View source for Sega Channel

{{AccessoryBob
| accessoryimage=SegaChannel logo.png
| imgwidth=200
| accessoryprogramscreen=
| title=
| maker=[[Sega]], Scientific Atlanta, General Instrument
| madefor=[[Sega Mega Drive]]
| alsoworks=
| romsize=
| sounddriver=[[GEMS]]
| releases={{releasesMD
| md_date_us=1994-06-01
| md_date_ca=1995-12
| md_date_uk=1996-07-01
| md_date_ar=1996-10
| md_date_cl=1996-10
| md_date_nl=1996-11-09
| md_date_de=1996-12
| md_date_fr=
| md_date_jp=1994-05
| md_date_au=
| md_date_tw=1995-10
}}
}}
'''Sega Channel''' was a project developed by [[Sega]] for the [[Sega Mega Drive]] video game console. Completely revolutionary at the time of release (bar a failed attempt with the earlier Intellivision console), it was a method capable of streaming digital content to Mega Drive owners through cable television.

Sega Channel services were offered across the globe by various providers, though the most notable and well-remembered was the service provided for North American consumers. Traditionally in order to gain access to a Sega Channel, customers would pay for a monthly subscription, and in return be given unlimited access to a specified amount of video games. Network providers would be able to change the details of the service at any given point, meaning the Sega Channel was constantly evolving, with new games appearing throughout the weeks and months. A number of games were even made Sega Channel exclusives.

Today, services such as these tend to be provided by the internet, however back then, games on demand was a far less common occurence. Success of the Sega Channel varies between countries - in North America the Sega Channel was broadcast for a full four years, whereas in others it lasted merely months.

Due to the nature of how the Sega Channel service operated, it is extremely difficult to document - downloaded games would be erased upon turning off the console, and adequate methods of saving and recording Sega Channel content were not readily available. As such, large parts of the service to this day remain a mystery - it cannot be emulated like standard Mega Drive cartridges, and as it largely pre-dates the internet, details are very hard to come by.

==System details==
[[File:Segachannel.jpg|thumb|right]]
The Sega Channel was envisioned as a means of distributing [[Sega Mega Drive]] video games through a digital medium, as opposed to using physical cartridges bought from over the counter. It was achieved through the use of television, as opposed to the internet which would be typically preferred today.

To access the Sega Channel, customers needed to buy a Sega Channel adaptor and subscribe to a cable or satellite television package which offered a Sega Channel stream. Primarily adaptors were only available through mail order, though some were given to customers who had just signed up with a compatible TV package as part of their subscription deal. They could also be purchased from high-street branches owned by TCI or Time Warner operators.

Adaptors came in several shapes and sizes but share the same basic design - they are to be placed within the Mega Drive's cartridge slot and then linked to the cable television box via an [[RF connector]]. Adaptors also require their own external power supply, and depending on the model, come with plastic spacers to make sure the unit can fit comfortably in both the original Mega Drive and Mega Drive II consoles.

Unlike other add-ons for the system, such as the [[Sega Mega-CD]], [[Sega 32X]] or even the earlier [[Sega Mega Modem]], the Sega Channel adaptor does not need to be plugged in to any of the ports at the back of the console, meaning (theoretically) the Sega Channel adaptor is compatible with any device with a Mega Drive cartridge slot.
[[File:SegaChannel US Diagram.png|right|thumb|Diagram of the delivery system (US).]]
The Sega Channel service differed from other television channels as there was nothing to "watch". Instead, digital data would be broadcast through the cable provider and recieved by the Sega Channel adaptor, which in turn would attempt to convert it into program code. Much like an ordinary television channel, the user had no means of determining what was broadcast; while the contents were transmitted on a loop, the adaptor is often forced to "wait" until it got access to the data it required.

In Europe, particularly the United Kingdom, the service can be likened to [[wikipedia:Teletext|Teletext]], just with ''all'' of the transmission being reserved for digital data.

There were several signals involved in the broadcast of Sega Channel - one to broadcast menus (which was on continously) and another to broadcast individual games and content. This second signal would cycle through content individually, leading to potential thirty seconds wait times until the correct piece of content was being broadcasted. Over the weeks and months content would be changed 

If the broadcast matched with the request from the adaptor, the program would be downloaded and stored in the unit's RAM. Nothing was saved permanently - if the user turned off the device all saved data would be lost. A soft reset of the console was still a possiblity, however.

As a radically different system to a standard cable channel, extra precautions would need to be taken by the cable operators before broadcasting. At the time, all cable services were analogue and would therefore pick up noise, potentially distrupting transmissions. The signal would therefore need to be cleaned by the providers as much as possible. Sega's assistence in these matters meant that despite being a gaming company, they had a major influence in the cable television infrastructure across the world.

Distortion, however, was unavoidable in many cases and so downloads would often fail (bearing in mind that some games were 4MB in size). The solution was simply to reset the console and try again.

Some accessories are said to have caused trouble with the Sega Channel adaptor, namely the [[Konami Justifier]].

===Regional variants===
In the US, a satellite was involved in distributing content, meaning games could be loaded from a central server and broadcast across the United States concurrently. Elsewhere a network of computers were used, with the contents stored on compact disc, with regular updates sent through the post.

==Contents==
===Test Drives===
Test Drives offered limited play of upcoming and newly released titles. These were generally restricted via a time limit which varied according to genre. Action games could offer twenty minutes of play, whilst more indepth games such as RPGs could offer thirty minutes. Once the exact time limit was reached the adapter would cut out. There was no limit on the number of times Test Drives could be played, although games would have to be reloaded and started from the beginning once the time limit had been reached.

