AXS TV primarily airs music-oriented series, with a particular focus on the
Rock and
Pop genres. Such programming includes documentaries, interviews, panel shows and concerts. AXS has also aired
combat sports-related programming, including events broadcast under the
AXS TV Fights banner, as well as content from the Anthem-owned
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) and
Invicta Fighting Championships.
Programming history As HDNet press area.
NASA Space Shuttle launches aired on HDNet. Original programming on HDNet included news programs such as the
HDNet World Report and
Dan Rather Reports, a weekly newsmagazine hosted by former
CBS Evening News anchor
Dan Rather; coverage of
Space Shuttle launches; and male-oriented series such as
Ultimate Trailer Show. HDNet also featured uncensored and unrated shows during late-night hours, such as
Art Mann Presents,
Bikini Destinations and
Girls Gone Wild Presents: Search for the Hottest Girl in America. In October 2011, HDNet picked up
Goodnight Burbank, the network's first scripted half-hour comedy. Originally created for the web, the show starred
Hayden Black,
Laura Silverman and
Dominic Monaghan. HDNet's programming also included off-network reruns of series such as
Smallville,
Andy Richter Controls the Universe,
JAG,
Star Trek: Enterprise and
Arrested Development. HDNet also aired sporting events, including
coverage of the
National Hockey League from 2001 to 2008 and
Major League Soccer; select motorsports events, including
Champ Car live broadcasts in 2004, highlights and races from the
NASCAR Busch East Series (later
Camping World East Series,
K&N Pro Series East, and
ARCA Menards Series East), and races from regional circuits;
mixed martial arts, through Cuban's
HDNet Fights promotion; the weekly series
Inside MMA, which featured highlights and coverage from various MMA promotions; and
Indiana University's Little 500 Bicycle Race. From 2009 to 2011, HDNet also aired weekly programming from
professional wrestling promotion
Ring of Honor, and served as a television partner of the
United Football League, primarily airing the league's Saturday night games. The network dropped UFL coverage prior to the
2011 season. Following its July 2012 re-launch, AXS TV continued to air several programs carried over from HDNet, including
Dan Rather Reports, MMA events (under the
AXS TV Fights banner), movies, and off-network series. However, the channel began to gradually shift its focus towards "music, pop culture and lifestyle-oriented" programming, such as concerts, and general entertainment.
Concerts and music festivals ;AXS TV concerts As part of its music programming lineup, AXS TV broadcasts a wide variety of concert events from across the country and around-the-world. This includes a Sunday night concert series featuring performances from artists such as
Carrie Underwood,
Led Zeppelin,
Neil Young and
Elton John; themed artists takeovers, highlighting a variety of bands in day-long blocks that feature music videos, concert performances, interviews and more, with notable takeovers from
Slash and
Matchbox Twenty; as well as other live and taped music events such as the
Classic Rock Roll of Honour Awards tribute to
Gregg Allman and
The Doors, hosted by
Sammy Hagar and the live broadcast of the 2014 Farm Aid music festival that featured performances by
Willie Nelson,
John Mellencamp, and
Dave Matthews. In 2014, AXS TV broadcast the inaugural
Alternative Press Music Awards, hosted by
Mark Hoppus. The award show returned to AXS TV on July 22, 2015, hosted by Alex Gaskarth and Jack Barakat of
All Time Low and featuring performances from
Weezer,
Panic! at the Disco, and
Simple Plan among others. Concert specials in 2017 included
Queen,
Willie Nelson and
Merle Haggard,
Def Leppard,
Jennifer Nettles,
Mavis Staples,
Robert Plant,
Kenny Loggins, and
Ringo Starr. AXS TV celebrated the 50th anniversary of the
Summer of Love with a month-long event in August 2017 with concerts honoring the music of
The Grateful Dead and
Jerry Garcia and documentaries profiling artists of the time period such as
Jimi Hendrix,
Janis Joplin and
The Doors. The network also premiered a new documentary about the social phenomenon, eponymously titled
Summer of Love, on August 12, 2017. Concert specials premiered in 2018 included:
Sammy Hagar,
Poison,
Santana,
Farm Aid,
Charlie Daniels,
Trace Adkins' Guitar Legends for Heroes, The
2018 BRIT Awards and more. AXS TV announced the premiere of
America Salutes You: Guitar Legends II on Sunday, March 31, starring Sammy Hagar,
Billy Gibbons,
Dave Navarro,
Robby Krieger,
Stephen Stills,
Joe Bonamassa,
