Partnership puts eScapes Network on overseas

Monroe-based company now available in Europe

The Pioneer Village at the Botanical Gardens in Toledo. Image is from eScapes, a company that broadcasts video from your favorite vacation spots to your television.

MONROE — A local company is headed across the pond.

The Monroe-based eScapes Network is now available to millions of European television viewers.

The eScapes Network, which launched in 2011, combines relaxing music with high-definition video of all kinds of scenes — cities and harbors of the world, lighhouses, earth vistas, and more.

eScapes has partnered with Virginia-based Broad Branch Media to take the network’s programming to 52.6 million European homes with live, unencrypted direct-to-home programming.

Mark Crittenden, the company’s marketing and strategic planning manager, said eScapes is also negotiating with European cable operators, which could raise that number to more than 120 million.

“This is an important and historic time in the network’s growth,” eScapes president and CEO Robert A. Oklejas said in a statement. “Even with current tightness in the European cable market coupled with mixed advertising spending, we are confident eScapes entertainment will find its audience all over the world.”

Mr. Crittenden said the network reaches more than 160,000 homes in North America.

The eScapes Network is available to Buckeye CableSystem digital subscribers on channel 168. Buckeye CableSystem is owned by Block Communications Inc., parent company of The Blade.

— Chip Towns