===Express Games===
Express Games{{fileref|Broadcasting&Cable US 1995-07-10.pdf|page=37}} were an additional option where for $2.95 upcoming and newly released titles were available to rent for 48 hours (although technically the rental period only lasted until midnight the following day). These were generally games which had appeared as Test Drives the previous month, and as with other retail titles would not appear on the standard service until at least 90 days after retail release. Express Games first appeared in certain U.S. test markets in July of 1995 with ''[[The Adventures of Batman and Robin]]'', and continued through a limited number of U.S. cable operators into 1996 before seemingly being quietly withdrawn.

==History==
===Pre-release and testing===
The Sega Channel was primarily envisioned for the North American audience due to relatively widespread cable adoption and the strong positioning of [[Sega of America]] at the time. The service was initially announced in April 1993, as a joint venture between Sega, [[wikipedia:Tele-Communications Inc.|Tele-Communications Inc. (TCI)]] and [[wikipedia:Time Warner|Time Warner]]{{intref|Press release: 1993-04-14: SEGA, TIME WARNER AND TCI JOINT VENTURE TO BRING VIDEO GAMES TO CABLE TV}}, with the support of [[wikipedia:Southern New England Telecommunications|Southern New England Telecommunications Corporation]]{{fileref|Cybertek US 16.pdf|page=7}}{{fileref|Cybertek US 16.pdf|page=8}}{{fileref|Cybertek US 16.pdf|page=9}}{{fileref|Cybertek US 16.pdf|page=1}} (''SNET''). At the time, TCI was the largest television cable provider in the United States, and Time Warner was the second largest, each boasting millions of customers and extensive overseas tele-communications businesses.

Initial plans were to get the Sega Channel service running by early 1994{{intref|Press release: 1993-04-14: SEGA, TIME WARNER AND TCI JOINT VENTURE TO BRING VIDEO GAMES TO CABLE TV}}, though a series of delays saw it pushed back several months. Initial testing of the service actually took place in Japan, where it was trialed among 500 Japanese homes during the first few months of 1994{{fileref|GamePlayers US 0702.pdf|page=12}}. Manufacturers Scientific-Atlanta finally shipped some US headends in April{{intref|Press release: 1995-04-12: SCIENTIFIC-ATLANTA SHIPS FIRST 300 HEADEND SYSTEMS TO PROVIDE SEGA GAMES}} before demonstrating the system at the National Cable & Telecommunications Association show of 1994{{intref|Press release: 1994-05-23: SCIENTIFIC-ATLANTA TO DEMONSTRATE LIVE SEGA CHANNEL(SM/TM) VIDEO GAME DELIVERY SERVICE OVER CABLE TV AT NCTA SHOW}}. On Sega's end, the firm announced and demonstrated the Sega Channel at [[Summer CES 1993]] in early June{{fileref|SegaForceMega UK 02.pdf|page=8}}.

Trials covering 5,000 North American customers in twelve US test markets began on June 6th with Capitol Cablevision (Charleston, South Carolina), and continuing with TCI Cablevision of Texas Inc. (Beaumont, Texas); TCI of New York Inc. (Buffalo, New York); Cablevision of Gastonia (North Carolina); TCI Cablevision of Wyoming Inc. (Cheyenne, Wyoming); TCI Cablevision of Mid-Michigan Inc. (East Lansing, Michigan); TCI Cablevision of Alabama Inc. (Hoover, Alabama); Time Warner Cable (Nashua, New Hampshire); TCI Cablevision of Oregon Inc. (Portland, Oregon); Warner Cable of Reston (Virginia); American Cablevision (St. Louis, Missouri); and TCI Cablevision of Walnut Creek (California).

Reaction was positive and a planned national rollout was put in place for December{{intref|Press release: 1994-11-30: Sega Channel test a success -- service prepares for national rollout in December}}.

Also planned was an agreement with the Californian-based Interactive Network Inc., allowing Sega Channel users to submit high scores to a central database through a telephone line{{intref|Press release: 1994-01-27: INTERACTIVE NETWORK AND SEGA CHANNEL REACH AGREEMENT}}. The status of the planned pilot scheme is not currently clear.

===United States===
:''See also: [[Sega Channel US schedule]].''
Test markets aside, the Sega Channel officially launched in the US on December 12th 1994 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with NHL star [[wikipedia:Mario Lemieux|Mario Lemieux]] present at a promotional event{{intref|Press release: 1994-12-12: TCI OF PA BECOMES NATION'S FIRST CABLE SYSTEM TO LAUNCH THE SEGA CHANNEL, FEATURING UNLIMITED ACCESS TO POPULAR VIDEO GAMES}}.

At the time, the service was being offered for $12.95 a month with a one-off $25 activation fee. Initially over fifty games were available at any one time, with the contents changing on a monthly basis. At the time, boxed Mega Drive (or Genesis) games were often retailing for roughly $60, and one or two day rental charges were averaging around $4 across the country. Provided they could get the service, for many the Sega Channel represented a good deal, which may have explained its long-lasting success in the region.

The music used across the US Sega Channel service was composed by John Baker, who had supplied the music for ''[[ToeJam & Earl]]''. Much of the Sega Channel's graphical style is similar to that game, also. Adaptors were manufactured by Scientific-Atlanta and General Instrument and were meant to be returned to the cable distributor upon cancellation of the service.

Rollouts continued across 1995, with Suburban Cable of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania broadcasting the service from March 1995{{intref|Press release: 1995-01-23: Sega Channel announces another affiliate}} and Seattle, Washington from April{{intref|Press release: 1995-04-13: Sega Channel launches in Seattle}}.

The US service was the biggest and most actively maintained, and at its peak, the Sega Channel was available to one third of the US population and had 250,000 subscribers. A survey conducted by ''Sports Illustrated for Kids'' in 1995 even suggested the younger demographic were five times more likely to want ''Sega Channel'' over a new console{{fileref|EGM US 077.pdf|page=20}}. The US variant tends to overshadow other releases as it is the only version of the service that is well remembered by the gaming public.

