Calabasas horse cable TV channel is back on track

The HorseTV Channel, the Calabasas-based cable channel that launched in October 2005 and subsequently went off the air in 2007 as a result of being unable to close on its second round of funding, has been saved by a new investment group led by Texasbased Australian businessman, Bernie Uechtritz.

The new investors acquired the assets of HorseTV Media Group and moved the company's corporate headquarters to a new location in Dallas, Texas. With new ownership, shareholder structure, board of directors and senior management, the HorseTV Channel is in the process of a turnaround, officials said.

"Previous struggles by the HorseTV Media Group, Inc. had nothing to do with the concept or the subject matter," Uechtritz said. "It was an untimely combination of second round financing conditions, complicated and frustrated by some complex shareholding and executive management issues."

Prior to the takeover, Horse TV had executed a memorandum of understanding on a distribution deal with Direct TV, and had other carriage agreements in place and pending, Uechtritz said.

"I am currently engaged in discussions with principles that I think would be the right fit and who share my vision of the necessary balance between the horse industry, its lifestyles and its commercial appeal on a global platform," he said.

Uechtritz, whose family originates from Papua New Guinea, is a renowned international polo lacrosse and polo player.

He is also the lead investor in several other multimedia and lifestyle properties.