Orianthi and more. This year marks the second year in a row AXS TV has served as production partner and cable provided for the acclaimed concert. The "Guitar Legends II" concert seeks to raise funds and awareness for charity organizations supporting brain and mental wellness of American veterans and first responders. AXS TV teamed up with
Feld Entertainment to produce
Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey: The Final Farewell, a behind-the-scenes look at the final performance of the longest-running touring show in America. The 90-minute documentary premieres on Memorial Day, May 27, 2019. ;Music festivals In 2013, for the first time ever on television, AXS TV broadcast select concert footage from the
Stagecoach Festival and the
New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. In 2014, AXS TV presented the television debut of the
Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, in addition to broadcasting the 2014 Stagecoach Country Music Festival, and the 2014 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival for the second consecutive year. The network's 2015 festival slate included the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival (April 17-April 19) for the second consecutive year; the Stagecoach Country Music Festival (April 24-April 26); and New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (May 1-May 3) for the third consecutive year. Additionally, the network broadcast footage from the 2015
Rock on the Range (May 15-May 17) and the 2015
Firefly Music Festival (June 19-June 21), for the first time ever. AXS TV's 2016 festival tour included
Zac Brown Band's Southern Ground Music & Food Festival (April 16–17), both weekends of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (April 23–24, April 29-May 1), Monster Energy
Carolina Rebellion (May 6–8) and
Hangout Festival May 20–22. AXS TV announced a new four-part festival series
80s in the Sand, which premiered on April 7, 2019. Hosted by 1980s TV and Radio personalities Downtown Julie Brown, Mark Goodman, Alan Hunter and Richard Blade,
80s in the Sand features interviews and performances with artists including
Bret Michaels,
Sebastian Bach,
Taylor Dayne,
The English Beat,
Wang Chung,
ABC,
When in Rome,
Berlin and more. The series was filmed at the 80s in the Sand music festival at the Breathless Resort in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.
Original series The Big Interview with Dan Rather Since 2013, Dan Rather has hosted the hour-long original series titled
The Big Interview featuring in-depth interviews with a variety of celebrity guests as they join Rather for candid discussions about their lives and careers. Notable guests include
Gene Simmons,
Weird Al Yankovic,
Don Rickles,
Wynonna Judd,
Jack White,
Carlos Santana,
Carol Burnett,
Alan Alda, and
Geddy Lee among others.
The Big Interviews sixth season premiered on March 13, 2018, with guest
Robert Plant of
Led Zeppelin. Other interviewees for the 20-episode season include
Robby Krieger and
John Densmore of
the Doors,
Shania Twain,
Eddie Money,
Styx,
John Mellencamp,
The Oak Ridge Boys and
Billy Ray Cyrus. The series celebrated its 100th episode on October 2 when it returned for the second half of season six with special guest
The Beatles' Ringo Starr, with older episodes now also broadcast in the UK via the BIOgraphy channel found on the
Pluto TV app.
The Big Interview was renewed for a seventh season, which premiered on Tuesday, April 16, 2019 with former
Journey frontman
Steve Perry. The new season line-up also includes
Paul Stanley,
Cyndi Lauper,
Foreigner members
Mick Jones and
Lou Gramm,
REO Speedwagon,
Billy Bob Thornton,
Carl and
Rob Reiner,
Travis Tritt,
Boz Scaggs,
Paul Shaffer,
Brian Johnson of
AC/DC,
Cheap Trick,
Chicago members
Robert Lamm and
Lee Loughnane,
Bret Michaels,
Alice Cooper,
Little Big Town,
Bob Costas,
David Byrne,
America,
Bryan Cranston,
Jon Anderson of
Yes and
Doug Gray of
The Marshall Tucker Band.
Rock & Roll Road Trip with Sammy Hagar Rock & Roll Road Trip with Sammy Hagar Presented by Mercury Insurance is an original series featuring
Sammy Hagar as he drives across the country to interview and jam with influential artists including
Tommy Lee,
Bob Weir,
Alice Cooper, and
Nancy Wilson. The series also presents Hagar's personal experiences and rules of the road, as he tours with his group The Circle. The six-episode first season premiered on AXS TV on January 24, 2016. The series premiered in March 2017 with guests including
John Mayer,
Melissa Etheridge,
Toby Keith,
John Mellencamp and
Mick Fleetwood and returned for its second half in July 2017 with guests including
Don Felder,
Styx,
Vince Neil,
Chad Smith,
Shep Gordon,
Darryl McDaniels and
Adam Levine. AXS TV announced that
Rock & Roll Road Trip was renewed for a third season in 2017 and premiered in April 2018 with guests including
Dave Grohl,
Roger Daltrey,
Sarah McLachlan,
Bob Weir,
Pat Benatar and
Neil Giraldo.