As well as games, Sega also ran several promotions through the service. Special previews for up-and-coming titles were provided; some import games not found in the United States were exclusive to the service and cheats and tips were handed out. Several games ran special promotions, including ''[[Triple Play 96]]'', ''[[Primal Rage]]''{{intref|Press release: 1995-09-11: Time Warner Interactive's Primal Rage(TM) pulls in heavy hits on Sega Channel}}, ''[[Earthworm Jim 2]]'' and ''[[Mortal Kombat 3]]''{{fileref|EGM2 US 17.pdf|page=33}}.

The cable companies, Continental, Adelphi and Cox started offering the Sega Channel in early 1996, giving access to a further 8 million potential consumers{{fileref|GamePro US 079.pdf|page=19}}.

A "wireless" version of the service was displayed in July 1996 at the WCA Show in Denver, Colarado{{intref|Press release: 1996-07-10: GENERAL INSTRUMENT CORPORATION TO DISPLAY WIRELESS SEGA CHANNEL DELIVERY SYSTEM AT WCA SHOW}}, becoming the standard later in the year. Some plans, however seemingly failed to materialise, such as the rollout of special headsets{{intref|Press release: 1994-07-26: CABLE GIANT TCI AND VIRTUAL I/O, INC. AGREE TO OFFER HEADSETS TO SUBSCRIBERS OF NEW INTERACTIVE VIDEO GAME CHANNEL}}, 3D glasses{{fileref|EGM US 066.pdf|page=68}} and a sharing of technologies with [[Catapult]]'s [[XBAND]] project{{intref|Press release: 1995-05-08: General Instrument and Catapult sign agreement for multi-player gaming}}.

From January 17th, 1997, the schedules began to be changed fortnightly, with the service offering 70 games a month (working out as 35 games every two weeks, i.e. technically less choice){{intref|Press release: 1997-01-06: Sega Channel Pushed Programming to New Heights in 1997}}.

The US is the only region thought to have had a purely automated service. From a central office, the channel was transmitted to the Galaxy 7 satellite, and then relayed back down to cable operators across the country. Other regions saw Sega physically send out compact discs to operators. Following a series of failures starting in June 1998, the Galaxy 7 satellite spun out of geostationary orbit in November 2000, and is now drifting across space{{ref|1=http://www.n2yo.com/?s=22205}}.

The Sega Channel lasted until June 30th before being closed down for good. Sega of America did look into a [[Sega Saturn]]-compatible variant{{fileref|EGM US 077.pdf|page=20}}{{fileref|Broadcasting&Cable US 1995-07-10.pdf|page=37}} but the plan never materialised.

