Not to be confused with pay-per-view.

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Pay television, premium television, or premium channels refers to subscription-based television services, usually provided by both analog and digital cable and satellite, but also increasingly via digital terrestrial and internet television. Subscription television began in Multi-Channel Transition and transitioned into the Post Network Era. ^[1] Some parts of the world, notably in France and the US, have also offered encrypted analog terrestrial signals, available for subscription.

Programming[link]

Subscription based or pay television has resulted in a change in what type of content is broadcast by these networks. This model has led to networks creating a much more specialized types of shows to influence viewers to subscribe.^[1] Subscription Networks are most concerned with providing content that will make people want to subscribe as well as renew subscriptions rather than who is watching and when this viewing is taking place.^[1]

Most premium channels air movies, as well as specials, sporting events and original television series. These services are also commonly devoid of traditional commercial advertising with programs uninterrupted by television commercials, instead breaks are inserted between programs that typically are filled with promotions for upcoming programs and special behind-the-scenes features; although some sports-based pay services do feature commercial advertising, mainly if they simulcast sporting events broadcast by advertiser-supported television networks.

Movies comprise most of the program content of most pay television services; films that are broadcast on most premium channels in their original theatrically-released (and in some cases, unrated home video or DVD) versions; this is in comparison to films aired on terrestrial television or basic cable, which may be subject to edits for time and/or content, depending on what content a jurisdiction allows to be shown over-the-air or on basic cable. Many pay television services obtain rights to films through exclusive agreements with film distributors; films acquired during original term of license agreements with a distributor may also be broadcast long after the conclusion of a distribution agreement, via "sub-run" rights.

Some premium channels also broadcast television specials, which most commonly consist of concert events, documentaries and stand-up comedy acts. Sports programming is also featured on some premium services, in particular HBO and Showtime in the U.S. are both notable for their carriage of boxing events, while Showtime and Epix also carry mixed martial arts events; specialty pay sports channels such as Setanta Sports and Fox Soccer Plus exist and are typically sold at a higher expense than traditional premium services. Some pay services also offer pornographic films; a few mainstream services such as Cinemax in the U.S. carry a limited amount of softcore content during late night time periods. Specialized channels dedicated to pornographic films also exist that carry either softcore adult programs (e.g. Playboy TV) or slightly more hardcore content (e.g., The Erotic Network, Hustler TV), these channels are often sold on a night-by-night basis similar to the pay-per-view model, even though they commonly operate as 24-hour channels.

Due to the unedited nature of premium services, it is typical for large amounts of profanity, nudity/sexual situations, violence and other adult content to be shown since they are not subject to approval by sponsors. To notify viewers of program content, most premium channels air advisory bumpers immediately before each program, mentioning the program rating (typically not applying to live sporting events) and program content information (i.e., since the 1990s, premium channels in the United States use content descriptors describing potentially objectionable content included in the program, such as mild violence (identified as "MV") or strong sexual content (identified as "SSC")); additional features included in the television program (such as closed captioning and surround sound functions, and alternate lanaguage audio tracks via a secondary audio program feeds) are also mentioned.

Pricing[link]

Pay television channels come in different price ranges. Many channels carrying advertising combine this income with a lower subscription fee. These are called "mini-pay" channels and are often sold as a part of a package with numerous similarly priced channels. Sometimes, the subscriptions are also sold "a la carte", allowing consumers to select which channels they subscribe to. Usually however the regular pricing for premium channels ranges from just under $10 to near $25 per month per suite, with lower prices available via bundling options with cable or satellite providers, or special limited offers which are available during free preview periods or before the launch of a network's prestige series. However some other channels, such as sports and adult networks may ask for monthly pricing that may go as high as near $50 a month.

There are also premium television services which have a significantly higher price than the mini-pay channels, but they compensate for their higher price by carrying little or no advertising and also providing a higher quality output. As advertising sales are sensitive to the business cycle, some broadcasters try to balance them with more stable income from subscriptions.