Real Money with Eddie Money AXS TV announced in September 2017 it had greenlit to a 10-episode reality series chronicling the daily lives of
Eddie Money, his wife Laurie and their five kids. Production for
Real Money began in Q4 2017 and the series premiered on Sunday, April 8, 2018. The second season of
Real Money premiered on Sunday, May 5, 2019. During a midseason episode, Money revealed his cancer diagnosis. Money died the day after the episode's airing.
The Day The Rock Star Died In August 2018, AXS TV announced a new docu-series profiling the lives and deaths of some of music's most influential artists called
The Day The Rock Star Died. Premiered on October 2, 2018, the 15-part series examines artists including
Tom Petty,
Janis Joplin,
Jimi Hendrix,
Michael Jackson,
Elvis Presley and
Whitney Houston.
The Top Ten Revealed The Top Ten Revealed spotlights best-of lists on a variety of rock-related themes, covering topics such as best guitar intros,
Vietnam anthems and
'80s rock ballads. The series debuted in February 2018, with host and executive producer
Katie Daryl joined by a rotating panel of experts including
Lita Ford,
Guns N' Roses drummer
Steven Adler and former
Pantera percussionist
Vinnie Paul, among others. and for season 3 in April 2020.
The Very VERY Best of the 70s The Very VERY Best of the 70s puts the spotlight on the enduring films, series, and pop culture moments that defined the 1970s. The series is executive produced by
Katie Daryl who guides a rotating panel of celebrity guests each week including
Fred Willard,
Morgan Fairchild,
Barry Williams,
Jimmie Walker,
Michael Winslow,
Sebastian Bach,
Mark Steines,
Jaleel White,
George Wallace,
Anson Williams,
Dee Wallace,
Todd Bridges,
Mindy Cohn,
Bob Eubanks,
Elisabeth Röhm,
David Chokachi and
Catherine Bach. The series premiered its first season on Thursday, May 16. The series premiered on Sunday, August 31, 2014, marking the first time that the British series had aired in the U.S. The 11th season notably featured the return of
Simon Cowell and
Cheryl Fernandez-Versini to the judging panel, joining music manager
Louis Walsh and pop singer
Mel B, making her debut as a full-time judge.
Ben Haenow was the winner of this season. The series has continued to air annually on AXS TV, most recently with its third season on the network, the show's
13th season overall, which premiered on August 28, 2016, with Cowell and Walsh, along with the return of judges
Sharon Osbourne and
Nicole Sherzinger, and presenter
Dermot O'Leary, to
X Factor UK. The X Factor UK returned for its fourth season on AXS TV, and
14th season overall, on September 3 and 4, 2017; all four judges from the previous year returned.
The X Factor UK returned for its fifth season on the network (
15th overall) in September 2018 with Simon Cowell joined by new judges
One Direction's
Louis Tomlinson, singer-songwriter
Robbie Williams and his wife actress and TV presenter
Ayda Williams.
TRUNKFest with Eddie Trunk In October 2017, AXS TV greenlit a new series starring music historian and TV and Radio host
Eddie Trunk called
TRUNKFest with Eddie Trunk premiering in 2018. The program gives viewers a front row seat to some of the nation's biggest music festivals as Trunk travels across the country interviewing bands, visiting booths, sampling festival cuisine, and mingling with the attendees. Trunk previously hosted the documentary series
Reel to Real on the network in 2016.
TRUNKFest with Eddie Trunk premiered on July 1, 2018, with a trip to the
Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.
TRUNKFest was renewed for a second season, which premiered on July 7, 2019.
Paul Shaffer Plus One Paul Shaffer sits down with his famous friends and colleagues across the music industry in this weekly interview series. Season one guests include
Joe Walsh,
Graham Nash,
Sammy Hagar,
Billy Gibbons,
Donald Fagen,
Buddy Guy, Spinal Tap bassist
Derek Smalls (
Harry Shearer) and
Smokey Robinson. The series premiered on AXS TV Sunday, September 15 and also aired on Shaffer's
SiriusXM radio show. == List of programs broadcast by AXS TV ==