Could Disney and EPE be in talks about a new television network?

[vivaelvis]

That's what I'm hearing. Possibly launching in the US only by 2013 or 2014. According to my friend and source back in Memphis, he says after talking with an insider to EPE yesterday, that the company is looking into a potential Elvis themed network in the lines of TMC (Turner Classic Movies). They have talked about doing this since 1997 and are closer now than ever despite financial issues. They're looking for a business partner to have the financing to start up an Elvis channel for a 24 hour network with all Elvis related programming (with some programming not necessarily featuring Elvis but inspired). This is where Disney comes into play. He says from what he has heard is that the talks are that Disney would finance and own the network while EPE would provide and operate the material out of LA and Memphis. If this is true, and becomes a reality, it could be the ultimate tool to keep Elvis popular and relevant for generations to come. It could also be used to impact future tourism to Graceland and impact cd sales. EPE and Disney are staying quiet for now.

Stay tuned, this could get interesting.

[Raised on Rock]

O.K. but leave Clambake out of the deal.

Just kidding. That, if true, could be fantastic! although I'm not sure if there's enough material for a 24hrs 365 days all Elvis channel without be repetivie. I guess some other not directly related programs should bee allowed, like some other movies from the rock and roll era, documentals about related artists or artist from the same era and so on.

It shouldn't focus on his 60's movies exclusively, as that is not exactly for what he is best remembered.

Hmmm... maybe this is an oportunity to finally see all full Elvis on Tour and TTWWII concerts, and stuff like that.

This might also became the chance for finally produce an Elvis documental Beatles's Anthologhy style.

[vivaelvis]

O.K. but leave Clambake out of the deal.

Just kidding. That, if true, could be fantastic! although I'm not sure if there's enough material for a 24hrs 365 days all Elvis channel without be repetivie. I guess some other not directly related programs should bee allowed, like some other movies from the rock and roll era, documentals about related artists or artist from the same era and so on.

It shouldn't focus on his 60's movies exclusively, as that is not exactly for what he is best remembered.

Hmmm... maybe this is an oportunity to finally see all full Elvis on Tour and TTWWII concerts, and stuff like that.

This might also became the chance for finally produce an Elvis documental Beatles's Anthologhy style.

That was my argument as well. But apparently it would be done like Disney does their own channel where programming is repeated daily. Probably where the first 12 hours of programming would be repeated in the last 12 hours of a day. Or, they could do it where the same program appears multiple times a week.

I was told that some of the programming may not actually feature Elvis himselvis, but would be inspired by him. Probably movies like Honeymoon In Vegas, 3000 Miles To Graceland, Heartbreak Hotel, Lonely Street, Finding Graceland, etc. Heck, there's enough Elvis-inspired movies made in the past 3 decades for enough material alone.

I'm gonna try and get more detailed information about this.

[KPM]

O.K. but leave Clambake out of the deal.

Just kidding. That, if true, could be fantastic! although I'm not sure if there's enough material for a 24hrs 365 days all Elvis channel without be repetivie. I guess some other not directly related programs should bee allowed, like some other movies from the rock and roll era, documentals about related artists or artist from the same era and so on.

It shouldn't focus on his 60's movies exclusively, as that is not exactly for what he is best remembered.

Hmmm... maybe this is an oportunity to finally see all full Elvis on Tour and TTWWII concerts, and stuff like that.

This might also became the chance for finally produce an Elvis documental Beatles's Anthologhy style.

We had a thread on this years ago-and I said then what I will say now-33 motion pictures all the Sullivan shows, all the tv Elvis ever did all the specials about him over the years is about 4-5 days of programming and that is not enough to launch an all Elvis tv network-I wonder how anyone could believe that it is.
You would be repeating your product ad nauseum. EPE does not own the movies so any deal for the network would have be made with the individual companies who own the film rights-this has been a rumor since 1997 and it is now 2011 ........realistically I am sure that if there ever was serious talk about this-it has been also been debated "ad nauseum" by the parties supposedly involved-and gone no where.
Just not enough product.
Turner has thousands upon thousand of films, Fox network has considerably less than Turner but way way more than the Elvis films and it repeats its movies all the time.

[vivaelvis]

We had a thread on this years ago-and I said then what I will say now-33 motion pictures all the Sullivan shows, all the tv Elvis ever did all the specials about him over the years is about 4-5 days of programming and that is not enough to launch an all Elvis tv network-I wonder how anyone could believe that it is.
You would be repeating your product ad nauseum. EPE does not own the movies so any deal for the network would have be made with the individual companies who own the film rights-this has been a rumor since 1997 and it is now 2011 ........realistically I am sure that if there ever was serious talk about this-it has been also been debated "ad nauseum" by the parties supposedly involved-and gone no where.
Just not enough product.
Turner has thousands upon thousand of films, Fox network has considerably less than Turner but way way more than the Elvis films and it repeats its movies all the time.

Back in 1983, doubters and naysayers said the same thing about The Disney Channel when it debuted and in 1980 they said that ESPN would not work either. Both are thriving and extremely powerful networks worldwide that actually have a partnership with each other. Disney owns ABC networks.

I posted originally that it may not include ALL Elvis material but could include Elvis themed or related programming such as 3000 Miles To Graceland, Honeymoon In Vegas, Fools Rush In, Lilo & Stitch, etc. There's over 100 motion pictures alone that could be used. There's over 100 individual movie, concerts and documentaries that could be used. There's also the potential for many other new productions. DSN repeats its material all the time and I don't see anyone being burned out on it. If they did then DSN wouldn't continue it.

I have known of EPE wanting a network for a while but this is the first I have heard of Disney wanting to partner with them. Time will tell what becomes of this potential deal.

[lvelvis]

this was actually going to be done in 96 or 97 your friend is right , in yheir newsletter GRACELAND EXPRESS back then they had an article about such a channell but then nothing came of it . One can only wonder what kind of programing they would have after the movies and home shopping network hawking of ELVIS latest plates,cups, key chains etc.. I 'm sure they will only report on fluff and not on anything with substance or real info , oh and don't forget they will most likely show E.P. from 55-73 as ELVIS died for E.P.E in 73.

[monk37]

I can see an Elvis radio station, but a tv network?

I don't know that there's enough Elvis content for a long term tv network

but it's one I would subscribe to if I had the option

[Raised on Rock]

It could work if they include non Elvis related programing, like some documentals on the history of rock and roll, stuff from other related artists from the 50's, 60's and early 70's (films, documentals, concerts), but keeping Elvis as the center of it all of course. More like a vintage rock and roll/pop channel, with even some videoclip programming in certain hours, but again, all set in a way, Elvis would always be the main thing showing, getting all the prime time and being the center of atenttion.

If we get together all Elvis on Tour footage, they can produce some kind of a documental series, an hour once a week or so, same with TTWWI. Same for a 8 hrs exaustive documental on his life, Beatles Anthology like, stuff like that will gave us 4 season series to keep it interesting for a couple years. Same could be done for some related artist, new documentals about sun records, about the blues, country or gospel music, etc.

*****

Now if this is going to be a 24hrs of advertising the horrible Elvis mug or the newest Elvis Ken doll, and a few Clambake or Harum Scarum between that, forget it, it will just make it all worst.

[KPM]

Back in 1983, doubters and naysayers said the same thing about The Disney Channel when it debuted and in 1980 they said that ESPN would not work either. Both are thriving and extremely powerful networks worldwide that actually have a partnership with each other. Disney owns ABC networks.

I posted originally that it may not include ALL Elvis material but could include Elvis themed or related programming such as 3000 Miles To Graceland, Honeymoon In Vegas, Fools Rush In, Lilo & Stitch, etc. There's over 100 motion pictures alone that could be used. There's over 100 individual movie, concerts and documentaries that could be used. There's also the potential for many other new productions. DSN repeats its material all the time and I don't see anyone being burned out on it. If they did then DSN wouldn't continue it.

I have known of EPE wanting a network for a while but this is the first I have heard of Disney wanting to partner with them. Time will tell what becomes of this potential deal.

Huge difference between DISNEY FILMS and Elvis films-Disney cartoons go way back to the 30s-Disney had a series on Sunday nights THe Wonderful World of Disney that specialized in family entertainment for years on ABC, they have produced other TV series......in short Disney has thousands of films, TV shows and cartoons running the whole spectrum of entertainment at their disposal to fill time. They do not have only 33 features, a few specials and some Sullivan, Berle, and Steve Allen shots. If someone truely thinks a whole network can run with less than 4-5 days of material-they are not thinking it thru.
Even with the 100 movies you mention you would be reruning constantly-168 hours in a week and ......if you have 150 features at an average of 90 minutes a feature-thats only about 225 hours of programming-a little over one weeks worth of first run features.
Fox movie network reruns their films quite ofter-and they have way more than 150 films at their disposal.....lets be realistic thats quite a bit of fill time.
This "rumor" has been around since 97 (14 years)...they have either decided its just not feasible, or it is "rumor and nothing more"
Is their a source for this-other than your friend in Memphis?
I put into my search EPE Elvis-Disney TV network partnership and found no relavent links, and several other versions and found nothing.
This would not be so secret-since the rumor goes back to 97 that no news would be somewhere.

[vivaelvis]

It seems that when people hear the term "Elvis network" they assume that it's only Elvis material. But from what I was told, it may not be all Elvis but Elvis-related. Maybe that means that it would be built around 50's, 60's, and 70's programming of movies and documentaries from the period with Elvis as the centerpiece of the channel? When you think of it, DSN wasn't built to be Disney-only programming. In the early days of the channel it was built around both Disney and non Disney programming including movies and concert specials. Elvis' Aloha From Hawaii and the 68 Comeback were broadcasted on DSN as was One Night With You, which was a new HBO presentation that featured then-unreleased footage from the sitdown shows in 68.

Another thing, DSN didn't start out in everyone's home nor a hit right off the bat. Only about 5 million households received DSN as a premium channel until the late 90's. Today, more than 60 million receive it through regular cable. Also, it didn't start out as a 24-hour network either. It was 16 hours of programming.

Here's DSN's wiki page and it's pretty informative about how the channel came about and where they've gone since. Disney now owns ABC, ABC-Family, ESPN, and Soapnet to name a few. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disney_Channel


Once again, if Disney does happen to make a deal with EPE and launch a new network in 2013 or 2014, most likely it wouldn't be just all Elvis but would have an Elvis theme to it. I think that is the only way it would work both financially and properly.

[Unchained Melody]

Dont see this happening anytime soon.

[vivaelvis]

Dont see this happening anytime soon.

It's being looked at for 2013 or 2014.

[KPM]

It's being looked at for 2013 or 2014.

And the rumor in 97 was it was being looked at for 2001-2002.
I have seen no internet news about any Disney?EPE/Apollo negotiations nor any business news...lets face it this is a rumor with not much foundation-since this rumor first surfaced in 97 not one step has been made toward any partnership between Disney and EPE for a tv network-none!
Where did you get the dates 2013-2014? If it does not come from Disney, or EPE or Apollo-who could know such a thing?
You call me pessimistic-only on things such as this. The premise of an all Elvis channel is ludicrous only because of the lack of material-now you say it could be a network centered around the 50s, 60s and 70s programming-well isnt that TV Land?
They also ran Aloha a few years back and the 68 Special plus they use to specialize in oldies shows-but their viewership dropped over time which is why now they have more first run shows such as the hit "Hot In Cleveland" to keep the network running.
Its not pessimistic to look at things like this and question it.

[Unchained Melody]

And the rumor in 97 was it was being looked at for 2001-2002.

EXACTLY! I agree

[vivaelvis]

And the rumor in 97 was it was being looked at for 2001-2002.
I have seen no internet news about any Disney?EPE/Apollo negotiations nor any business news...lets face it this is a rumor with not much foundation-since this rumor first surfaced in 97 not one step has been made toward any partnership between Disney and EPE for a tv network-none!
Where did you get the dates 2013-2014? If it does not come from Disney, or EPE or Apollo-who could know such a thing?
You call me pessimistic-only on things such as this. The premise of an all Elvis channel is ludicrous only because of the lack of material-now you say it could be a network centered around the 50s, 60s and 70s programming-well isnt that TV Land?
They also ran Aloha a few years back and the 68 Special plus they use to specialize in oldies shows-but their viewership dropped over time which is why now they have more first run shows such as the hit "Hot In Cleveland" to keep the network running.
Its not pessimistic to look at things like this and question it.

The reason I said you act like a pessimistic is because you seem to find the negatives to things and bring them down, whether right or not. Look at the Sillerman ranting and how you say the economy wasn't the fault for CKX' downfall when it was. Now this.

Look, I'm not saying this deal will even happen. All I know is that it was told to my close friend who I have known for for about 20 years and went to school with who has many ties to local powers. He's actually important to some. He told me of having a meeting with an EPE insider during lunch on Beale and that was where he got his info. I might have jumped the gun with my post but it was exciting news. He specifically told me that it was far from a done deal.

I never said that it will be based around anything except for Elvis. I said "it could" feature non Elvis programming but with an Elvis theme of some sort. I also made it clear in my original post that it is potentially in the works. You're not going to find anything on Google about it as it hasn't been publicized yet. Disney and EPE like to keep their business transactions private until the deal's are finalized.

I'm going to end with this. I am NOT an insider, nor do I have insider info. All I have is a friend who lives there who gets info from one source to the next. Some become realistic while others are just rumors. This however came from an EPE insider. That's all I know. I don't even know who it was that he talked to. Never asked him. So, if it happens then you will know that I wasn't lying or making anything up. And if it doesn't then it doesn't. Time will tell.

[KPM]

The reason I said you act like a pessimistic is because you seem to find the negatives to things and bring them down, whether right or not. Look at the Sillerman ranting and how you say the economy wasn't the fault for CKX' downfall when it was. Now this.

Look, I'm not saying this deal will even happen. All I know is that it was told to my close friend who I have known for for about 20 years and went to school with who has many ties to local powers. He's actually important to some. He told me of having a meeting with an EPE insider during lunch on Beale and that was where he got his info. I might have jumped the gun with my post but it was exciting news. He specifically told me that it was far from a done deal.

I never said that it will be based around anything except for Elvis. I said "it could" feature non Elvis programming but with an Elvis theme of some sort. I also made it clear in my original post that it is potentially in the works. You're not going to find anything on Google about it as it hasn't been publicized yet. Disney and EPE like to keep their business transactions private until the deal's are finalized.

I'm going to end with this. I am NOT an insider, nor do I have insider info. All I have is a friend who lives there who gets info from one source to the next. Some become realistic while others are just rumors. This however came from an EPE insider. That's all I know. I don't even know who it was that he talked to. Never asked him. So, if it happens then you will know that I wasn't lying or making anything up. And if it doesn't then it doesn't. Time will tell.

There was no ranting?-far from it.... that is your description..... actually there was an expression of historical fact that we here have seen and experienced- that the economic downturn happened at the end of the Bush presidency. check with CNN, CBS,NBC, Time magazine etc late 2008 is when suddenly a shift in the worlds economys that has since worsened.....before that time any hesitancy, any problem with financing, any problem with how to procede with any expansion of Graceland falls at the doors of Sillerman and his team. In laymens terms they did not get their act together soon enough-they procrastenated with more studies- not enough decision. He had deep pockets, he had the business knowhow, he had the plan...he was going to buy Elvis music, maybe Sony itself, he was going to acquire the movies, he was going to build a theme park, a state of the art museum near Graceland, on and on----ALL RUMORS that came to light right here in the last 7 years-all went nowhere. I can not blame Mr Sillerman for rumors..they are counter productive by most accounts.
As far as the supposed deal for a network-not publicised somewhere officially after 14 years of talks??? Reallistically that is farfetched if the talks are real.
Your friend perhaps is being fed false info-thats also a possibility-or perhaps the person who he feels is well connected is just playing big shot.
It is rumors like this which do make people pessimistic. Because since 97 this rumor has not been shown to have any basis in fact.
Also talk of Graceland not being able to survive 10 years as is-its absurd IMO I have been a fan for nearing 50 years,..... a fan who has great faith in the power of Elvis Presleys charisma and talent-I see where you are coming from but just do not agree on the gloom and doom for Elvis and the Graceland tours if "some huge major business concern is not involved" to steer the ship. Elvis's charisma is the draw-he is an historical figure in world history and culture-he is in the top of a handful of artists who can lay claim to truely historic significance.....people will always visit his grave and see his home as long as it stands open. That is a positive outlook.

[vivaelvis]

Some are saying there's not enough material for an Elvis related network, well look at some of the networks out there now. Some of them have absolutely nothing worth watching that only appeal to a small amount. Elvis, on the other hand appeals to millions. All the Elvis followers alone would be enough to keep it running. Then add in the millions more of curious and casual fans. So what if they repeated programming? A lot of networks do that anyway. That argument is moot. I could sit here and name at least 50 independent network channels that operate on a low budget, repeat content daily and weekly with little interest to begin with and still are going strong enough to remain in operation. To say an Elvis related network couldn't do the same is ludicrous.

I don't buy that there's not enough material when there's well enough when you throw in the countless amounts of documentaries, tv-made productions like the mini-series that have aired over the years. The ABC series in the 90's called ELVIS runs for over 6 hours alone. Over a hundred Elvis themed/related movies made just in the last 30 years alone, Then there's the 33 movies, several concert specials, and the potential for futuristic program developments. EPE could even do a home shopping segment of merchandise to fill time if needed. You know they would love to do that anyway. They could also do hour blocks of Elvis music videos taken from various movies and concerts.

I don't know how one would work or how it would be operated, but I do know there's enoughcontent to make one successful if done properly and if Disney is interested and willing to invest then they have the financing to make it happen. Real Elvis should be jumping all over a potential Elvis network. Not trying to find fault in one or why one wouldn't work or have enough interest. You say his music and legacy will always draw interest, then why wouldn't a network work? Can't have it one way and not the other.

[KPM]

Some are saying there's not enough material for an Elvis related network, well look at some of the networks out there now. Some of them have absolutely nothing worth watching that only appeal to a small amount. Elvis, on the other hand appeals to millions. All the Elvis followers alone would be enough to keep it running. Then add in the millions more of curious and casual fans. So what if they repeated programming? A lot of networks do that anyway. That argument is moot. I could sit here and name at least 50 independent network channels that operate on a low budget, repeat content daily and weekly with little interest to begin with and still are going strong enough to remain in operation. To say an Elvis related network couldn't do the same is ludicrous.

I don't buy that there's not enough material when there's well enough when you throw in the countless amounts of documentaries, tv-made productions like the mini-series that have aired over the years. The ABC series in the 90's called ELVIS runs for over 6 hours alone. Over a hundred Elvis themed/related movies made just in the last 30 years alone, Then there's the 33 movies, several concert specials, and the potential for futuristic program developments. EPE could even do a home shopping segment of merchandise to fill time if needed. You know they would love to do that anyway. They could also do hour blocks of Elvis music videos taken from various movies and concerts.

I don't know how one would work or how it would be operated, but I do know there's enoughcontent to make one successful if done properly and if Disney is interested and willing to invest then they have the financing to make it happen. Real Elvis should be jumping all over a potential Elvis network. Not trying to find fault in one or why one wouldn't work or have enough interest. You say his music and legacy will always draw interest, then why wouldn't a network work? Can't have it one way and not the other.

Sure I can.
We are not talking about an Elvis music legacy network-we are discussing a TV/movie network and apples and oranges.
Music is being done on the all Elvis radio channel-but there is countless songs, outtakes, live concerts, interviews etc......The films are not countless, there are few outtakes, there are a limited number of live concerts........once again music-thousands of options as compared to films- a couple hundred options.
Do the math-as I have. 24 hours in a day-168 hours a week I showed that 150 full length features would cover about one week and a couple days.A full month of non repeat shows would be 720 hours to fill ir 43200 minutes-if most films were about 90 minutes (give or take) thats 480 feature in a month. You say there are 100 features which in some way deal with Elvis-and yes there have been specials-and the Sullivan shows/50s TV shows and the specials Elvis did himself.
I am sorry there is no way its possible to sustain a year round network with only Elvis related programming-ask yourself "objectively" if this is so feasible.......why has the rumor been around 14 years with no progress of any kind-as you admit not even a mention on Google. The argument is not moot-14 years of no network since the rumor started-tells us that "IF" there ever was any real thought by EPE, with or without Disney, it has been discussed, been investigated and found lacking.
A good company just does not decide to do something because other independent companies have done the same thing for a "small audience"
You also forget that EPE does not own, Elvis films, does not own all the 50s shows, does not even own many of the independent specials done since Elvis died, they do not own the 100 films related to Elvis you speak of (8.33 days of programming at 2 hours a film)
FOX owns its films, TURNER owns its films etc....AMC is in trouble because they now have commercials and infomercials and they do not own most of their films.
So you add in the added cost of paying a fee each time an Elvis film is shown, each time one of the hundred Elvis related films is shown......
and that makes the idea even more unfeasible.
Is there a John Wayne channel-he made well over 225 films if his one reelers from early in his career are included, he also did many tv shows in the 60s and 70s he also hosted a few specials over the years in the 60s and 70s-much more material, he is also one of a kind-but you will also not see a All Duke channel. Nor an all "Ali" fight channel, nor a Bing Crosby channnel.
Now if you could get the estates of Crosby, Sinatra, Elvis, Streisand, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis etc..... all interested in some type of network for all these combined-then you might have a chance at a network that would succeed with plenty of material. But that is very unlikely.

Haven't you and I had this very same discussion sometime in the past-I know this has been discussed in the last 10 years here at TCB-I just do not remember the discussion having been with a Viva Elvis-but the arguments you make sure seem the same.

[vivaelvis]

Sure I can.
We are not talking about an Elvis music legacy network-we are discussing a TV/movie network and apples and oranges.
Music is being done on the all Elvis radio channel-but there is countless songs, outtakes, live concerts, interviews etc......The films are not countless, there are few outtakes, there are a limited number of live concerts........once again music-thousands of options as compared to films- a couple hundred options.
Do the math-as I have. 24 hours in a day-168 hours a week I showed that 150 full length features would cover about one week and a couple days.A full month of non repeat shows would be 720 hours to fill ir 43200 minutes-if most films were about 90 minutes (give or take) thats 480 feature in a month. You say there are 100 features which in some way deal with Elvis-and yes there have been specials-and the Sullivan shows/50s TV shows and the specials Elvis did himself.
I am sorry there is no way its possible to sustain a year round network with only Elvis related programming-ask yourself "objectively" if this is so feasible.......why has the rumor been around 14 years with no progress of any kind-as you admit not even a mention on Google. The argument is not moot-14 years of no network since the rumor started-tells us that "IF" there ever was any real thought by EPE, with or without Disney, it has been discussed, been investigated and found lacking.
A good company just does not decide to do something because other independent companies have done the same thing for a "small audience"
You also forget that EPE does not own, Elvis films, does not own all the 50s shows, does not even own many of the independent specials done since Elvis died, they do not own the 100 films related to Elvis you speak of (8.33 days of programming at 2 hours a film)
FOX owns its films, TURNER owns its films etc....AMC is in trouble because they now have commercials and infomercials and they do not own most of their films.
So you add in the added cost of paying a fee each time an Elvis film is shown, each time one of the hundred Elvis related films is shown......
and that makes the idea even more unfeasible.
Is there a John Wayne channel-he made well over 225 films if his one reelers from early in his career are included, he also did many tv shows in the 60s and 70s he also hosted a few specials over the years in the 60s and 70s-much more material, he is also one of a kind-but you will also not see a All Duke channel. Nor an all "Ali" fight channel, nor a Bing Crosby channnel.
Now if you could get the estates of Crosby, Sinatra, Elvis, Streisand, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis etc..... all interested in some type of network for all these combined-then you might have a chance at a network that would succeed with plenty of material. But that is very unlikely.

Haven't you and I had this very same discussion sometime in the past-I know this has been discussed in the last 10 years here at TCB-I just do not remember the discussion having been with a Viva Elvis-but the arguments you make sure seem the same.

As a real fan, why can't you just for once look at the POSITIVES instead of the negatives? That's all I ask. Your posts are depressing and stressful to read sometimes.

[KPM]

As a real fan, why can't you just for once look at the POSITIVES instead of the negatives? That's all I ask. Your posts are depressing and stressful to read sometimes.

Wow you perhaps are taking this way to seriously.
I give an honest answer-how you take the answer is up to you-its not personal.
I do not see positives in a premise that is doomed from the start-I asked you to objectively look at this-from the numbers point of view-I asked you to objectively ask yourself if there is any real truth to this rumor-why has it languished for 14 years-that would be some pretty slow negotiators.
Are those not legit questions, it is not my fault that perhap this is just "rumor"
IF it is true time will show progress, time will show legit news from EPE or Disney or whomever.....but 14 years seems a long time to me.
That is not positive or negative it is how I see it.
Once again I think we have discussed this before?