Template:Infobox television channel
AXN was an Indian pay television channel that was owned by Sony Pictures Networks . Funded through advertising and subscription fees, AXN primarily focused on action genre and reality programming.
History
AXN launched in the Indian subcontinent on 8 January 1999 as a flagship feed of AXN Asia.[1] During the channel's early years it operated as a genre-based network, airing mainly action films, action programmes, action animation and action sports.
Facing tough competition from rival networks Zee Café and Star World and a precipitous decline in the international syndication market for fictional action series and films, the channel shifted in mid-2005 by gradually incorporating more and more drama and comedy based programs into its schedule in order to attract more viewers and replicate the success shows such as Friends (comedy) and Law & Order (drama) had found on other channels. Big acquisitions included 24 and the CSI franchise.[2]
The channel's high-definition feed was launched on 6 April 2015,[3] which carried the same schedule as the SD feed but with different commercials.Template:Citation needed
Rebranding
The channel underwent a rebranding on 24 January 2016 with the addition of the slogan Live R.E.D standing for Reality, Entertainment and Drama. With this transformation, the channel sought to further diversify its portfolio away from its action genre by airing action shows with more intense, smart and unexpected characters.[4]
To further its mission of diversification, the channel forged a multi-year deal with CBS Studios in July 2014, acquiring exclusive broadcast rights to the network's shows in India.[5] The acquisition of the critically acclaimed Hulu original series The Handmaid's Tale for first airing in India also helped greatly in attracting more viewers for the channel and advertising the channel's content.Template:Citation needed
Closure
The channel's viewership began to gradually decline since early 2019, post the implementation of the new tariff order (NTO) by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India which mandated that channels should not be bundled in packs, leading to a sharp fall in demand for niche channels.[6]
Consequently, on 1 June 2020 Sony Pictures Networks India announced that effective from 30 June 2020 AXN would cease all operations in India for both its SD and HD feeds, with the majority of its programming moving to Sony's SVOD service, Sony Liv,[7] thus ending the channel's existence of 21 years.
Fall in ad revenue during the COVID-19 pandemic and further decline in viewership due to the advent of SVOD platforms in India were also cited as reasons behind the channel's closure.[6]
Programming
AXN primarily aired shows from the U.S. and U.K. (including selected shows produced/distributed by Sony Pictures Television). The following is a list of programming broadcast by the network: Template:Div col
Anime
Comedy-Drama
Drama
- 24[15]
- The Agency[16]
- Alias[2]
- Billions[17]
- Blue Bloods[18]
- Boomtown[19]
- The Brave[14]
- Breaking Bad[20]
- Bull[14]
- Charlie's Angels[16]
- CHOSEN[21]
- Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon[22]
- CSI[23]
- CSI: Cyber[24]
- CSI: Miami[25]
- CSI: NY[25]
- Damages[26]
- Dexter[27]
- Doubt[14]
- Elementary[28]
- The Firm[29]
- Gossip Girl[30]
- The Handmaid's Tale[17]
- Hannibal[31]
- Hawaii Five-0[18]
- House MD[25]
- Incorporated[32]
- Justified[33]
- Leverage[29]
- MacGyver[34]
- Madam Secretary[18]
- NCIS[35]
- NCIS: Los Angeles[36]
- NCIS: New Orleans[24]
- Nip/Tuck[25]
- NUMB3RS[25]
- Penny Dreadful[37]
- Ray Donovan[17]
- Reckless[38]
- Salvation[17]
- Scorpion[14]
- Seven Types of Ambiguity[17]
- Sheena[23]
- The Shield[25]
- Sherlock[39]
- Supernatural[40]
- Teen Wolf[32]
- Undercover[41]
- Vikings[18]
- V.I.P.[23]
- The Voice[17]
- You[18]
- Zoo[14]
Reality
- 30 Seconds to Fame[2]
- 101 Ways to Leave a Gameshow[29]
- The Amazing Race[2]
- American Ninja Warrior[33]
- The Apprentice Asia[42]
- Are You Hot?[2]
- The Bachelor: Australia[43]
- Bikini Destinations[2]
- Breaking the Magician's Code: Magic's Biggest Secrets Finally Revealed[33]
- Britain's Next Top Model[44]
- The Contender[2]
- Criss Angel Mindfreak[25]
- Destination Truth[26]
- The Duke[45]
- Face Off[44]
- Fear Factor[2]
- Flipping Out[46]
- Genius Junior[47]
- Ghost Hunters[29]
- The Glee Project[48]
- Little Big Shots
- Guinness World Records Gone Wild[49]
- Guinness World Records Primetime[2]
- The Hero[21]
- The Immortal[23]
- Minute to Win It[50]
- The Real Housewives of New York City[51]
- Ripley's Believe It or Not![2]
- So You Think You Can Dance[49]
- Survivor[49]
- Top Chef[52]
- Top Gear[33]
- Total Blackout[41]
- Total Wipeout[53]
- Twinning[33]
- Who Dares Wins[2]
- Wild On![2]
- Wipeout[54]
- The Wright Stuff[19]
Science Fiction
- The 4400[2]
- 7 Days[23]
- Andromeda[25]
- Beauty & the Beast[38]
- Delete[21]
- Earth: Final Conflict[23]
- The End of the World[21]
- Extant[37]
- Falling Skies[37]
- Now and Again[23]
- Orphan Black[32]
- Tremors[2]
- Under the Dome[55]
References
- ↑ Sony to launch India's first genre-based channel, AXN, Joshi, Namrata. India Today(26 October 1998). Retrieved 27 June 2020.