====List of Games====
(Note: Lists are preliminary. As little has survived from the days of Sega Channel and no official list has been released, games may be missing.)
{{multicol|
*''[[688 Attack Sub]]''
*''[[Aaahh!!! Real Monsters]]''
*''[[Abrams Battle Tank]]''
*''[[Addams Family Values]]''
*''[[The Adventures of Batman & Robin (Mega Drive)|The Adventures of Batman and Robin]]''
*''[[Aerobiz Supersonic]]''
*''[[Aero the Acrobat]]''
*''[[Afterburner II]]''
*''[[Amazing Tennis]]''
*''[[Animaniacs]]''
*''[[Art of Fighting]]''
*''[[Disney's Aladdin]]''
*''[[Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle]]''
*''[[Alien Soldier]]''
*''[[Alien Storm (Mega Drive)|Alien Storm]]''
*''[[Altered Beast]]''
*''[[Arcus Odyssey]]''
*''[[Ariel the Little Mermaid]]''
*''[[Arrow Flash]]''
*''[[Art Alive!]]''
*''[[Asterix and the Great Rescue]]''
*''[[ATP Tour Championship Tennis]]''
*''[[Awesome Possum Kicks Dr. Machino's Butt!]]''
*''[[Ballz]]''
*''[[Barbie Super Model]]''
*''[[Barkley: Shut Up and Jam!]]''
*''[[Barkley: Shut Up and Jam 2]]''
*''[[Barney's Hide & Seek Game]]''
*''[[Bass Masters Classic]]''
*''[[Bass Masters Classic: Pro Edition]]''
*''[[Batman Returns (Mega Drive)|Batman Returns]]''
*''[[Battle Frenzy]]''
*''[[BattleTech: A Game of Armored Combat]]''
*''[[Beauty and the Beast: Belle's Quest]]''
*''[[Berenstain Bears: Camping Adventure]]''
*''[[Berenstain Bears' Pico]]''
*''[[Best of the Best: Championship Karate]]''
*''[[Beyond Oasis]]''
*''[[Bio-Hazard Battle]]''
*''[[Blades of Vengeance]]''
*''[[B.O.B.]]''
*''[[Body Count]]''
*''[[Bonanza Bros]]''
*''[[Bonkers]]''
*''[[Boxing Legends of the Ring]]''
*''[[Boogerman]]''
*''[[Brett Hull Hockey 95]]''
*''[[Brutal: Paws of Fury]]''
*''[[Bubba 'n' Stix]]''
*''[[Bubsy]]''
*''[[Bubsy II]]''
*''[[Bugs Bunny in Double Trouble]]''
*''[[Cadash]]''
*''[[Castlevania Bloodlines]]''
*''[[California Games]]''
*''[[Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse (Mega Drive)|Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse]]''
*''[[Chakan]]''
*''[[Championship Pool]]''
*''[[Championship Pro-Am]]''
*''[[Chase H.Q.]]''
*''[[Chase H.Q. II]]''
*''[[Chessmaster]]''
*''[[Chiki Chiki Boys]]''
*''[[Chuck Rock]]''
*''[[ClayFighter]]''
*''[[Clue]]'' (Cluedo)
*''[[Coach K College Basketball]]''
*''[[College Football's National Championship]]''
*''[[College Football's National Championship II]]''
*''[[Columns]]''
*''[[Combat Cars]]''
*''[[Comix Zone]]''
*''[[Comix Zone Page 2]]''
*''[[Contra: Hard Corps]]''
*''[[Crack Down]]''
*''[[Crystal's Pony Tale]]''
*''[[Cyborg Justice]]''
*''[[David Crane's Amazing Tennis]]''
*''[[David Robinson Basketball]]''
*''[[Decap Attack]]''
*''[[Desert Demolition Starring Road Runner and Wile E. Coyote]]''
*''[[Desert Strike]]''
*''[[Dick Tracy]]''
*''[[Dino Land]]''
*''[[Dinosaurs for Hire]]''
*''[[Doom Troopers]]''
*''[[Double Dribble: The Playoff Edition]]''
*''[[Double Dribble: Championship Edition]]''
*''[[Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine]]''
*''[[Dungeons & Dragons: Warriors of the Eternal Sun]]''
*''[[Dyna Brothers 2]]''
*''[[Dynamite Headdy]]''
*''[[Earthworm Jim]]''
*''[[EWJ Race]]''
*''[[Earthworm Jim Videohint 1]]''
*''[[Earthworm Jim Videohints 2]]''
*''[[Earthworm Jim 2]]''
*''[[Ecco the Dolphin]]''
*''[[Ecco: The Tides of Time]]''
*''[[Ecco Jr]]''
*''[[El Viento]]''
*''[[ESPN Baseball Tonight]]''
*''[[ESWAT: City Under Siege]]''
*''[[Eternal Champions]]''
*''[[Exile]]''
*''[[Ex-Mutants]]''
*''[[Exo Squad]]''
*''[[F-15 Strike Eagle II]]''
*''[[Fatal Fury]]''
*''[[Fatal Labyrinth]]''
*''[[FIFA International Soccer]]''
*''[[FIFA Soccer '95]]''
*''[[Final Zone]]''
*''[[Flashback: The Quest for Identity]]''
*''[[Flicky]]''
*''[[The Flintstones (Ocean)|The Flintstones]]''
*''[[Forgotten Worlds]]''
*''[[Fun 'n' Games]]''
*''[[Galaxy Force II]]''
*''[[Garfield: Caught in the Act]]''
*''[[Garfield: The Lost Levels]]''
*''[[Gargoyles]]''
*''[[General Chaos]]''
*''[[Generations Lost]]''
*''[[Ghouls 'n Ghosts]]''
*''[[G-Loc: Air Battle]]''
*''[[Golden Axe]]''
*''[[Golden Axe II]]''
*''[[Golden Axe III]]''
*''[[The Great Waldo Search]]''
*''[[Greendog]]''
*''[[Growl]]''
*''[[Gods]]''
*''[[Gotron]]''
*''[[Granada X]]''
*''[[Gunstar Heroes]]''
*''[[Hard Drivin]]''
*''[[Head-On Soccer]]''
*''[[Heavy Nova]]''
*''[[Home Alone]]''
*''[[Home Alone 2]]''
*''[[Humans]]''
*''[[Hurricanes]]''
*''[[IMG International Tour Tennis]]''
*''[[The Immortal]]''
*''[[The Incredible Hulk]]''
*''[[International Rugby]]''
*''[[Izzy's Olympic Quest]]''
*''[[James "Buster" Douglas Knockout Boxing (Mega Drive)|James "Buster" Douglas Knockout Boxing]]''
*''[[Jeopardy!]]''
*''[[Jeopardy! Deluxe Edition]]''
*''[[Jeopardy! Sports Edition]]''
*''[[Jewel Master]]''
*''[[Joe Montana II Sports Talk Football]]''
*''[[Junction]]''
*''[[Jungle Strike]]''
*''[[Jurassic Park (Mega Drive)|Jurassic Park]]''
*''[[Kawasaki Superbike Challenge]]''
*''[[Kid Chameleon]]''
