Guardian Enterprise Group Inc. is launching a new, nationwide multicast digital broadcast network dubbed .2 Network (pronounced dot two network) and has inked a licensing deal with Sony Pictures Television for more than 300 movie titles. Among them are the animated hits Monster House, Surf’s Up and Stuart Little 3, which will have their digital broadcast premieres.
Hyped as a ‘network in a box,’ .2Network is the first to provide local station
affiliates with a uniform, national network platform that they can plug into and participate in revenue sharing. Affiliate stations can customize and localize their existing digital channels by pre-empting portions of the 24/7 feed and inserting their main channel’s local news, traffic and weather or other public interest programming, and receive local barter spots throughout the day.
In addition to the Sony deal, .2Network has signed multi-year programming
licensing deals with a number of other major studios and plans to offer three theatrical-quality movies daily, along with original network programs, lifestyle shows and FCC-compliant children’s programming. The network will launch on Feb. 3.