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 AXN – reinventing to stay relevant(28 July 2005).
- ↑ AXN unveils HD channel and new programming line-up. exchange4media(25 March 2015).
- ↑ Sony Picture Networks India rebrands AXN. Indian Television(21 January 2016).
- ↑ AXN India and CBS Studios International Announce Multi-Year Television Deal. The Times of India(29 July 2014).
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Niche TV channels go off the air as covid hits ad revenue. Mint(22 June 2020).
- ↑ AXN, AXN HD Will Be Taken Offline June 30, Sony Pictures Networks India Reveals. NDTV(1 June 2020).
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 The rules of Anime and Manga in Indian market. The Free Press Journal(20 May 2019).
- ↑ AXN to premiere 'BrainDead'; will air back-to-back seasons of 'Madam Secretary'(1 July 2016).
- ↑ AXN India associates with Social to expand its consumer connect with 'Californication'(30 September 2015).
- ↑ DOUBLE WHAMMY FOR AXN THIS JUNE WITH CHUCK SEASON 5 AND CSI 13(10 June 2013).
- ↑ American TV series 'Limitless' gets Bollywood touch. Business Standard(19 February 2016).
- ↑ Nurse Jackie Season 1–7 Starts 1st October Mon – Fri 11pm Only On AXN(26 September 2018).
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 14.5 AXN spices up programming line-up with 'AXN Premiere Club' – introduces 7 days, 7 premieres(8 February 2018).
- ↑ 24: Live Another Day debuts on AXN starting 9 May(28 March 2014).
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 AXN To Embark on a High-pitched Promotion(30 March 2002).
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 17.4 17.5 'AXN Premiere Club' is back with new stories every day of the week!(29 October 2018).
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 18.4 AXN gives you 5 reasons to look forward to weekdays!(30 January 2019).
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 "AXN Asia's ad revenue has grown by over 50 per cent regionwide" says Todd Miller AXN Asia managing director(2 April 2003).
- ↑ Popular crime drama Breaking Bad set to premiere on AXN India, today(5 September 2016).
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 Exclusive: We have the best Intl. franchise: AXN India's Sunil Punjabi(25 September 2013).
- ↑ AXN Replay(25 December 2001).
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 23.3 23.4 23.5 23.6 AXN rolling out seven new series over next two months(9 June 2001).
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 AXN India and CBS Studios International Announce Multi-Year Television(29 July 2014).
- ↑ 25.0 25.1 25.2 25.3 25.4 25.5 25.6 25.7 English medium(29 May 2012).
- ↑ 26.0 26.1 AXN celebrates 15 years of broadcasting with 'Shocktober(21 November 2012).
- ↑ Dexter is back on TV as a serial killer(19 December 2016).
- ↑ Elementary' to end after season 7(18 December 2018).
- ↑ 29.0 29.1 29.2 29.3 AXN is India's No.1 English GEC of 2011(14 January 2012).
- ↑ Gossip Girl season 4 set to kick off in India(23 June 2011).
- ↑ AXN set to reign Saturdays with 'Hannibal'(1 March 2014).
- ↑ 32.0 32.1 32.2 AXN's 'Fresh from the US' is back with 3 new exciting shows!(19 June 2017).
- ↑ 33.0 33.1 33.2 33.3 33.4 AXN Programming.
- ↑ Levy Tran joins 'MacGyver'(6 February 2019).
- ↑ WITNESS A THRILLING OCTOBER WITH THE MOST SPECTACULAR SHOWS ONLY ON AXN(14 October 2014).
- ↑ Crime and punishment(3 August 2019).
- ↑ 37.0 37.1 37.2 AXN finds a 'Not So Ordinary Weekend' slot as English GEC genre gets hot(4 August 2014).
- ↑ 38.0 38.1 AXN gets five new shows to India(13 January 2014).
- ↑ Sherlock is back on AXN(29 March 2017).
- ↑ 'Supernatural' enters final season(18 October 2020).
- ↑ 41.0 41.1 Blockbuster year for English entertainment(12 January 2014).
- ↑ Volkswagen drives AXN's 'The Apprentice Asia'(17 May 2013).
- ↑ The Bachelor Australia: AXN India.
- ↑ 44.0 44.1 AXN is the premier destination for reality shows in India(23 July 2018).
- ↑ Asia's elite men on AXN(9 February 2009).
- ↑ Flipping Out (AXN)(22 May 2019).
- ↑ Genius Junior (2018).
- ↑ Glee Project attracts Gleeks from far and wide(14 January 2011).
- ↑ 49.0 49.1 49.2 With fresh content from America, AXN eyeing 30% market(30 March 2015).
- ↑ AXN'S 'MINUTE TO WIN IT INDIA' KICKS OFF ON 12 JANUARY(11 January 2011).
- ↑ The Real Housewives Of New York City Starts 28th January Mon – Fri 9pm Only On AXN(18 January 2019).
- ↑ AXN to air latest seasons of 'Top Chef'(31 March 2017).
- ↑ It's raining colorful movies and shows this Holi on SPN's English Cluster(27 February 2018).
- ↑ AXN TO KICK OFF 'WIPEOUT' NEXT MONTH(29 August 2009).
- ↑ Under The Dome Season 3 Promo.