*''[[Klax]]''
*''[[Klondike]]''
*''[[Landstalker: The Treasures of King Nole]]''
*''[[Last Battle]]''
*''[[Lethal Enforcers]]''
*''[[Lethal Enforcers II: Gun Fighters]]''
*''[[Light Crusader]]''
*''[[M-1 Abrams Battle Tank]]''
*''[[Mario Lemieux Hockey]]''
*''[[Marko's Magic Football]]''
*''[[Maui Mallard in Cold Shadow]]''
*''[[Marsupilami]]''
*''[[Math Blaster: Episode 1]]''
*''[[Mega Bomberman]]''
*''[[Mega Man The Wily Wars]]''
*''[[Mega Turrican]]''
*''[[MERCS]]''
*''[[Mickey's Ultimate Challenge]]''
*''[[MiG-29 Fighter Pilot]]''
*''[[Monopoly (Mega Drive)|Monopoly]]''
*''[[Mortal Kombat]]''
*''[[Mortal Kombat 3]]''
*''[[Mortal Kombat 3 (T.D.)]]''
*''[[Mr. Nutz]]''
*''[[MTV's Beavis and Butt-head]]
*''[[Mutant League Football]]''
*''[[Mutant League Hockey]]''
*''[[Mystic Defender]]''
*''[[NCAA Final Four Basketball]]''
*''[[NCAA Football]]''
*''[[NHL All-Star Hockey '95]]''
*''[[Nightmare Circus]]''
*''[[Normy's Beach Babe-o-Rama]]''
*''[[Olympic Summer Games]]''
*''[[The Ooze]]''
*''[[Operation Europe]]''
*''[[OutRun]]''
*''[[OutRun 2019]]''
*''[[OutRunners]]''
*''[[Paperboy 2]]''
*''[[Pebble Beach Golf Links]]''
*''[[Pele!]]''
*''[[Pele II: World Tournament Soccer]]''
*''[[PGA European Tour]]''
*''[[PGA Tour Golf]]''
*''[[PGA Tour Golf II]]''
*''[[PGA Tour Golf III]]''
*''[[Phantasy Star II]]''
*''[[Phantasy Star III]]''
*''[[Phantasy Star IV]]''
*''[[Pink Goes to Hollywood]]''
*''[[Pinocchio]]''
*''[[Pirates! Gold]]''
*''[[The Pirates of Dark Water]]''
*''[[Pit Fighter]]''
*''[[Pitfall: The Mayan Adventure]]''
*''[[Power Drive]]''
*''[[Power Monger]]''
*''[[Primal Rage]]''
*''[[Primal Rage Test Drive]]''
*''[[Primal Showdown]]''
*''[[Prince of Persia]]''
*''[[Pulseman]]''
*''[[The Punisher]]''
*''[[Quackshot]]''
*''[[Race Drivin']]''
*''[[Ranger-X]]''
*''[[Rastan Saga II]]''
*''[[Red Zone]]''
*''[[The Revenge of Shinobi]]''
*''[[Richard Scarry's Busytown]]''
*''[[Rings of Power]]''
*''[[Risk]]''
*''[[Ristar]]''
*''[[Road Rash]]''
*''[[Road Rash II]]''
*''[[Road Rash 3]]''
*''[[Robocop vs the Terminator]]''
*''[[Rocket Knight Adventures]]''
*''[[Rolo to the Rescue]]''
*''[[Romance of the Three Kingdoms III: Dragon of Destiny|Romance of the Three Kingdoms III]]''
*''[[Rugby World Cup '95]]''
*''[[Saint Sword]]''
*''[[SeaQuest DSV]]''
*''[[Sesame Street Counting Cafe]]''
*''[[Shadow Dancer: The Secret of Shinobi]]''
*''[[Shadowrun (Mega Drive)|Shadowrun]]''
*''[[Shaq-Fu]]''
*''[[Shining Force]]''
*''[[Shining Force II]]''
*''[[Shining in the Darkness]]''
*''[[Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master]]''
*''[[Side Pocket]]''
*''[[Skeleton Krew]]''
*''[[Skitchin']]''
*''[[Sonic & Knuckles]]''
*''[[Sonic 3D Blast]]''
*''[[Sonic Spinball]]''
*''[[Sonic the Hedgehog]]''
*''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 2]]''
*''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 3]]''
*''[[Space Harrier II]]''
*''[[Space Invaders '91]]''
*''[[Sparkster]]''
*''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine]]''
*''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation: Echoes from the Past]]''
*''[[Street Fighter II': Special Champion Edition]]''
*''[[Streets of Rage]]''
*''[[Streets of Rage 2]]''
*''[[Streets of Rage 3]]''
*''[[Strider]]''
*''[[Strider Returns]]''
*''[[Sub-Terrania]]''
*''[[Sunset Riders]]''
*''[[Super Battletank]]''
*''[[Super Hang On]]''
*''[[Super League (Mega Drive)|Super League]]''
*''[[Super Monaco GP]]''
*''[[Super Street Fighter II]]'' (Limited Edition)
*''[[Super Thunder Blade]]''
*''[[Super Volleyball]]''
*''[[Sword of Vermilion]]''
*''[[TaleSpin]]''
*''[[TechnoClash]]''
*''[[Taz in Escape from Mars]]''
*''[[Taz-Mania]]''
*''[[Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends]]''
*''[[Theme Park]]''
*''[[Thunder Fox]]''
*''[[Time Killers]]''
*''[[Tinhead]]''
*''[[Tiny Toon Adventures: Buster's Hidden Treasure]]''
*''[[Tiny Toon Adventures: ACME All-Stars]]''
*''[[ToeJam & Earl]]''
*''[[ToeJam & Earl: Panic on Funkotron]]''
*''[[Tommy Lasorda Baseball]]''
*''[[Triple Play '96]]'' (Limited Edition)
*''[[Traysia]]''
*''[[Ultimate Qix]]''
*''[[Unnecessary Roughness '95]]''
*''[[Urban Strike]]''
*''[[Valis: The Fantasm Soldier]]''
*''[[Vectorman]]''
*''[[Vectorman 2]]''
*''[[Virtua Fighter 2 (Mega Drive)|Virtua Fighter 2]]''
*''[[VR Troopers]]''
*''[[Wacky Worlds]]''
*''[[Warrior of Rome II]]''
*''[[Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?]]''
*''[[Whip Rush]]''
*''[[Wimbledon Championship Tennis]]''
*''[[Winter Olympic Games]]''
*''[[Wiz 'n' Liz]]''
*''[[World Championship Soccer]]''
*''[[World Championship Soccer II]]''
*''[[World Cup USA '94]]''
*''[[World Heroes]]''
*''[[World of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck]]''
*''[[World Series Baseball]]''
*''[[World Series Baseball '96 L.E.]]''
*''[[WWF Royal Rumble]]''
*''[[X-Men]]''
*''[[X-Men 2: Clone Wars]]''
*''[[Zombies Ate My Neighbors]]''
*''[[Zool]]''
*''[[Zoop]]''
|cols=3}}