Packaging[link]

Some providers offer channels owned by the same company in a single package. For example, American satellite provider DirecTV offers the Encore channels along with the Starz channels in its "Starz Super Pack";^[2] and The Movie Channel, Flix and Sundance Channel (which continues to be sold in the DirecTV package despite Showtime Networks no longer owning Sundance, now owned by AMC Networks) along with Showtime in its "Showtime Unlimited" package.^[3] HBO in turn almost always packages Cinemax and its sister networks with HBO. Many pay television services offer multiplex services also sold with the main channel, that broadcast on a different schedule from the main channel often using a channel-specific formats containing genre-based programming (ex.; one channel may feature family-oriented programming, another may feature action films) or programming aimed at a specific target audience.

Unlike other cable networks, premium services are almost always subscribed to a la carte cable television, meaning that one can, for example, subscribe to HBO without subscribing to Showtime (In Canada, there are slight modifications, as most providers include U.S. superstations with their main premium package by default). However, subscribing to an "individual" service automatically includes access to all of that service's available multiplex channels and, in some cases, access to content via video-on-demand. Also in Canada, HBO Canada is included in two separate packages: The Movie Network package, as well as the Movie Central package (as the two services are split to serve Western Canada and Eastern Canada, respectively). Most pay television providers also offer a selection of premium services (for example, the HBO, Showtime and Starz packages) in one bundle at a much reduced price than purchasing each service separately, as an inducement for subscribers to remain with their company or for others to induce subscribers into using their service.

Distribution[link]

Pay television has become popular with cable and satellite television. Most pay TV services now offer multiplex packages, in which the service offers several channels of programming rather than just one. Pay television services often, at least two to three times per year, provide subscribers free previews of their services, in order to court potential subscribers by allowing this wider audience to sample the service; these are typically scheduled to showcase major special event programming, such as the pay cable premiere of a blockbuster feature film or the premiere (either a series or season premiere) of a widely anticipated or critically acclaimed original series.

There have also been some subscription services on analogue terrestrial television, to varying degrees of success. Canal+ has operated a national analogue terrestrial pay channel in France from 1984 until the 2011 closedown of analogue television, when it transitioned to digital with the other terrestrial analogue channels. Its Spanish counterpart, Canal+ Spain, also broadcasted nationally between 1990-2005. Some U.S. television stations launched pay services (known simply as "subscription television" services) such as SuperTV, Wometco Home Theater, Prism, Preview, SelecTV and ON-TV in the late 1970s, but those services disappeared as competition from cable television expanded during the 1980s.

In some countries, the launch of digital terrestrial television has meant that pay television has become increasingly popular in countries with regular antennas.

The major distributors of pay television in Australia are Foxtel, Optus Television, Austar, SelecTV and TransACT, all of which provide cable services in some metropolitan areas, and satellite for all areas of the nation where cable is not available.

Ambiguities[link]

Pay-per-view[link]

Pay-per-view (PPV) services are similar to subscription-based pay TV services in that customers must pay to have the broadcast decrypted for viewing, but usually only entail a one-time payment for a single or time-limited viewing. Programs offered via pay-per-view are most often movies or sporting events, but may also include other events, such as concerts and even softcore adult programs. In the U.S., the first pay-per-view idea and technology for broadcast television was first developed in the early 1950s, including a crude decrypting of the over-the-air TV signal and a decoding box but never caught on or use at that time. It took another four decades when cable broadcasters started using pay-per-view on a widespread basis.^[4]

Free-to-view[link]

"Free" variants are free-to-air (FTA) and free-to-view (FTV); however FTV services are normally encrypted and decryption cards either come as part of an initial subscription to a pay TV bouquet^{[clarification needed]} or can be purchased for a one-time cost.

Selective access of free content

• FTA and FTV systems may still have selective access. ABC Asia-Pacific is one example. This channel's content is free-to-air but NRL games are encrypted.

