Ryan Seacrest, Mark Cuban Launching AXS TV In June

Ryan Seacrest can add another hyphen to his already multi-hyphenate job description. Through his company Ryan Seacrest Media he will now hold an ownership stake in a new cable network, AXS TV which will launch in June as a rebranding of HDnet in both the US and Canada. Seacrest, along with partners AEG and CAA, have come together with Mark Cuban of HDnet after a year of work to launch the new network. Deadline broke word of the finalized deal today.

Seacrest’s production company, Ryan Seacrest Prods., will be behind some of the new programming for the network, which plans to focus on live entertainment as well as lifestyle programming. Thanks to AEG’s over 100 worldwide venues and a command center with a view of the plaza at the Nokia Theatre, the network will offer in-depth coverage of live acts including big name concerts, awards shows, premieres and many other pop culture events.

In spite of some changes, Cuban promises that much of HDnet’s existing programming will remain: Dan Rather Reports is sticking around along with the network’s Sunday concert series and fight coverage. Although it sounds like AXS TV plans to create a network that competes with E! on some levels, Seacrest is still going ahead with his new NBCUniversal deal that includes plenty of work for E!. Seacrest’s work for AXS TV is apparently more behind the scenes, while he will see plenty of screen time through the NBCUniversal deal.

The news lends even stronger credibility to rumors that Seacrest will leave American Idol after this current season. I can’t imagine how he would find the time to host with everything else on his plate.