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Another blow has been struck to the distribution of martial arts movies here in the U.S. this week following news of Navarre’s closure of its BCI Eclipse home video subsidiary. Rainbow Media Holdings, a subsidiary of Cablevision Systems Corp., is pulling the plug on domestic operation of Voom HD, a collection of 15 high-definition TV networks, one of which includes Kung Fu HD.

The action comes in response to narrowing carriage, particularly following Dish Network’s decision to drop Voom back in May. That led to a $1 billion suit by Rainbow charging a breach of contract. It also left the networks’ with only one carrier, Cablevision, which now intends to replace all of the Voom HD content with other programming in January.

Kung Fu HD is the only dedicated martial arts movie network on television in the U.S. A quick look at today’s scheduled line-up reveals what current and potential future audiences will be missing in 2009. Movies airing today include chambara classics like ZATOICHI ON THE ROAD and SAMAURI GOLD SEEKERS, Shaw Brothers classics like BOXER FROM SHANTUNG and modern actioners such as 2000 A.D. and BICHUNMOO.

Not being a satellite or premium HD TV subscriber, I have never had the pleasure of watching Kung Fu HD but I know of others who have enjoyed this service. It provided fans with a dedicated, high quality alternative to buying or renting DVDs. It also provided licensed distributors with another distribution channel to support the continued release of martial arts movies. With the closure of BCI and the scaling back or selling off of classic genre films by The Weinstein Company, companies like Toei, Golden Harvest and Celestial Pictures are going to have an even harder job of getting their massive libraries of martial arts and action films released here in the U.S.

The question this raises is, what are fans to do when the movies they want to see gradually stop being shown and sold through legitimate channels? Anyone who remembers the ’80s, when grindhouse theaters began closing, cable networks dropped their Blackbelt Theater line ups and VHS distributors folded, they already know the answer to that question.

Thanks goes to forum member maskedavenger for this news tip.

Source: Multichannel News

Discuss this topic in the comments section below or in our related forum thread.

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  • NoNiceTime

    I am effin speechless right now. This just ruined my holiday spirits

  • Al Scorcho

    GODDAMIT

    KungFu HD (along with MonstersHD) was one of the few channels i would watch.

    Awful news.

  • 107

    What fool can I call to rectify this!?

  • Roger Ram

    I’m from the Bronx,NY and when it comes to my HD Package only channel I would watch is the Kung Fu channel and Monster Channel that means monster is next. I was having a blast checking out all those shaw bros classic in HD and Hoping for future movies to come Cablevision U Suck

  • Al Scorcho

    I’m trying to dvr and burn as many movies as i can now. I’m kicking myself for not archiving what i recorded before!

  • Ralph Coviello

    This is very disappointing news. I get the Voom movie channels including Kung Fu and Monsters thru Cablevision and they have been one of the real pleasures of HD service the last few years. I was able to see many Zatoichi and other classic 60′s samurai and yakuza pictures all in glorious widescreen great looking prints. On Monsters I was able to catch many Hammer horrorfests featuring Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee. Lately I have been overdosing on all the Shaw films both the classic dubs and those in chinese. After watching a Shaw Brothers film I usually came right to this sight looked up one of the thoughtful reviews. Thanks for the heads up as I will try watch or record as much as I can before they pull the plug! Keep up the great work on this site!

  • slave

    this is what happens when you allow the incompentence and corruption to perpetuate with in the government. things become, how you say, chaotic. DEATH TO ETHONAL (misspell i know)

  • Warren

    This is very disappointing news. When both the Kung Fu and Monster channels are gone, I’m definitely going to another cable or satelite provider. Cablevision YOU SUCK!!!!!!!

  • John

    I specifically went out and bought a 56″ samsung hd tv just to enjoy these channels. I have been watching for the last several months. Many films I had never seen and had missed in my youth.This totally sucks. There has to be some solution to remedy this, is anyone other service provider carrying these channels ?

