USA TODAY International Edition

Video game television network launches

VENN has 24/ 7 coverage of esports, pop culture

- Mike Snider

Video game lovers now have their own fully fledged network again with the arrival of the Video Game Entertainm­ent & News Network ( VENN).

The VENN began broadcasti­ng live Wednesday at about 2: 30 p. m. ET on its on website VENN. tv, as well as on Twitter, Twitch, YouTube and Facebook.

The network has a full slate of programs including daily variety show VENN Arcade Live, the afternoon interactiv­e show Guest House, and The Download, a daily gaming, pop culture and tech news show including host Erin Ashley Simon, esports commentato­r Matt Morello, and actor and musician Jimmy Wong (” Mulan”).

VENN covers “the intersecti­on of culture, entertainm­ent, esports and gaming,” Simon said in a promotiona­l video posted on Twitter. But the network also shows that gamers “come in so many different shapes and forms we have so many different passions. And more importantl­y we are able to be ourselves. VENN is about uplifting and empowering content creators and gamers and talent and allowing us to be us.”

You can watch programmin­g live – VENN’s schedule can be found on VENN. tv – or watch full episodes on demand on the site.

VENN is also available on Vizio SmartCast, Xumo, STIRR, and Distro TV. The network plans to eventually have a presence on live streaming services, as well as cable and satellite systems.

“VENN was built to be a talent first network – a welcoming home for gamers, streamers, and creators of all genres, background­s, and passions,” said VENN executive creative director Viranda Tantula in a statement. “We’re inspired by a love of content, craft, and culture – a love we share with the talent who are joining us. We hope our audience feels that energy.”

VENN harkens back to the day when video game fans had their own network such as G4 and television shows such as GameTraile­rs TV, and The Electric Playground.

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