The Extreme Sports Channel is a pay television channel that was launched from Amsterdam on 1 May 1999. The channel broadcasts in over 60 countries and 12 languages, and covers extreme sport and adventure sports which include surfing, skateboarding, snowboarding, wakeboarding, motocross, BMX, mountain biking, FMX, music, gaming and fashion.
History Alistair Gosling from Essex in the UK founder of Extreme International a sports media and marketing company and a passionate free skier, free diver, sailor and pilot and came up with the idea for the Network in 1996. In 1997 Alistair, Ben Barret, Juanjo Marquez and Adam Oliver who were all working for Extreme started approaching potential investors to back the plan for a new brand and TV network dedicated to extreme and adventure sports. UPCtv, the programming arm of Europe's largest cable television operator UPC, was looking for new channels to offer its subscribers and in April 1998 Extreme international was exhibiting at the MIP programming market in Cannes, France, Ben Barrett the sales director was approached by Stephen Cohen, UPCtv's Chief Operating Officer who had heard about the channel, with a proposal for a joint venture between the two companies. Extreme partnered with UPC, raised $35 million and The Extreme Sports Channel was launched from the Netherlands on 1 May 1999, after launching in 22 other countries it launched in the UK in 2000. The channel was designed by Gosling and Cohen, management, commercialization and content was produced, curated and delivered by Extreme International and technical play out and uplink were supplied by UPC.
In late 1999, Extreme launched its United States operations, and charged veteran producer, Lloyd Bryan Adams with the task of heading up the North American presence. They launched Extreme TV, a branded block on Fox Sports Net in March 2012.
In 2005, after launching the channel in over sixty countries and seeing the growth in social media and sports, Extreme International acquired sole ownership of the "Extreme" brand and IP and sold its 50% stake in Extreme Sports Channel to John Malone's Liberty Global Inc. which had by then become owner of UPC. The channel was put under the management of Chellomedia.
Following the transaction, the company re focused its business model away from traditional television to focus on sports focused social media publishing, sports marketing, athlete and influencer management, IP and Format development, live events and Red Bull Style social stunts.
Operations and Agency Services
Today Extreme is operates a sports marketing, media and entertainment group specialising in action sports, health and fitness, automotive and adventure travel. It is being built through organic growth and a roll up, by partnering with founders and bringing complementary businesses together into a holding company called Wavelength.now. Its operations are divided into these areas:
Social Channels & Distribution: Extreme operates and commercialises a network of action sports social media channels with 20 million followers delivering 200 million video views a month across Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat and Facebook. Social Video Production: Development of short-form social video content, promotional social stunt films and multi-platform branded storytelling aimed at youth demographics. Live Events & Activations: Production and Sponsorship management of live events, Red Bull style social stunts and a large scale environmental initiative at the annual COP events called the "Extreme Hangout". Talent Agency and Development Representing, activating brand partnerships and developing IP with a collection of leading athletes, influencers and creators including Supercar Blondie, the worlds largest automotive content creator with over 128m social media followers. IP and Formats Developing and scaling IP & formats with talent and partners across media, events and destinations.
Clients and delivery Extreme has executed marketing campaigns, covering influencers, event activations and social media distribution for corporate clients and regional tourism boards. Its clients include Red Bull, Google, Stanley Black & Decker, TripAdvisor, Swatch, Clarks, Knoops, ITV, Public Investment Fund (PIF), and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). Destination marketing partnerships include Visit Malta, Egypt Tourism and Qiddiya.
Hotels and Resorts. in the hospitality sector, Extreme has partnered with an elite hotel and resort development team to launch branded, adventure-themed destinations. Working alongside investors, property owner, developers, and government toursim boards.
Sustainability Initiatives Extreme is organized around three focus areas: people, planet, and place. It works to sustainably drive sport participation, an active and healthy lifestyle, job creation, infrastructure investment and tourism. Whilst aligning with five key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and government agendas there is a commitment to be sustainable, and have launched the Extreme Hangout an events impact platform, are signed up to Planet Mark to measure impact, 1% For The Planet to give back and the UN’s Sports for Climate Action to drive awareness.
The channel launched in Poland in January 2006, followed by France in that same year.
The UK version of the channel was free-to-air from launch until the summer of 2006, when a deal with BSkyB meant that it became encrypted.
On 28 September 2011 the channel began broadcasting in widescreen (16:9) format.
On 1 February 2012 the high-definition version of the channel began broadcasting in Italy.
AMC Networks acquired Chellomedia on 2 February 2014. Chellomedia was rebranded by AMC Networks International on 8 July 2014.
On 31 December 2015, the channel was removed from the Sky EPG.
As of 27 October 2021 Extreme became available on Channelbox via Freeview channel 271 in the UK. Channelbox is a free IPTV service available to any Freeview compatible device that can connect to both an aerial and internet.
In June 2024, the company acquired their own streaming slot on Freeview under the name Extreme Channel on channel 295.
As of February 2025 Extreme decided to give up its separate slot on Freeview in favour of Channelbox and focusing on their Extreme Plus streaming application
Programmes Beyond the Beaten Path with the Eagar Brothers Boondock Nation Dirty South Bounders Epic Trails with Eric Hanson Facing Waves Fantasy Factory with skateboarder Rob Dyrdek Fighting Fit The Travel Geek with Cyle O’Donnell The Ultimate Ride
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