===Japan===
As with most other variants, the Japanese Sega Channel is largely undocumented. [[Sega Digital Communications]], a joint venture by Japan's two largest cable operator investors, Sumitomo Corp.and Itochu Corp. along with Sega was formed on the 31st of July 1994 in order to supply the Sega Channel in Japan, following the aforementioned tests earlier in the year. It initially launched in Tokyo, Yokkaichi, and Suwa with a fee of ¥3,000 for 30 games a month, with a promotional offer of a two month free trial.

Only one adaptor was created with stylings similar to the Japanese Mega Drive 2. The Japanese Sega Channel had a bird as a mascot.

In Japan, the Sega Channel had a unique [[BIOS]] screen featuring [[Sonic the Hedgehog]], and some exclusive content made for that region, including ''[[Dyna Brothers 2 Special]]''. This game was eventually released on the [[Wii]]'s [[Virtual Console]]. Another game that is seemingly connected to the Sega Chanel, ''[[Game no Kanzume Otokuyou]]'', was discovered in the [[Sega Dreamcast]] online disc, ''[[Dream Passport 3]]''.

====List of Games====
{{multicol|
*''[[Altered Beast]]''
*''[[Bahamut Senki]]''
*''[[Bare Knuckle II]]''
*''[[Bare Knuckle III]]''
*''[[Battle Golfer Yui]]''
*''[[Battle Mania]]''
*''[[Bonanza Bros.]]''
*''[[Chelnov]]''
*''[[Columns]]''
*''[[Columns III]]''
*''[[Crack Down]]''
*''[[Crying]]''
*''[[Dyna Brothers 2]]''
*''[[Dyna Brothers 2: Sega Channel Special]]''{{ref|http://vc.sega.jp/vc_dyna2/}}
*''[[Earthworm Jim]]''{{ref|http://vc.sega.jp/vc_ewj/}}*
*''[[Earthworm Jim 2]]''{{ref|http://vc.sega.jp/vc_ewj2/}}**
*''[[Ecco the Dolphin]]''
*''[[Ecco Jr.]]''{{ref|http://vc.sega.jp/vc_eccojr/}}**
*''[[ESWAT: City Under Siege]]''
*''[[Ex-Ranza]]''
*''[[G-LOC]]''
*''[[Gain Ground]]''
*''[[Gambler Jiko Chuushinha]]''
*''[[Game no Kanzume Otokuyou]]''
*''[[Golden Axe]]''
*''[[Gunstar Heroes]]''
*''[[Kyuukai Douchuuki]]''
*''[[Langrisser]]''
*''[[LaSalle Ishii no Quiz! Kyoiku Iinkai]]''
*''[[Mahjong Cop Ryuu: Hakurou no Yabou]]''
*''[[Nyuushi Chokuzen Check Nanmon Kimon Kiki Kaikai]]''
*''[[OutRun]]''
*''[[Party Quiz Mega Q]]''
*''[[Phantasy Star II]]''
*''[[Phantasy Star III]]''
*''[[Phantasy Star IV]]''
*''[[Pitfall: The Mayan Adventure]]''{{ref|http://vc.sega.jp/vc_pitfall/}}*
*''[[Puyo Puyo]]''
*''[[Rent A Hero]]''
*''[[Rocket Knight Adventures]]''
*''[[Sega Planet Quiz]]''
*''[[Shadow Dancer: The Secret of Shinobi]]''
*''[[Shining Force]]''
*''[[Side Pocket]]''
*''[[Sonic Spinball]]''
*''[[Sonic the Hedgehog (16-bit)|Sonic the Hedgehog]]''
*''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (16-bit)|Sonic the Hedgehog 2]]''
*''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 3]]''
*''[[Space Harrier II]]''
*''[[Super Fantasy Zone]]''
*''[[Super Hang-On]]''
*''[[Super League]]''
*''[[Super Monaco GP]]''
*''[[The Super Shinobi II]]''
*''[[Super Thunder Blade]]''
*''[[Super Volleyball]]''
*''[[Wimbledon]]''
*''[[World Cup Soccer]]''
|cols=3}}

<nowiki>*</nowiki> Link is to Sega of Japan's [[Virtual Console]] page for the game, which says "本作はメガドライブ版でのパッケージ販売は日本ではされておりませんでしたが、ケーブルテレビ・ゲーム配信サービス「セガチャンネル」で楽しむことができました。" (The Megadrive package for the original game wasn't sold in Japan, but it could be played on the cable TV game broadcast service "Sega Channel") <!-- translation provided by GlitterBerri -->

<nowiki>**</nowiki> Same as *, but without "Mega Drive version" (本作は日本でのパッケージ販売はされておりませんでしたが、ケーブルテレビ・ゲーム配信サービス「セガチャンネル」で楽しむことができました。)

===Taiwan===
Taiwan was the first country outside of Japan and the U.S. to receive the Sega Channel around September/October of 1995. As with Japan and other Asian countries it was distributed by Sega Digital Communications, and is thought to have been the same as the Japanese service with 30 games a month.

===Canada===
In September of 1995 Shaw Communications Inc. and Rogers CableSystems Limited announced the formation of a 50%-50% joint venture to distribute the Sega Channel in Canada{{intref|Press release: 1995-09-21: Shaw Communications Inc. And Rogers Cablesystems Limited Form Company To Distribute Sega Channel In Canada}}, in the form of a company founded as SC Interactive Video Inc.. Greater Vancouver was the first to receive the Sega Channel in December 1995 via Rogers, with the service gradually rolling out across the rest of Canada via both Rogers and Shaw throughout 1996.

The service was offered at a rate of $19.95 a month, and was similar to the US variant, also including 50 games a month. One difference to the US version was a requirement of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission for there to be a minimum of 10% Canadian content. The Sega Channel of Canada planned to spend in excess of a million dollars on the development of more Canadian designed games for the Sega Channel in order to meet this quota, although in reality the quota was generally met by including multiple annual variants of EA Canada's sports titles such as ''FIFA''.

