‘Velocity’: Discovery to Launch TV Network for Rich Men Making $150k-Plus
- Posted on April 14, 2011 at 2:38am by
Scott Baker
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NEW YORK (AP) — Discovery Communications Inc. is launching a television network for rich guys and their toys.
Called Velocity, the new network will replace the current network HD Theater in some 40 million homes on Sept. 25, Discovery officials said Thursday. The target audience is men with incomes of $150,000 a year and more.
“We just felt like this was a space missing in the marketplace,” said David Zaslav, president and CEO of Discovery Communications.
HD Theater was launched in 2002 with the specific purpose of showing high-definition versions of programs on other Discovery networks. The rapid adoption of high-def by consumers, and the addition of high-def versions of a full network’s signal, rendered HD Theater obsolete.
Discovery has tested a series of programs on HD Theater in recent months that will make the switch to Velocity. They include “Chasing Classic Cars,” ”Cafe Racer“ and ”Mecum Auto Auctions.”
As those titles suggest, cars will be the “bull’s-eye” of Velocity programming, Zaslav said.
“Culturally, cars are so important for us guys in America,” he said. “We grew up dreaming about what the day would be like when we got our licenses and what cars we would drive.”
Velocity will also televise an upscale sailing race that touches on five oceans, travel programming to upscale locations, adventure sports and “real-life adrenaline shows,” said Robert Scanlon, senior vice president of Velocity.
If done right, Velocity could be a magnet for advertisers, who generally pay a premium to reach an upscale audience.
There are no plans for a network to appeal to rich women. Discovery also operates the Oprah Winfrey Network, TLC and Animal Planet, networks with strong appeal to women, Zaslav said.
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Comments (55)
slonlo
Posted on April 14, 2011 at 12:02pmI like DHD. I especially love the chasing classic cars show. I’m pretty sure he owns a new GTO too (I have one so I get super excited when I see another one anywhere). It’s parked in front of his shop many times during the show, and I’ve seen a different one parked with them at a road-course. But it isn’t marketed to men who make $150k… it’s marketed to the 11 year old with a Ferrari poster on the wall inside EVERYONE! NO television show is going to “entice someone to live beyond their means.” That’s just asinine. If that were the case I’d have bought a Koenigsiegg YEARS from watching Top Gear.
Report Post »ds7
Posted on April 14, 2011 at 11:40amcount me in, i regularly DVR programs on HD theater…and i love those car shows…bring back “overhaulin” with chip foose and the A team! while they’re at it, maybe it’s time to update “lifestyles of the rich and famous”…i wonder what robin leach has been doing for the past 2 decades.
Report Post »YITBOSGP
Posted on April 14, 2011 at 9:30am150K+ is rich now? I thought it was 250K+.
Report Post »teddrunk
Posted on April 14, 2011 at 8:04amThe could combine a show with people buying the expensive cars with the repo show with them towing it away, and the pawn shop show where they get their next grocery money.
Report Post »ds7
Posted on April 14, 2011 at 11:41amok, that was funny!
Report Post »Charles
Posted on April 14, 2011 at 7:47am$150,000 / yr only makes you rich if you’re living in a third world country. Oh! Thats right! Like the US is becoming under our socialist government
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on April 14, 2011 at 7:19amAnother show to convince stupid people to go in to debt above their means to pay it back. How many morons hae been convinced they are great singers by watching American Idol?
Report Post »ds7
Posted on April 14, 2011 at 11:44amcarrie underwood, kelly clarkson, chris daughtry, ruben studdard, kellie pickler, david archuleta, taylor hicks, bo bice…i for one am glad they got an opportunity to spotlight their talent and the jumpstart they needed to be heard.
Report Post »Yes a ConsvNY Mother
Posted on April 14, 2011 at 7:06amNot in NY! That is NO WHERE near rich! Maybe in Nebraska but definitely not within a 25 mile radius from NYC. We make alot more and barely get by and we do live in our means for those who will about to opine about “living within our means”. But according to Dear Leader Chairman MaoBama we are “rich”, so rich in fact that is why we have not gone on a vacation in seven years!! I have no reason to watch this fluffed up show. This is a buch of B.S.!
Report Post »Lone Ranger
Posted on April 14, 2011 at 6:39amI’m rich?? WOO HOO! I’M RICH! I’M RICH! I’M RICH!!!
