulting company serving one in four cable TV customers. But it fell apart for many reasons, including declining stock prices for both companies. Malone, who would have made over $ 1 billion, wanted more shares of Bell Atlantic when its price dropped below $ 54, which Ray Smith refused to do because it would lessen
2318-437: The largest cable company in the United States. In 1982, Malone hired Peter Barton, who called himself the company's " Jimmy Olsen " because he just did whatever was needed, fresh from Harvard Business School . Barton went on to become president of TCI's Cable Value Network (later QVC ) in 1986, and in 1991, president of TCI spinoff Liberty Media . Barton had a playful side and even kept toys in his Liberty Media office, and
2379-674: The launch of an American feed of the Canadian music channel MuchMusic USA , in partnership with CHUM Limited (who would launch a Canadian version of Bravo the year after), and the Independent Film Channel . . Years later would CHUM sell their stake to Rainbow in 2000 and revoked their license for the MuchMusic name, which culminated into a rebrand as Fuse in 2003. Fuse became a part of MSG Media in 2010, and has since been spun off as Fuse Media . In 1997, Romance Classics (later WE),
2440-476: The launch of its book publishing division, AMC Networks Publishing, and then announced that it would launch several more FAST channels a month later. Throughout late 2022, the company had rapid changes in its leadership until Kristin Dolan was appointed CEO in early 2023. Looking at their OTT assets, Dataxis estimates that their flagship platform AMC+ gathers 5.5M subscribers, accounting for slightly less than half of
2501-563: The long distance, wireless and dial-up Internet service of AT&T with the cable, high-speed Internet and telecommunications services of TCI. For the first time, AT&T would be able to offer local telephone service. To do this, the company could have bought a Baby bell such as SBC Communications (which purchased AT&T in 2005 and took the AT&;T name), but this would have meant regulatory problems. Liberty Media stockholders would receive separate tracking stock . Federal regulators and
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2562-521: The next decade, all of these networks except SportsChannel NY (then Fox Sports New York) were gradually sold off. Fox Sports New York was then transferred to the MSG Media division and rebranded MSG+. Rainbow ran the local-minded MSG Metro Channels which launched in 1998, before folding them in late 2005. Through a series of transactions, beginning in 1997, NBC's stake was eventually reduced. In 2002, Cablevision sold its share of Bravo to NBC and as part of
2623-459: The original terms of the proposed deal, Flextech would acquire TCI's European programming business in exchange for shares. By January the deal was complete with TCI acquired 40-60% of Flextech while Flextech acquired 100% of Bravo, 25% of UK Gold , and 31% of UK Living and 25% of the Children's Channel which increased its share in that channel. In Spring of 1995 TCI purchased Mile-Hi Cablevision,
2684-492: The other hand, digital service had its disadvantages. Customers who did not even want a box would still lose channels so that digital channels could be added. And General Instrument only reluctantly agreed to allow multiple suppliers to bring TCI's costs down. In 1997 TCI sold ten of its cable systems in NJ and NY to Cablevision . TCI improved its fortunes, hiring Leo Hindery as president and making Malone chairman and CEO. Still, it
2745-429: The president and chief executive of the newly established AMC Networks which went public on July 1, 2011. On May 4, 2012, Dish Network announced that it would no longer carry the AMC Networks family of cable channels upon the expiration of the satellite provider's distribution agreement with the company at the end of June 2012, citing that AMC Networks charged an excessive amount in retransmission consent payments from
2806-718: The regional sports properties which had already become a joint venture with The Washington Post (the Post did not have ownership in Bravo or AMC). In 1986, Tele-Communications Inc. purchased a stake in AMC. Through this deal, the network which had 300,000 subscribers was able to greatly expand carriage to most of TCI's 3.9 million subscribers. Long Island cable news service News 12 was also launched in 1986. CBS and Cablevision parted ways in 1987. In 1988, Rainbow's SportsChannel would make its largest programing deal, gaining national television rights for
2867-460: The remaining RLJE shares not owned by AMC or Robert L. Johnson. The transaction was approved by RLJ Entertainment's stockholders on October 31, and AMC Networks completed the acquisition on November 1. RLJ Entertainment became a privately owned subsidiary of AMC Networks, with Johnson and his affiliates owning a 17% stake. In 2019, AMC Networks and the New Zealand public broadcaster TVNZ entered into an agreement to jointly produce The Dead Lands ,
2928-522: The rights to Anne Rice 's major literary works, including The Vampire Chronicles and Lives of the Mayfair Witches . In September 2020, executive chairman Charles Dolan retired from his position, moving to a chairman emeritus role. His son, James L. Dolan , was then named chairman of AMC Networks. On February 2, 2021, AMC Networks entered into a strategic partnership with Canadian production company Shaftesbury Films . AMC made an investment in