  • mojoe

    I don’t have Cablevision so I’ve been missing out on Kung Fu HD all along.

    Does anyone know if this (KFHD) was why they stopped showing Zatoichi on IFC regularly?

  • jimmy

    ill tell you dish network is going to lose a lot of customers, including me, they keep droping the best channels, kung fu channel the monster channel even the world sports channel, and now they droped channel 4 abc and they are blaming them saying that what they are asking for is not fair, bullshit, i quess its fair when they are charging us up the ass for all these shit channels they left behind so we can watch, but hey there always is direct tv

  • Kimmi

    I cannot tell you how disappointing this is. I was so thrilled to get Kung Fu HD it has become my favorite channel. I hope another provider picks up this channel as soon as possible so I can switch my service! And they say Cablevision is supposed to be the best…what a joke! They are the best at sticking it to their customers!!

  • BxRonin16

    That sucks!!!! I saw movies on KFHD I never saw before in HD to boot. I’ll miss Gameplay HD as well this sucks. DAMN!

  • iwalter

    i love abusultly love Kung Fu HD i just discovered i had it back in July of 08′ and i have been watching it ever since. The frist thing i turn on when i come home from work i love the varity of Kung Fu movies. What a shame to lose this this is really bad for Cablevision i have been telling everyone about this channel and alot of poeple didn’t even know they had it but its too late it will be gone soon.

  • Bill

    Bad Cablevision. Bad Cablevision!

    After tellin people about it, they tried to get cablevision. Now I do not know if I wantto keep my service. Just pisses me off.

  • Moe

    without the kungfu channel i do not see any reason to keep cabelvision. That was the only channel i watched… you just ruined my new year…..

  • Ion

    What the HELL am I going to watch now? I’m seriously contemplating if I should just discontinue my subscription to Cablevision.

    If verizon said they were going to pick up the Voom networks,I would switch in a heartbeat.

    Damn you,Cablevision!!

  • ek20

    unbelievable….monsters HD and kung fu HD were the only 2 channels i watched. VERIZON FIOS here we come!

  • http://www.wirthconsulting.org Theodore Wirth

    I can’t believe it. My wife just went to bed and I turned on my favorite channel and the only one I watch. KUNG FU HD IS GONE!!!

    I am absolutely heartbroken and don’t know what to do with myself as it looks like it’s gone forever. Thank goodness I have recorded a dozen or so of the best (Dirty Ho, Killer Clans, 36th Chamber of Shaolin, Legendary Weapons of China, Five Brothers, et.al.) on my DVR. What the hell are we going to do now?

    BTW, Blockbuster online has many, many classic martial arts films, 50 or so that are in my queue for delivery to my home. You should all sign up, $19.99/month is a reasonable price to pay.

  • http://www.wirthconsulting.org Theodore Wirth

    I am still beside myself! I am a HUGE fan of foreign films and those remastered Shaw Brothers films were a joy to behold. Weren’t they?

  • PB

    Didn’t keep up with the news re: VOOM. Just got home, turned on my tv to relax and DAMN – Kung Fu and Monster HD were replaced with a “This service has been discontinued” message.

    I too see no reason to keep cablevision. I really enjoyed KFHD. It was great fun, pure escapism, and gave a small glimps into another world so different from ours.

    Am I p@ssed? You bet. cablevision is going to replace voom with what? Premium, pay-extra channels?

  • Susan Ringler

    I was beyond horrified to wake up this moning to no more kungfuhd or monsterhd! Those are my favorite channels and I have other friends who got cablevision service just to see those channels. Cablevision claims voom stopped broadcasting but the fact is that cablevision dropped them. They have negatively affected my life! If I find another provider with these channels I will immediately switch.

  • http://www.nasjudgementday.com iclassdon

    I am so upset I completly loved kungfu hd, the reason I have a dvr. I watched it 24/7 for months now. I really enjoyed this channel it was definitly a great relaxing voyage watching old school kung-fu flicks. I am completely heart broken to see:

    “This Channel has Ceased Operations And Will No Longer Be Available”

    I hope they replace kungfu hd and monster hd with smiliar programming come late January.