Report Post »justice
Posted on April 14, 2011 at 6:35amIt is their money, We all have an opportunity to earn money if we ally our selves.
Report Post »Pezman
Posted on April 14, 2011 at 6:10amI just posting, but didn’t see the post. After reading many comments, I’m inclined to ask, who is the owner of the new network? It is possible you are all correct about your assuption this is meant to increase class welfare. Since the station is to replace current, is it not possible that ALGORE has started another new station, to increase class warfare? It should be easy enough to find out.
Report Post »Pezman
Posted on April 14, 2011 at 6:06amreplacing current tv in 40 million hoseholds. This will knock Olbermans ratings down from 10 to 5.
Report Post »Marylou7
Posted on April 14, 2011 at 6:00amMy husband already watches one of those shows and he loves it. WE ARE NOT RICH. People need dreams though, it’s what drives America. Have a dream then work your butt off to get it. Anyway the libs hate “white” men making over 150K and that alone makes them special in my book. Sweet dreams.
Report Post »Psychosis
Posted on April 14, 2011 at 5:56amanything to push the class war…………………..next they will be demanding they get higher taxes too
im startin a business up, and i have a net value of about 500 dollars………………but since i cant find work, im going to try to make a living on my own…………..i can build or fix just about anything, but, if my business gets off the ground, im not employing ANY democrats or lefties period. they can kiss my butt
and i will have a test that will tell me
Report Post »Marylou7
Posted on April 14, 2011 at 6:02amThe test question of what’s 2+2 should solve that.
Report Post »steve-in-pa
Posted on April 14, 2011 at 5:48amHmmm. First obama said 250k was rich, now people are saying 150k. Soon 30k will be the number, right comrade?
Report Post »teddrunk
Posted on April 14, 2011 at 5:46amSounds great…but is this news…are these the minority restaurant trashing stories I’ve come to depend on, on Blaze.
Report Post »DeltaHawk
Posted on April 14, 2011 at 4:16amI still have antenna and a converter box , pisss on ‘em!
Report Post »sodizzy
Posted on April 14, 2011 at 4:10amIs this the Discovery channel? don’t think so. Just asking.
Report Post »SilentReader
Posted on April 14, 2011 at 4:03amMen might be their target audience but that doesn‘t mean that women won’t be watching. There‘s alot of things that women watch that men don’t think they’d ever be interested in.
Don’t ever think women are only interested in the Oprah Winfrey fluff. Oprah’s old guard. Women have evolved, if you hadn’t noticed.
Just look at Meghan Kelly.
Report Post »WestOfThePecos
Posted on April 14, 2011 at 7:44amdon’t forget about our own S.E.
Report Post »Diane TX
Posted on April 14, 2011 at 3:48amHuh? 150K is “rich” in today’s World? In my working years, it was easy to make over 250K. Even at that, I never considered myself to be “rich”. I considered myself to be well-off, but not rich. Billionaires are rich, millionaires are just wealthy.
Report Post »sn000zey
Posted on April 14, 2011 at 3:43amsounds good 2 me.
Report Post »JJCon
Posted on April 14, 2011 at 3:16amIs that personal income or household income? One way and I’m no where near able to watch… and the other way and I’m even further away.
Report Post »lketchum
Posted on April 14, 2011 at 8:47amPersonal, Net after tax income, I think…. cuz pre-tax, that would not be a lot of dough.
Report Post »Cold War Vet
Posted on April 14, 2011 at 3:16amI don’t know who they think we are. Not exactly poor, but definitely not rich.
Trying to run a small business with a commie business-buster in the White House, dumping new, vile regulation on America almost daily. Doing all they can to stamp out free enterprise and entrepreneurship. Socialism and communism really is the politics of envy.
The lazy and the worthless, demanding a share of OUR pie. If the bastards would let us, we’d create MORE AMERICAN JOBS. Our taxes are suppose to run small, efficient government. Instead they give us this.
Die, communist scum.
Report Post »lketchum
Posted on April 14, 2011 at 8:46amAmen, Brother, Amen!
Report Post »Showtime
Posted on April 14, 2011 at 3:00amAnd I won’t watch Oprah for danged sure!!!