Partial list of premium services[link]

Africa[link]

• South Africa - M-Net, DStv, TopTV
• Francophone Africa - Canal+ Afrique, M-Net, DStv
• Lusophone Africa - TV Cabo, M-Net, DStv
• Kenya - Zuku

Asia[link]

• Japan - NHK World Premium, Fuji TV OneTwoNext^[5]
• Indonesia - AoraTV, Indovision, TelkomVision
• Vietnam - SCTV

Europe[link]

• Austria - Sky Deutschland, AustriaSat
• Albania - Digitalb
• Belgium - Telenet Digital TV, Belgacom TV, Numericable Digital TV, VOO, Scarlet Digital TV, TV Vlaanderen, TéléSAT
• Cyprus - LTV, Alfa TV, NOVA Cyprus
• Czech Republic - UPC Czech Republic, Digi-TV, CS Link
• France - Canal+, Numericable Digital TV
• Germany - Sky Deutschland
• Greece - Nova Cinema, Nova Sports, Disney Channel, Disney XD, MAD Greekz
• Italy - Sky Italia, Mediaset Premium
• Netherlands - Film1, Sport1, HBO, Eredivisie Live
• Russia - NTV Plus
• Poland - Cyfra+, Canal+, Cyfrowy Polsat, n, HBO, Cinemax
• Portugal - TVCine, SportTV, Disney Cinemagic, TV Globo Portugal, Caça e Pesca, Playboy TV, Festa Brava, Hot
• Slovakia - UPC, Digi-TV, SkyLink
• Sweden - Canal+, Viasat Sport, TV1000
• Switzerland - Teleclub
• Turkey - Digiturk, D-Smart, Teledünya
• United Kingdom - Sky Digital, Virgin Media

Middle East and North Africa[link]

• Al Jazeera Sports
• ART (Arab Radio and Television Network)
• OSN (Orbit Showtime Network)

North America[link]

• Canada - Super Channel, The Movie Network, Movie Central, Super Écran, HBO Canada, Hollywood Suite
• Mexico - HBO, Playboy TV
• United States - HBO, Cinemax, Showtime, The Movie Channel, Flix, Starz, Encore, MoviePlex, , Epix, Playboy TV, Hustler TV, Penthouse TV, Baby First TV, Fox Soccer Plus, NFL RedZone, here!

South America[link]

• Brazil - HBO/Cinemax pack, Rede Telecine pack, PFC pack (Brazilian Soccer), Combate (channel), Playboy TV Brazil, Venus, Sextreme, Sexy Hot, CinePrive
• Chile - HBO/Cinemax pack, Moviecity channels, CDF

Oceania[link]

• Australia - Foxtel, Optus Television, Austar, Movie Network, showtime movie channels
• New Zealand - Sky Network Television

References[link]

See also[link]

• Out-of-Market Sports Package
• pay-per-view
• Pay television content descriptors
• Pirate decryption
• Premium segment
• Premium cable television in the United States

This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (May 2010)

Laurent Garnier
Garnier in 2006
Background information
Also known as	Choice, DJ Pedro
Origin	Boulogne-sur-Seine, France

Laurent Garnier (also known as Choice), (born 1 February 1966, Boulogne-sur-Seine, France) is a French techno music producer and DJ. Garnier began DJ-ing in Manchester during the late 1980s. By the following decade, he had a broad stylistic range, able to span deep house, Detroit techno, trance and jazz. He added production work to his schedule in the early 1990s, and recorded several albums.

Early influences[link]

During the late 1970s, Garnier discovered clubbing with his brother in Paris, where his family lived. He loved disco but also listened to all other contemporary musical genres including reggae, funk, and punk. At the age of 16, Garnier had started recording and mixing music on tape recorders.

In 1984, Garnier started working as a waiter for the French Embassy in London.^[1] He stayed there for a year and a half before moving to Manchester in 1986. Living in England he discovered the booming UK house scene and started DJing.^[2]

Career[link]

In 1987, he discovered the The Haçienda in Manchester, and met Mike Pickering the resident DJ. Chicago house and Detroit techno became popular, and Garnier started mixing there under the name of DJ Pedro.^[1]

In 1988, he went back to France to fulfill his military obligations.^[1] He also spent some time in New York where he met Frankie Knuckles.^[1] Garnier shifted his attention back to France in the early 1990s, running the Wake Up parties at the Rex Club in Paris for three years,^[1] while in 1992 he played a three-night long Weekender set at the Cork venue, Sir Henry's. He also mixed in clubs such as le Palace or le Boy, DJing in rave parties and gradually moving into recording as well. For the FNAC label, Garnier released "French Connection" and the A Bout de Souffle EP. After that label went out of business, he formed the F Communications label with Eric Morand (a friend who had also worked for FNAC).^[1][3] He often also DJed at "Open all hours" at London's Ministry of Sound on Friday nights, in the early and mid 1990s, and was a resident at The End before its closure in January 2009.

