GameTap Hires Sanchez, Announces Original Programming

GameTap, Turner Broadcasting's "broadband entertainment network", which launches next month for an 'all you can eat' PC gaming download service, has hired Rick Sanchez as vice president of content. Most recently, Sanchez served as vice president of publishing at IGN Entertainment, and previously developed interactive content for Ultra Game Players and Next Generation magazines at Imagine Media. In his new role, Sanchez is charged with overseeing and implementing the content strategy and acquisition management of games, as well as overseeing the production of text-based editorial content and directing the production of video-based content for GameTap, which launches to consumers in October. In addition, GameTap, which was recently the subject of an in-depth interview on Gamasutra, and which has initially announced licensees including classic and newer games from Activision, Atari, Midway, Namco, Sega, Taito, Ubisoft and Vivendi Universal Games, has revealed 'original programming', in the form of short-form videos which play on the GameTap network and are available to subscribers. Shows include Fame & Game, looking at celebrities who play video games, as well as special editions of cult Cartoon Network favorite Space Ghost Coast to Coast talking to video game celebrities. The GameTap service will launch on October 3rd and offer titles from systems such as the Atari 2600, Genesis, and Dreamcast. 300 games will be available from the outset, with a library of over 700 more scheduled to be released at intervals. Subscription pricing will be $14.95 per month for unlimited access to the games on the service.