2989-507: The service for their carriage and low audience viewership for the channels. AMC Networks responded to Dish Network's announcement of its pending removal of the channels as being related to a 2008 breach of contract lawsuit against Dish Network by the company's former Voom HD Networks subsidiary (under the company's previous Rainbow Media Holdings brand) (which is pending trial in the New York State Supreme Court), in which it
3050-434: The show, which airs on July 15. We want to give Dish customers an extra week to switch providers so they can enjoy the rest of the season." On October 21, 2012, AMC Networks announced a settlement was reached between them, Cablevision and Dish in which Dish was forced to pay up to $ 700 million in damages to Cablevision for damages from removing Voom owned channels off the Dish lineup back in 2008, and in return Dish signed
3111-470: The time, it was the 10th largest cable company in the United States. By 1972, with 100,000 subscribers, Magness needed someone with more business knowledge to run the operation. He decided on John Malone, president of Jerrold Electronics , a division of General Instrument . Malone took on the bankers who wanted to call in their loans, and effectively saved the company from bankruptcy . Magness made Malone CEO but remained as chairman. By 1982 Malone had made TCI
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#17330930230593172-480: The total number of subscribers to 18,000. Magness later moved to Scottsbluff, Nebraska . Over time, Magness acquired more systems but remained in Bozeman. By 1965, Daniels told him the companies needed to be located in a larger city. Salt Lake City and Denver, Colorado , were both considered. In 1968, the companies moved to Denver and became Tele-Communications Inc. Tele-Communications Inc. went public in 1970. At
3233-460: The total streaming subscribers reported by AMC at Q2 2024 (11.6M streaming subscribers). A list of AMC-branded FAST channels available on third-party streaming platforms. On October 28, 2013, AMC Networks announced it would acquire most of Chellomedia, an international operator of cable networks, from Liberty Global for around $ 1.04 billion. The acquisition did not include Chello Benelux , owners of Film1 and Sport1 . On February 2, 2014,
3294-474: The transaction was completed. What was formerly Chellomedia is now known as AMC Networks International and will allow AMC Networks to distribute its programming worldwide. On October 23, 2014, AMC confirmed it had purchased a 49.9% stake in BBC America, with BBC Studios retaining the remaining share of the network. The joint venture will also give AMC, which itself distributes the BBC World News channel in
3355-464: The two companies' shareholders approved the merger February 17, 1999. By that time, the value of the stock portion of the deal had increased to $ 43.5 billion. The Federal Communications Commission did not require TCI to give other companies access to its cable lines, despite requests by America Online and others. TCI had made its cable lines capable of providing Internet access, and AT&T wanted those same lines to provide local phone service, which it
3416-401: The value of existing shares. The two companies also had different cultures. Bell Atlantic paid dividends and was used to being regulated, while TCI tended to invest in the business rather than pay dividends. And thus ended a $ 20 billion project to expand the information superhighway , though other mergers promised to put the project back on track, with a more local emphasis rather than attempting
3477-533: The wires himself. Two years later Magness sold the system and was looking for a way to invest the sales proceeds. Another cable pioneer, Bill Daniels , told him about a community antenna system in Bozeman, Montana . The Kearns-Tribune Corp., publisher of The Salt Lake Tribune , which owned a cable system in Reno, Nevada , began relaying signals by common carrier microwave from Salt Lake City in 1956. In 1958 it became
3538-428: Was a cable television provider in the United States, and for most of its history was controlled by Bob Magness and John Malone . The company was started in 1958 in Bozeman, Montana as Western Microwave, Inc. and Community Television, Inc. , two firms with common ownership. The companies merged in 1968 and operations moved to Denver , taking the name Tele-Communications Inc. It was the largest cable operator in
3599-501: Was a cotton seed salesman and cattle rancher . In 1956, he met two men who were stranded and needed a ride. Learning that they wanted to build a community antenna system in Paducah, Texas , he decided to raise the money for a similar system in Memphis, Texas . He sold his cattle, took out a mortgage on his home and borrowed $ 2,500 from his father. His wife did the office work while Bob put up
3660-487: Was regarded as a company likely to be taken over. TCI was acquired by AT&T in 1999 and in 2002, Comcast acquired the rest of TCI's cable television systems. In 1997 TCI merged with the Kearns-Tribune Corp., publisher of The Salt Lake Tribune , Utah's largest newspaper. Kearns-Tribune Corp. was a large holder of TCI stock. On June 24, 1998, AT&T, the nation's largest provider of telephone service, announced
3721-468: Was shut down the same day AMC Networks went public. On March 10, 2011, Rainbow Media's parent company, Cablevision, as approved by its board on December 16, 2010, announced that it would be spinning off all of Rainbow Media's assets into a new publicly traded company, AMC Networks, which would become the successor to Rainbow Media later in 2011, and, as said in 2005, making their core cable business private. Rainbow Media's former President Josh Sapan serves as
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