In a strategic shift to support the upcoming launch of HBO Max, AT&T announced it will transition AT&T AUDIENCE Network’s linear and streaming broadcasts in Spring of 2020 to become an HBO Max Preview Channel.
“We will begin to transition AUDIENCE Network from its current approach to support AT&T’s broader original content and marketing focus on the upcoming HBO Max service,” said Daniel York, chief content officer, AT&T Consumer. “I am proud and grateful to the team at AUDIENCE for their many successes over the years, creating unique, fresh and provocative content along with our great studio partners. 20 years ago we were the first pay TV provider to differentiate our content offering with the best exclusive original content, and the team truly brought to life the network vision: Always Original, Never Ordinary.”
AUDIENCE launched as “FreeView” in November 1999 and primarily focused on music and concerts. It grew its content portfolio and was rebranded to “The 101 Network” in early 2005, and to AUDIENCE Network in 2010 when it expanded into scripted original series.
AUDIENCE Network (DIRECTV ch. 239, U-Verse ch. 1114, AT&T TV NOW and WatchTV) will transition into an HBO Max Preview Channel in the Spring of 2020.