Surf Channel will begin next month

DENVER » The founder of The Tennis Channel and The Ski Channel is launching another niche offering, The Surf Channel, in mid-September.

Founder Steve Bellamy says the video-on-demand network is slated to be available initially to 20 million households through cable, satellite and online distribution partners, including Comcast, Cox Communications, DirecTV, Dish Network, Filmon.com and YouTube.

Bellamy started The Tennis Channel in 2003 with access to about 53,000 households. The Ski Channel launched in 2008. He says both should be available to about 45 million households soon.

Bellamy concedes far fewer people surf than play tennis, but he says the beautiful locations and beautiful bodies involved in surfing are great for television.