  • Ron

    This completely sucks. I turned the channel today that in the high hopes that CABLEVISION would have some sense to leave the channel alone. Alas…I was wrong and so was CABLEVISION for making the dumbest move in the world.

  • Ron

    I want to add one more thing…VOOM is way ahead of the curve when they kept their integrity and honesty when they broadcasted programs in TRUE HD or old films remastered in HD format. NOT up-converted!

  • larry

    I just got home from work to find that both channels are gone….those were the only channels i enjoyed viewing……nothing else mattered

  • Tery

    I already left a message with the kung fu hd site when i saw this posting in my search for kung fu hd. yes, i was hoping to find a streaming version on the web. to no avail, i am still unbelievably disapointed however not surprised by Cablevision’s (should be renamed Stupervision for obvious reasons)
    asinine move to cancel the only reason y i kept Stupervision.Isn’t it bad enough that im paying outta my kazoo for the privilege of watching all the re-runs my poor brain could handle.In the beginning i thought, well good at least now i have something to look forward when they brought down voom.i don’t no if u guys were aware but there was also game hd which along with kung fu and monster totally made up for the lackluster programming that was offered. im so done. This most definitely is the last straw.Isn’t there a way to create a new cable network one that doesn’t charge and arm and a leg for quality programming.And voom wherever u r i will find u again.Cable i mean Stupervision u really really really really SUCK.

  • bluntedout247

    me and my mother is upset about this she stayed on monsters hd and me on kung fu hd looks like i have to d/l from the internet again… :-(

  • mike

    I watched kung fu HD the other night and right in the middle of the movie the network went m.i.a. I can’t believe it! Does no one realize what a loyal fanbase there is with martial arts movies!!!!! Finally voom comes along and fills that need. Now I am back to where I was before. This sucks…..

  • mike

    Cablevision really messed up ,If someone else comes along with the voom network(kung fu channel in particular) I am jumping on that boat. Talk about sabotaging your own company.

  • VAL

    IT WAS VERY REFRESHING TO HAVE KFHD. KFHD OFFERED A BETTER VARIETY OF MOVIES TO WATCH, INSTEAD OF THE SAME TWO MOVIES CABLEVISION SHOW ON IFC WHICH IS ALWAYS WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES. IF I HAVE TO READ WHY NOT GRAB A BOOK!!! THE MONHD WILL ALSO BE MISSED. WHY IS IT WHEN SOMETHING GOOD WORKS, SOMEONE SCREWS IT UP? HAVN’T YOU HEARD OF THE EXPRESSION ” IF IT’S NOT BROKEN DON’T FIX IT”

  • http://www.myspace.com/mrhentaitv MovieBuffer

    I was hoping this will be a freaking nightmare when I heard and blog this here last year. But today is true to me the top 3 hd shows are gone kungfu hd, monster hd and the gameplay hd are all gone plus others. Is true what we all say cablevision love screwing things up don’t be surprise chiller is next and is not hd either.

    This is B.S. I tell is dish or verzion have this great hd channel I’m switching. Paying all this money for cable for nothing you better off buying dvd’s now and start a full collection.

  • Edshugeo The GodMoor

    The Voom network were part of the “Io” package of channels which now contain cable stations I do not watch. I canceled that part of my service right away, citing removal of programing I enjoyed.
    Right away meaning after being on hold for a long while and listening to a soft jazz version of “Eye Of The Tiger.”

  • vic vic

    they need 2watch there set up of programs and ask themselves if they “fucked up”by taking there most popular programs off the air!!!!the person or poeple in charge need 2 look at this . theres power in NUMBERS!!!!!!

  • JR chase

    Monster HD was the Best…Will it ever come back? Or whre can I find it? The was the worst week of my HD Career.