In March 1997 Shaw Communcations acquired SC Interactive Video in full, becoming solely responsible for the distribution of the service, which at the time was available in 10,000 Canadian homes{{intref|Press release: 1997-03-03: Shaw Communications Acquires Company for SEGA Channel}}. 

===Hong Kong===
Wharf Holdings announced an agreement with Sega Digital Communications in October of 1995 to broadcast the service in Hong Kong. As with Japan the service was said to have 30 games a month, which would cost each user US$90 deposit plus US$6.50 installation and US$13/y. Nick Fiore, Sega Channel vice president and managing director of international Sega Channels reported that in Hong Kong, the channel was likely to have only partial carriage until the fiber optic system there was more fully constructed and channel space opens up.

===Thailand===
In January 1996 The Sega Channel was said to be about to turn up on the Universal Cable TV (UTV) system in Bangkok. UTV had recently began providing its CATV service in Bangkok Metropolitan Areas in September 1995. The service was offered on its high quality hybrid fiber coaxial network which it began deploying in 1994. Nick Fiore was particularly keen on the prospects in Thailand. Today UTV is part of Thailand's largest Pay TV operator "True Visions".

===South Korea===
Sega Digital Communications announced in August of 1994 that the service would launch in Taiwan and South Korea within the year. It's currently unknown whether or not the channel actually ended up launching in South Korea.

===Tele-Communications International Inc.===
In January of 1996 Tele-Communications International Inc., a company that had corporate ties to one of the U.S.-based network's owners, TCI's technology group obtained the rights to distribute and market the channel in the United Kingdom, Northern Ireland, Germany, Malta, the Scandinavian countries, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Australia, New Zealand, Israel, Switzerland, Hungary, Poland, Spain, Portugal, Italy and Turkey. Of those markets, the English speaking countires of U.K., Malta, New Zealand and Australia were expected to provide Sega launchpads in the next six months.

A month later they said they had plans to commence distribution arrangements in western Europe immediately{{intref|Press release: 1996-02-15: TELE-COMMUNICATIONS INTERNATIONAL TO DISTRIBUTE SEGA CHANNEL IN WESTERN EUROPE, NEW ZEALAND, AUSTRALIA AND ISRAEL}}, and expected to involve its program distribution ventures, Flextech PLC in the U.K. and Multithematiques S.A. in France, as well as other organizations, in bringing Sega Channel to new markets. The service was said to be available in four languages: English, French, German and Spanish, and to be also offered to direct-to-home satellite systems. By the time of the U.K. launch in June 1996 TCI announced that they had signed agreements with Deutsche Telekom in Germany, Eneco in The Netherlands, and Telenor in Norway. 

TCI's Sega Channel offered 25 games a month, but it doesn't appear to have met their commitment to support it in multiple languages, seemingly remaining in just English. The planned Satellite service doesn't seem to have come to fruition either. Out of the few countries that it eventually launched in it never expanded beyond the initial test markets, and with the lack of new releases and rapidly declining 16-bit market was already rendered obsolete within just a few months of launch.

===United Kingdom===
:''See also: [[Sega Channel UK schedule]].''

[[File:SegaChannel UK Launch 1.jpg|thumb|right|[[Sonic]], [[Knuckles]] and [[wikipedia:Andi Peters|Andi Peters]] at the UK Sega Channel launch.]]
In the United Kingdom the Sega Channel service was provided by Flextech Plc, part owned by Tele-Communications International. This was the first region of Europe to receive the channel, where it saw a staggered release across the Telewest cable network during 1996.

Sega Channel was officially "launched" in London on the 19th of June 1996, though it is not thought to have come into service until July 1st, where it debuted with tests in  Telewest's "South East" franchise (Maidstone, Gravesend, Basildon, Chelmsford){{fileref|CVG UK 177.pdf|page=8}}. The channel then launched in the North East franchise (Gateshead, South Tyneside, Newcastle Upon Tyne, North Tyneside) on the 1st of September, and the North West franchise (Liverpool, Knowsley, St Helens, Wigan, Blackpool) on the 1st of October. The subscription fee was £10 a month., however only 25 games were available at any given time - roughly half of the US offering{{fileref|MeanMachinesSega46UK.pdf|page=22}}.

The company was said to be "happy" with its performance in 1996. Flextech reportedly invested £1 million into the project as the UK market was seen to be the biggest in Europe (with one million Mega Drive consoles purchased at the time).
TCI chose to use NTSC versions of games, and even used the North American [[ESRB]] system to rate them. There were technical issues which disrupted the service in late 1997, and along with the other international channels was scrapped around this period, having never expanded beyond the intitial launch regions.

