The Horror Channel launches

If you know many horror fans, you have probably heard rumblings about The Horror Channel. The project has been in development for some time and there was even an on-line petition circulating a while back. Well, it’s now official. The Horror Channel is launching just in time for Halloween 2004.

The Mission of the Channel is: To create the first and only 24-hour digital cable network dedicated to the Horror genre and to become the branded television gateway for the underserved Horror fan base.

The more cynical among you may be imagining a lame Sci-Fi Channel type network only focused on horror movies. A channel that would feature a few cheesy original shows and then fill the rest of their airtime with Friday the 13th movies that have all the tits and blood edited out. Fortunately, that doesn’t seem to be the case. The channel plans to present all films un-cut and un-edited and when possible in the letterbox format. Very cool.

To make the project even better, check out the amazing roster of creative advisors they have assembled to help guide the programming:

• John Carpenter - Director, Screenwriter, Composer
• Roger Corman - Producer, Director
• Don Coscarelli - Director, Writer, Producer
• Wes Craven - Director, Screenwriter, Producer
• Guillermo del Toro - Director
• Mick Garris - Director
• Stuart Gordon - Director, Screenwriter
• Tobe Hooper - Director
• Lloyd Kaufman - Director, Screenwriter, Producer, Actor
• Alfredo Leone - Producer, Writer, Director, Inventor
• Lucky McKee - Director
• Robert Parigi - Writer, Director
• George Romero - Director, Screenwriter, Actor
• Eli Roth - Director
• Tom Savini - Make-up Artist, Actor, Special Effects
• Joe Wolf - Producer
• Rob Zombie - Musician, Director

So it looks like The Horror Channel has a shot at being something very cool. Get ready to upgrade your cable to digital so you won’t miss out on all the gory goodness.

For more information, check out the official website.