  • NM

    Same comment as above. unbelievable….monsters HD and kung fu HD were the only 2 channels i watched. VERIZON FIOS here we come!

    I am returning my HD box for a regular cablevision box next week. All the other channels are repeats of other channels anyway. I plan to a switch to Verizon over the next month.
    Cablevision You Suck!

  • Brother Mar

    A frakking joke this has happened seriously, shows that deserve to go on get cancelled and crap shows come back…there are literally DOZENS of CRAP channels that serve no purpose other than taking up space and a great channel like this is killed??? A big frakking joke….jeezus. I would personally dispatch pei mei and the 4 deadly venoms to get who ever is responsible.

  • Brother Mar

    Yes 4 one was not so deadly… 8)-

  • Tracy

    Where is my refund Cable?? You took away product that we all agreed to pay for. And you still charge the same!!! Where is the justice? Hey all you guys..arent we being ripped off now too by cable??? They owe us some new programming that is comparable dont they??

  • http://AcronymTitle= RAS

    What a rat thing to do one of the best things on cable to watch CABLE BRING IT BACK:::::::::::

  • Elena

    Sigh, I scrolled through 4 pages disgruntled ramble hoping that some one would have an answer as to how or where we can get our beloved KFHD back. Alas, no such luck. So here I am leaving my own little piece of ramble. Freakin A.

  • js

    I loved watching Kung Fu HD. It was great watching the old Jackie Chan movies, but the best was watching the original subtitled Shaolin Soccer. It was so much better than the butchered American release that it was like watching a totally different movie. I am happy I caught it a couple of days before they pulled the plug. Cablevision has, currently, and always will suck!!!

  • Kahnight

    I am a huge Sports fan & I found my Self Watching Kung Fu HD over big sporting events it was the Best Channel ever!

    I erased a lot of movies from my DVR that night because it seemed like they were about to play a brand new line up instead of replays. If I would of known that I would never erased a single Kung Fu movie ever!

    RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF KILLER CLANS MY SCREEN GOES BLUE UNBELIEVABLE

  • Michael Chen

    All I can say is Cablevision sucks! The first provider to start showing Kung Fu HD will get my business.

  • rashone johnson

    I am going to change my service provider. Without the KUNG FU channel I have no reason to keep cablevision. Besides their service was horrible and that was the only thing that was keeping me. I’ve had enough. I’m gone!!

  • BruisedLo

    Hmmm well there is Black Belt TV. Don’t any of you guys like that channel? lol.

  • Tracy

    Hey…I was actually starting to learn how to speak Chinese and Japanese from watching that channel!! I learned a lot more from that channel than stupid American Idol crap!!! Wake up folks…the Government is trying to keep you dumbed down and stupid!! Thats why the people at Obama Inauguration were too stupid to go in there and remove those who were really responsible for the country economic problem today. CONGRESS!!! Instead they stand there as a bunch of followers of some jackass word called change!! Well…dont just stand there folks…make the change then!!Get up off your butts and start using your brains!!! And throw out all these crooks including the owners of these cable companies!!!

  • sheryl smith

    i am so disgusted!that all i watched all day please bring it back

  • alli

    SOOOO disappointed…I hadn’t even heard about it until i went to watch it today and…SURPRISE!!!…it’s now listed as HBOFH…WHAT! BOOTLEG…ABSOLUTELY BOOTLEG!! at least netflix allows you to stream certain movies…that’ll have to work for now…>sigh<

  • Chanelle

    I’ve been watching this channel since April 08′. My 4 favorites were, Rave HD, Gameplay HD, Kung Fu HD and Monsters HD. These channels had programming that was actually worth watching. I moved to Georgia and lost all of that programming. My heart sank when I realized dish network dropped it where I moved to. I even emailed them asking if they will bring it back. Regular TV is NOT WORTH WATCHING!! If you haven’t experienced any of these channels, you missed something great. I’m officially done with television.

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