US-based ★ New cable channel to watch

Despite headwinds like audience fragmentation and the rise of streaming, new cable TV channels continued to emerge in the U.S. throughout 2013. Ad Age highlighted eight channels to watch in 2014.

'Knife Fight' on Esquire Network

First is the Esquire Network, launched in September under NBCUniversal. Targeting the relatively underserved male demographic, particularly high-income, highly educated urban males, it became a new option for advertisers seeking to reach men beyond sports programming. It airs reality shows like the cooking competition "Knife Fight" and lifestyle programs.

 

Katie Nolan on Fox Sports 1's 'Crowd Goes Wild'

FOX Sports 1 (FS1), launched in August, is the sports channel advertisers have long awaited as an alternative to ESPN. It struggled initially due to a lack of strong content, averaging just under 300,000 prime-time viewers in the third quarter. However, it is rebounding as its programming lineup strengthens. The fact that the Super Bowl broadcast rights will return to FOX in 2014 should provide a tailwind.

 

Diddy and Time Warner Cable promote his new Revolt network	'Buffy the Vampire Slayer,' coming to Pivot in January

Other channels include Revolt, an MTV channel for millennials run by hip-hop producer Sean Combs; Pivot, which targets the same generation while appealing to social consciousness; Al Jazeera America, which launched in August; Fusion, a news/lifestyle channel launched by ABC and Univision in October; FXX, a comedy channel for young adults launched by the FOX Network in September; and El Rey, launched by Mexican filmmaker Robert Rodriguez in mid-December.

'America Tonight' on Al Jazeera America

Al Jazeera struggled with low prime-time viewership (averaging about 18,000) and hesitant advertisers, but expects to increase its reach in major metropolitan areas through a deal with Time Warner Cable. FXX differentiated itself from its parent company's adult-oriented dramas and secured exclusive cable rights to "The Simpsons" in November.

 

While the path to establishing new channels remains challenging, multiple new channels are expected to launch in 2014, including the WWE Network and the SEC Network for college sports.

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