Report Post »Oathkeeper1775
Posted on April 14, 2011 at 2:59amafl-cio custodians, be sure to tune in.
Report Post »Showtime
Posted on April 14, 2011 at 3:20amIt will give the air traffric controllers something to watch while they are being suspended with pay.
Report Post »meeester
Posted on April 14, 2011 at 10:03amyou’re good
Report Post »(but there are some bus drivers that feel left out)
PATTY HENRY
Posted on April 14, 2011 at 2:49amR U KIDDING? $150K? Barely buy you mortgage on a 4.3 and a pool !!! I think this is more GARBAGE trying to SHOVE “imagined wealth” down the throats of the AVG. American to instill dissatisfaction with the AMERICAN DREAM. Maybe if the income were the $ 1.5 MILLION I might understand it, but not $ 150K . HERE’S ANOTHER THOUGHT: What has made AMERICA unique is the fact that a kids can grow up as poor as poor can be and end up making a fortune…because he is in AMERICA with freedom. Others may have had the same schooling etc. but he decided to take a chance. OBAMMY wants to squash AMERICAN ingenuity … it’s harder to CONTROL entrepreneurs…. HE is nothing more than a BRAINWASHED MARXIST COMMIE…I thought CARTER was the worst PRESIDENT for the USA…I believe OBAMMY has just edged him out. WEAK, LIAR, ANTI-AMERICAN dope that he is. AND ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE who surround him, that act as if the “COMMON MAN’ were so distainful…they literally laugh under their (rancid) breath when speaking about “the masses” have not figured out that they have been BRAINWASHED TOO!!! THEY don’t have anything but a COMMIE PROFESSOR PLANTED Brainwashing… thinkaboutit.
Report Post »Showtime
Posted on April 14, 2011 at 2:58amThey surely won’t have to worry about me. I won’t be watching it.
Report Post »avenger
Posted on April 14, 2011 at 5:50ammissing 2 zeros
Report Post »felina g
Posted on April 14, 2011 at 7:23amSexist and bigoted !
Boohoo………..I am a filthy rich woman (I mean REALLY LOADED) and love to buy a lot of meaningless crap. Where is MY special channel ? QVC ??????
Where is the outrage ??? Where is NANCY with her really big hammer ?? This just SACHS !!
Report Post »We Are Not Alone
Posted on April 14, 2011 at 7:54amI don‘t think that they have seen obama’s new budget….. he’ll be after ALL of their money and then ALL of their toys…. lol
Enjoy it while you can…… going going GONE
Wake up and stop this madness!!!!!!!
Report Post »robx
Posted on April 14, 2011 at 8:17amHello Felina,
Report Post »My name is Rob, I like long walks on the beach and quiet candle lite nights at home shopping on QVC and women who arent affraid to express themselves. Call me! ;)
-Rob
grandmaof5
Posted on April 14, 2011 at 8:41amMust be $150K is rich in rural Arkansas. At least the IRS won’t have to go far when their looking for their new tax base – just turn on the television.
Report Post »13th Imam
Posted on April 14, 2011 at 9:51amGeez
They forgot “White”, Homophobiic, Anti-women, Anti-Islamic,, Do-Do Heads. All rich should close their business’s , unemploy millions, go sit on their yachts, and let the poor pick up the slack. We all know that the poor have great business acumen, and are just being held down by ONLY REPUBLICAN, White, rich men.
Report Post »rockmanlinux
Posted on April 14, 2011 at 10:43amCompletely agree with ya. I make that money… I’m not in that market. Not a chance. 1-2 million and live in a cheaper area not California or NY etc and maybe. Money doesn’t go as far as it used too.
Report Post »I Love Section 8 Housing
Posted on April 14, 2011 at 12:17pmNow Joe the Plumber will have a channel to watch while he‘s sitting around unemployed dreaming about owning his own toilet fixin’ business.
Report Post »the_zazzy
Posted on April 14, 2011 at 1:21pmDon’t worry…after Obama’s tax plan begins, they won‘t be rich for long and then they’ll have to watch PBS.
Report Post »GONZO_G
Posted on April 14, 2011 at 2:04pmTell us how you REALLY feel! God love ya Patty, keep it up!!
And Felina, I‘m happily married but i’d like to know what you do so that I can do it as well to move my family as forward as possible to stay ahead of Odumbo.
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