News Release
Charter Unveils First MSO-Produced Video-on-Demand Original Program
Dan Aykroyd and Jim Belushi Concert Special Free to Charter Digital Cable Customers
ST. LOUIS –– Charter Communications, Inc (Nasdaq:CHTR) today announced its production of an original Jim Belushi and Dan Aykroyd Have Love Will Travel video on demand concert, the first ever by a cable operating company. Taped live on location at this summer's Ottawa Bluesfest, the concert will be free and exclusive to Charter Digital Cable customers in select markets (see below).
“Frankly speaking, VOD is a new medium. So making our customers comfortable with Charter OnDemand technology requires unique, original, programming with an incentive,” said Richard Yelen, Charter Vice President of Marketing. “Have Love Will Travel is a high energy show, featuring big men and their big music. It's just what we need to get Charter Digital Customers comfortable pushing the buttons on their remote.”
From October 15 to November 30, Charter Digital Cable Customers will be offered this free, original and exclusive concert special around the clock through the easy-to-use Charter OnDemand channels. The special also offers customers a first-hand education as to the ease of maneuvering the Charter OnDemand interface. As a special incentive, Charter Digital Cable Customers who view the free concert will receive a free 14-song track “Have Love Will Travel” CD while supplies last.
Following the longtime success of the Blues Brothers, Aykroyd and Belushi decided to broaden the repertoire of their band with familiar all-American dance hits. Reprising familiar R&B tunes such as “Time Won't Let Me,” “Soul Man” and “Sweet Home Chicago,” old fans of the original duo as well as a new generation of blues fans will have access to this performance via Charter OnDemand.
“The show highlights fast blues, jump swing, R&B and rock with some 70's pop tunes, a country take on a Beatles song, and anti-war shout and lots of great American Delta-Chicago-type standards,” said Aykroyd. “There is also some cool original material from Glen Clark, Tony Braunagle and Jim. Even I got to compose a little. These are songs we sang as kids. We're fifty now so this is us recapturing the summer radio memories of places and things we were doing when we heard evocative anthems like Polk Salad Annie and Time Won't Let Me. We'd like people to travel there with us.”
The concert is a sampling of the duo's new album entitled, “Have Love Will Travel – Big Men Big Music,” which was released in May through the DKE Entertainment label and distributed through Sony Music's subsidiary, Red Distribution.
Ten musicians came together for the album, including Larry Lerma, guitarists Johnny Lee Schell and J.J. Holiday, pianist Glen Clark, saxophonist and composer Joe Sublett, Jimmie Wood on harmonica, Darrell Leonard and Johnny Rubano on trumpet, drummer Tony Braunagle and vocalist Julie Delgado. Each musician involved has lent their talent to numerous other musical acts ranging from Etta James to Bruce Springsteen to Gladys Knight and Elton John. Aykroyd and Belushi laud the musicians as “the gems in the act.” With the exception of Rubano, the entire band can also be seen in the Charter OnDemand concert special.
Charter OnDemand markets designated to experience this customer education program include:
- Los Angeles, CA
- St. Louis, MO
- Fort Worth, TX
- Allendale, MI
- Asheville/Greenville/Spartanburg, SC
- Birmingham, AL
- Atlanta, GA
- Hickory, SC
- Kalamazoo, MI
- Kennewick, OR
- Madison/Janesville/Fond Du Lac, WI
- Newtown, CT
- Tri Cities/Jackson/Columbia, TN
About Charter Communications
Charter Communications, A Wired World Company™, is the nation's third-largest broadband communications company. Charter provides a full range of advanced broadband services to the home, including cable television on an advanced digital video programming platform via Charter Digital Cable® brand and high-speed Internet access marketed under the Charter Pipeline® brand. Commercial high-speed data, video and Internet solutions are provided under the Charter Business Networks® brand. Advertising sales and production services are sold under the Charter Media® brand. More information about Charter can be found at www.charter.com.
Contact on behalf of Charter:
David Song
(310) 320-2010
david@bobgoldpr.com