HEI Network

The HEI Network is a subscription streaming service and is the media platform of the future. Created in 2020, seemingly as a reorganization of HEI Inc., the service is the current home of On Cinema, the Oscar Specials, and spin-offs including Xposed and Deck of Cards. The HEI Network website also hosts a comment section on every video, various news articles, and the revolutionary HEI Points cryptocurrency. The network owns all of HEI Inc.'s previous IPs, including On Cinema at the Cinema, as well as the Victorville Film Archives. It is part of VHS.

Initially, the network had a three tier access plans. Tier One access was $299.00 a month, with basic access to the network. Tier Two access was $399.00 a month, which would have included premium access to the network, including an app and “anytime” programming. Tier Three access was $599.00 a month, with ad-free premium access, on-demand features and unlimited access to the Tier Two app.^[1] In anticipation of the 8th Annual On Cinema Oscar Special, these three tiers were consolidated into a single subscription tier.^[2]

Subscription plans start at $5 a month, or $55 yearly. Monthly plans do not include a ticket to that year's Oscar Special, requiring a separate purchase. Monthly members can watch the special for free 30 days after airing, while annual members have permanent access and require no ticket purchase.

After Tim Heidecker formed HEI Inc. from the assets purchased from Delgado Media Holdings, it came to light that the newly formed holding company also inherited all of Delgado Media Holdings' debts and lawsuits, on top of the debt the company held due to the loan from MoneyZap used to purchase Delgado Media Holdings' assets to begin with. Following this, HEI Inc. announced the formation of the HEI Network, a new television network with plans for a variety of programming, including Heidecker's long-running On Cinema at the Cinema. Initially, prices for a subscription to the network were comparatively high, ranging from $299.00 to $599.00 a month, presumably in an effort to pay off HEI Inc.'s debts. It is assumed that HEI Inc. settled its debts with the subscription fees, and reorganized itself into the HEI Network. Before the launch of the network with the inaugural 8th Annual On Cinema Oscar Special, prices were discounted, and Toni Newman mentioned that she was currently funding the network through a beauty product business.

During the 8th Annual Oscar Special, Heidecker's collaborators in the band Dekkar, Axiom and Manuel, announced they were developing a reality show based on their rockstar lifestyle, called Rock House. Also during the special, frequent On Cinema guest and owner of the Victorville Film Archives, Gregg Turkington, made a wager with Heidecker over the results of the Best Picture winner that year at Oscar. Turkington bet ownership of the VFA on Mank winning Best Picture, while Heidecker bet the brand new HEI Network that Nomadland would win. After Nomadland won, Turkington signed a contract on camera giving the HEI Network ownership of the archives.

Following the special, the pilot for Rock House aired, the first original programming on the network.

During the 12th season of On Cinema, the first aired on the network, Heidecker was focused on rapid expansion. To aid in this, he began several new projects, including a cryptocurrency called HEI Points, which was posited to replace the U.S. Dollar within a year. With HEI Points, he purchased a parcel of land that he intended to develop into a headquarters for the company, called the HEI Ranch. He also greenlit several television pilots for potential expansion into a full series, known as Heilots. This consisted of two new shows created by previous On Cinema collaborators, Popcorn Shuffle by Turkington, and Mark's Cavalcade of Characters by Mark Proks. It also included two existing properties for potential expansion: the previously aired Rock House, and Xposed with Michael Matthews, which had previously been a segment during some Oscar Specials.

Subscribers to the network could vote in a contest called the Heilot Season, where HEI Points could be exchanged for votes on which Heilot would be made into a full show. Following voting, Xposed was chosen as the winner, and received a full season run.

Several new ventures for the company were announced during the 9th Annual On Cinema Oscar Special. Development of the new HEI Ranch, from which the special was broadcast, was showcased, including the prototype for the HEI Noon Chili Saloon, and a new tequila brewed from cacti on the Ranch. Under the VFA banner, Turkington announced VFA Expert Tours, a van tour of famous movie locations in the Hollywood area. Most importantly, Heidecker announced a major investment into the network by the Amato Group. The owner of the organization, G. Amato, had heard about HEI Points and became convinced they were the currency of the future, and took an interest in Heidecker and his business.

Following the special, Turkington released Deck of Cards, a feature length movie he had been developing. As part of the VFA ownership agreement, the HEI Network aired the film, though it controversially requested a number of changes and reshoots. A special discussing the changes, whatwentwrong, later aired, filmed in the Amato Banquet Hall.

Heidecker announced that On Cinema at the Cinema would be replaced by a new program, a morning show titled On Cinema and More! In the Morning. Also filmed at the Amato Banquet Hall, the special was hosted by Heidecker and Kaili Amato. The Amato Group at this point had heavily invested in the HEI Network, and discovered the presence of lithium on the HEI Ranch land. Taking control of the land, the Amato Group began mining for lithium, promising that HEI Points could be exchanged for the lithium that was mined.

About a year after On Cinema and More! In the Morning ended, Heidecker announced a new business-focused podcast titled On Cinema On Demand. The Amato Group had taken full control of the HEI Network, heavily advertising itself on the program, and Amato Group executive Joey Patrocelli joined Heidecker as a co-host. On the podcast, G. Amato announced AmatoCon, a three day business conference organized by Heidecker. The final day of the conferencewas livestreamed on the HEI Network, and included the 11th Annual On Cinema Oscar Special.

An physical altercation during AmatoCon involving Patrocelli, Heidecker, and Turkington lead to the Amato Group severing ties with the HEI Network, though the organization was still able to release an interview with Patrocelli on the network later.

Without the Amato Group's financial backing, the network was in dire financial straits. However, Turkington, using a settlement from the AmatoCon incident, purchased a controlling share of the network. Renting Movie House, Turkington formed Victorville Film Archives/HEI Network Studios, merging the VFA and the HEI Network into a single entity. Movie House was undergoing renovations to become a movie studio and film museum to fund VHS, with Zombie 2 2 intended to be the newly formed studio's first movie. The HEI Network aired the finished film, now called Final Conclusion, during the 12th Annual On Cinema Oscar Special. Unfortunately, the house collapsed during the end of the special, after being declared structurally unsafe.

Heidecker announced he had purchased the HEI Network back from Turkington and once again had full control of the company, including VHS and the VFA.

The real-life HEI Network was created in 2020 after the Covid-19 pandemic caused Adult Swim to shutter its streaming department. On Cinema, which had already funded Oscar Specials privately via Patreon for several years, pivoted to an entirely self-funded model.