His first album, Shot in the Dark, was released in 1995.^[4] His second, 30, appeared in 1997 and included one of Garnier's best selling singles, "Crispy Bacon". 30 was followed by the retrospective Early Works. After appearing worldwide with DJ appearances during the late 1990s, Garnier returned to production with Unreasonable Behaviour, released in early 2000, which featured one of his best known songs, "The Man with the Red Face". In 2005, The Cloud Making Machine, was released, followed the next year by Retrospective. This was a best of compilation album, which had both his original work and remixes, including some released on vinyl-only, plus rare tracks. His latest album was Tales of a Kleptomaniac (2009).

Garnier has collaborated with System 7, and played several live shows with Bugge Wesseltoft (those recordings appeared on Public Outburst and Retrospective).

Selected discography[link]

Albums[link]

• Shot In The Dark (1994), F Communications
• Raw Works (US only compilation) (1996), Never Recordings
• 30 (1997), F Communications/PIAS France
• Unreasonable Behaviour (2000), F Communications
• Early Works (compilation) (1998), Arcade
• The Cloud Making Machine (2005), F Communications/PIAS
• Retrospective 1994 - 2006 (compilation) (2006), F Communications/PIAS
• Public Outburst (live album) (2007)
• Tales of a Kleptomaniac (2009), PIAS

Singles and EPs[link]

With Ed Banger Records[link]

• "Timeless EP" -2012

With FNAC Music Dance Division[link]

• "French Connection" (with Mix Master Doody) - 'as French Connection' (1991)
• Stronger By Design EP (1992)
• "Join Hands" (remixes) - (1992)
• Paris EP - 1993 - as 'Choice' (also published by Fragile Records)
• A Bout de Souffle EP - (1993) (also published by Warp Records)
• "For House Music Lovers" - 1993
• "Lost in Alaska" - 'as Alaska' - 1993
• Planet House EP - 1993

With F Communications[link]

• Dune (with Pascal Feos) - Alliance EP - 1994
• "Astral Dreams" - 1994
• Alaska - Deuxième EP - 1995
• Club Traxx EP - 1995
• "The Hoe" - 1996
• "Crispy Bacon Part 1" - 1997 - UK #60^[5]
• "Crispy Bacon Part 2" - 1997
• "Flashback" - 1997
• "Coloured City" - 1998
• Club Traxx EP Vol 2 - 1998
• "The Sound of the Big Babou" - 1999
• "The Man with the Red Face" - 2000 - UK #65^[5]
• "Greed" / "The Man with the Red Face" - 2000 - UK #36^[5]
• "Sambou" - 2002
• "Returning Back to Sirius" - 'as Alaska' - 2003
• Marl Chingus (with Ludovic Llorca) - "6 Months Earlier" - 2004
• "The Cloud Making Machine" (reworks vol 1 & 2) - 2005

With Innervisions[link]

• Back To My Roots EP - 2008

DVDs[link]

• Greed - DVD single - F Communications, Film Office, TDK Mediactive - 2001
• Live à l'Elysée Montmartre - F communications - 2002

Compilations and DJ sessions[link]

• X-Mix - Destination Planet Dream (Studio !K7 - 1994)
• Mixmag Live Vol. 19 (1995)
• Laboratoire Mix (2xCD, React, 1996)
• Early Works (2xCD, 1998)
• Fashion TV: Spring - Summer 2001 Collection
• Classic And Rare : La Collection Chapter 3 (F Communications, 2002)
• Excess Luggage (3xCD, F Communications, 2003)
• The Kings Of Techno (Rapster Records, 2006)
• Mixmag 25 Years Anniversary (2008)
• BBC Radio 1 Essential Mix (2009)

References[link]

External links[link]

• Laurent Garnier — official site
• Laurent Garnier discography at Discogs
• Laurent Garnier profile at club The End's website
• Laurent Garnier interview on HarderFaster
• Laurent Garnier biography from RFI Musique (in French)
• Laurent Garnier Essential Mix 2009
• Laurent Garnier DJ mix