Ovation is an American television network. Ovation premiered on April 21, 1996 and was re-launched on June 20, 2007 to a national audience with carriage on DirecTV. Since then, the network has added carriage on AT&T U-verse, Frontier FiOS, Comcast/Xfinity, RCN, Charter and other major cable systems across the country. The channel currently reaches approximately 50 million subscribers. Ovation launched an HD service in 2010 and is also available on VOD and via TV Everywhere through selected providers. Ovation is a privately held, independent cable network. Ovation's investors include Hubbard Media Group, Corporate Partners II, Arcadia Investment Partners, and Perry Capital. , approximately 54 million households receive Ovation.
History
The channel was launched in 1997 and relaunched in June 2007, coinciding with its addition by DirecTV, which gave the channel full national coverage. In 2008, Ovation also became available on Dish Network. With the relaunch, Ovation TV claimed an "energetic" new look and a new primetime schedule revolving around "genre nights" dedicated to performance, people, art, music and film. On March 1, 2010, the channel dropped the "TV" from its name in a rebranding effort.
Carriage
On December 18, 2012, Time Warner Cable announced plans to remove Ovation from its own systems as well as those operated by Bright House Networks. Time Warner Cable and Bright House dropped Ovation at midnight Eastern Time on December 31, 2012. The two providers later reached an agreement to resume carriage of Ovation on October 16, 2013, reinstating the channel on TWC and Bright House systems on January 1, 2014. On April 6, 2015, Dish Network removed it from the lineup.
Ovation HD
Ovation HD is a high definition simulcast feed of Ovation, which broadcasts in the 1080i resolution format; it was launched in July 2010. Ovation HD is currently available on DirecTV, Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Bright House Networks, Verizon FiOS, and AT&T U-verse.
Programming
Ovation programming is a mix of original and old television series, films, documentaries and specials, targeting a multi-generational audience of women, 40 and older. In 2013, Ovation announced the exclusive US premiere of A Young Doctor's Notebook, a four-part scripted series starring Jon Hamm and Daniel Radcliffe, and launched the exclusive US premiere of The Artful Detective,, now in its twelfth season, with season 13 premiering in 2019. In 2013, the network also premiered The Art Of which returned with season 4 in 2015. Ovation expanded its line-up with the docu-series, Big Ballet, featuring former Royal Ballet dancer Wayne Sleep as he assembles a troupe of plus-size dancers to perform Swan Lake. Original series premiering in 2014 included The Fashion Fund, starring Anna Wintour and Diane von Fürstenberg, Capture,Young Marvels, highlighting the artistic achievements made by young people in dance, music, Trending Trailers, with celebrity interviews and previews of upcoming films and "Touching the Art," a comedic web seriespanel show focused on contemporary art hosted by Casey Jane Ellison. Returning series in 2014 included The Fashion Fund, A Young Doctor's Notebook and the Song by Song franchise, highlighting the stories behind the most popular hits by Sheryl Crow, Blondie, and Lindsey Stirling. Ovation debuted the U.S. premiere of international drama series Versailles on October 1, 2016. The series lasted three seasons and starred George Blagden, Alexander Vlahos, Evan Williams, Tygh Runyan, Anna Brewster, Lizzie Brochere, Maddison Jaizani and Stuart Bowman. The series finale aired on December 8, 2018. Ovation debuted the U.S. cable television premiere of international drama series Riviera on February 9, 2019. The series stars Julia Stiles, Lena Olin, Adrian Lester, Iwan Rheon, Dimitri Leonidas, Anthony LaPaglia and Roxane Duran. Current programming:
