The 101

Infobox Network
network_name = The 101
name =
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network_type = Satellite television network
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country = United States
available = United States, only on DirecTV
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owner = DirecTV, Inc. (DirecTV Group)
key_people = David Hill, CEO
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past_names = Freeview
digital =
analog =
servicename1 = DirecTV channels
service1 = 101, 334, 580, 800
1101 (VOD)
servicename2 = Former channel numbers
service2 = 103, 124
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website = [http://www.directv.com/ directv.com]
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The 101 is the name of DirecTV's in-house channel on its satellite service, available throughout the United States. It can be seen on channel 101, hence the name.

What would eventually become The 101 launched in 1999 as a continuous loop of concerts and other events on channel 103 [ [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_1999_Nov_18/ai_57630217 DIRECTV Announces DIRECTV FREEVIEW Series of Special Programming Events; Exclusive Series Offered Free of Charge to Customers] . BNET, November 18, 1999.] (it moved to channel 124 several years later and soon after moved to its current position on channel 101). The channel was known as "FREEVIEW" because it was part of all subscription packages, starting with Total Choice. Since 2005, the program schedule has expanded to include original shows.

Original programming

The original shows on The 101 are produced under the umbrella of DirecTV Original Entertainment. Its chief executive officer, David Hill, was previously the co-founder, and is still the president, of Fox Sports. At the time, both DirecTV and Fox Sports were part of News Corporation (although DirecTV no longer is).

The first original program was "CD USA", a pop music show reminiscent of the longtime favorite "American Bandstand". "CD USA" premieres every Saturday evening and runs all weekend long. This channel also showed "American Idol Extra", a weekly recap program, on weekends throughout the 2006 season after it had premiered Thursdays on Fox Reality.

Other original shows include the Championship Gaming Invitational, Championship Gaming Series, The FIZZ, and "Project My World".

DirectTV and NBC Studios announced on April 25, 2007 that new episodes of the daytime soap opera "Passions" would begin airing on The 101 on September 17, 2007. [ [http://www.nbc.com/Passions/news/dtv.shtml NBC.com ~ "NBC’S "Passions" to work its magic on DIRECTV viewers with all new episodes beginning September 17"] ] According to the announcement, the show would retain its current 2:00 p.m. ET time slot, with episodes rerun on weekends. "Passions" had aired on NBC since 1999, but in January 2007 the network announced it would not renew the show for a ninth season, and its run on NBC ended on September 7, 2007. In December 2007, DirecTV announced that it would not pick up Passions for a tenth season, and aired the finale on August 7, 2008.

Movies and previews

During the Halloween period in 2006, The 101 showed several themed movies, including "The Toxic Avenger".

On February 23, 2007 and February 24, 2007, The 101 aired a preview of Chiller, the new cable channel from NBC Universal dedicated to horror programming that launched on channel 257 on DIRECTV March 1, 2007. Programming featured during this preview included the two-hour pilot episode of "Twin Peaks", the pilot episode of "American Gothic", episodes of "Monsters", ""Tales from the Crypt"", "Night Gallery", "Alfred Hitchcock Presents", "", and various horror movies. [http://tvlistings5.zap2it.com/tvlistings/GridAction.do?method=getSingleStation&stnNum=49432&lineupId=DITV:-&zipcode=12345&channel=101]

In March 2007, The 101 showed "The Tudors", a new dramatic series, a few days before it premiered on Showtime.

On August 24, 2007, The 101 aired an exclusive high-definition broadcast of "High School Musical 2", one week after its premiere on Disney Channel. A high definition version of Disney Channel launched in 2008. [http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6470642.html]

References

External links

* [http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/global/contentPage.jsp?assetId=P4310026 Official Site]
* [http://www.cdusa.com CD USA]
* [http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/global/contentPage.jsp?assetId=2980016 Project My World]
* [http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/global/contentPage.jsp?assetId=2950003 Championship Gaming Invitational and Championship Gaming Series]