====List of Games====
{{multicol|
*''[[Aaahh!!! Real Monsters]]''
*''[[The Adventures of Batman & Robin (Mega Drive)|The Adventures of Batman and Robin]]''
*''[[Aerobiz Supersonic]]''
*''[[Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle]]''
*''[[Alien Soldier]]''
*''[[Alien Storm (Mega Drive)|Alien Storm]]''
*''[[Amazing Tennis]]''
*''[[Arcade Classics]]'' (Test Drive)
*''[[Arcus Odyssey]]''
*''[[Art of Fighting]]''
*''[[ATP Tour Championship Tennis]]'' (NTSC)
*''[[Ballz]]''
*''[[Barkley Shut Up and Jam!]]''
*''[[Barney's Hide & Seek Game]]'' (NTSC)
*''[[Bass Masters Classic]]''
*''[[Batman_Returns (Mega_Drive)|Batman Returns]]''
*''[[Battletech]]''
*''[[Beast Wrestler]]''
*''[[The Berenstain Bears' Camping Adventure]]''
*''[[Best of the Best: Championship Karate]]''
*''[[Boogerman]]''
*''[[Brutal: Paws of Fury]]''
*''[[Bubsy II]]''
*''[[Bugs Bunny in Double Trouble]]''
*''[[Cadash]]''
*''[[California Games]]''
*''[[Championship Pool]]''
*''[[Chase H.Q. II]]''
*''[[Chiki Chiki Boys]]''
*''[[Chuck Rock]]''
*''[[Clue]]''
*''[[Columns]]''
*''[[Comix Zone]]''
*''[[Crack Down]]''
*''[[Crystal's Pony Tale]]'' (NTSC)
*''[[Decapattack]]''
*''[[Dino Land]]''
*''[[Dinosaurs for Hire]]'' (NTSC)
*''[[Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine]]''
*''[[Dungeons & Dragons: Warriors of the Eternal Sun]]'' (NTSC)
*''[[Dynamite Duke]]''
*''[[Dynamite Headdy]]''
*''[[Earthworm Jim]]''
*''[[Earthworm Jim 2]]''
*''[[Ecco Jr]]'' (NTSC)
*''[[Ecco the Dolphin]]''
*''[[Ecco: The Tides of Time]]''
*''[[Ex-Mutants]]''
*''[[Final Zone]]''
*''[[Flicky]]''
*''[[Forgotten Worlds]]''
*''[[G-LOC]]''
*''[[Gain Ground]]''
*''[[Garfield: Caught in the Act]]''
*''[[Garfield: The Lost Levels]]''
*''[[Gemfire]]''
*''[[Ghouls and Ghosts]]''
*''[[Golden Axe II]]''
*''[[Golden Axe III]]''
*''[[Greendog: The Beached Surfer Dude!]]''
*''[[Growl]]''
*''[[Gunstar Heroes]]''
*''[[Head-On Soccer]]''
*''[[Home Alone 2: Lost in New York]]''
*''[[The Incredible Hulk]]''
*''[[Humans]]''
*''[[Hurricanes]]''
*''[[International Rugby]]''
*''[[Izzy's Quest for the Olympic Rings]]''
*''[[James "Buster" Douglas Knockout Boxing (Mega Drive)|James 'Buster' Douglas Knockout Boxing]]''
*''[[Junction]]''
*''[[Jurassic Park]]''
*''[[Jurassic Park: Rampage Edition]]''
*''[[Kid Chameleon]]''
*''[[Light Crusader]]''
*''[[Mega Bomberman]]''
*''[[Mercs]]''
*''[[MiG-29 Fighter Pilot]]'' (NTSC)
*''[[Monopoly]]''
*''[[Mr. Nutz]]''
*''[[NCAA Final Four Basketball]]''
*''[[Nightmare Circus]]''
*''[[Olympic Summer Games]]'' (NTSC) (Test Drive)
*''[[Olympic Summer Games]]''
*''[[Outrun 2019]]'' (NTSC)
*''[[The Ooze]]''
*''[[Paperboy 2]]''
*''[[Pelé II: World Tournament Soccer]]''
*''[[Phantasy Star II]]''
*''[[Pitfall: The Mayan Adventure]]''
*''[[Power Drive]]'' (NTSC)
*''[[Primal Rage]]''
*''[[Pulseman]]''
*''[[Ranger-X]]''
*''[[Rastan Saga]]''
*''[[Rastan Saga 2]]''
*''[[Red Zone]]''
*''[[Richard Scarry's Busytown]]''
*''[[Romance of the Three Kingdoms III: Dragon of Destiny]]''
*''[[Shadow Dancer]]''
*''[[Shadowrun (Mega Drive)|Shadowrun]]''
*''[[Shining in the Darkness]]''
*''[[Shining Force 2]]'' (NTSC)
*''[[Sonic 3D Blast]]''
*''[[Sonic & Knuckles]]''
*''[[Sonic the Hedgehog]]''
*''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 2]]''
*''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 3]]''
*''[[Space Harrier II]]''
*''[[Spider-Man vs. The Kingpin|Spider-Man]]''
*''[[The Story of Thor: A Successor of the Light]]''
*''[[Strider Returns]]''
*''[[Striker]]''
*''[[Streets of Rage]]''
*''[[Streets of Rage 3]]''
*''[[Super Battletank]]''
*''[[Super League]]''
*''[[Super Monaco GP]]''
*''[[Super Thunderblade]]''
*''[[Super Shinobi]]''
*''[[Super Volleyball]]''
*''[[Taz-Mania]]''
*''[[Taz in Escape from Mars]]''
*''[[ToeJam & Earl]]''
*''[[ToeJam & Earl 2]]''
*''[[Thunder Fox]]''
*''[[Ultimate Qix]]''
*''[[Valis: The Fantasm Soldier]]''
*''[[Vectorman]]''
*''[[Vectorman 2]]''
*''[[Virtua Fighter 2]]''
*''[[VR Troopers]]''
*''[[Wacky Worlds]]''
*''[[World Cup USA '94]]''
*''[[Wrestle War]]''
*''[[X-Men]]''
*''[[X-Men 2: Clone Wars]]''
*''[[Ys III: Wanderers from Ys]]''
*''[[Zool]]''
|cols=3}}

===The Netherlands===
Sega Channel in the Netherlands began broadcasting in late 1996. The service was provided by Eneco, beginning in the Rotterdam area, with Dordrecht and Schiedam planned for early 1997.

Eneco estimated that 20,000 Mega Drive owners would be covered by the service, but only 50 signed up in the first month, starting a trend of poor sales. Despite this, there was no plans to close the channel as long as the operator was provided with CDs, and so it continued throughout 1997, closing at the end of 1997, the same time as the other European Sega Channel services were axed. At the time of closure the service was still limited to Rotterdam, with the planned expansions never occuring.

Customers had to deposit ƒ399 to cover modem and set-up fees, and were charged ƒ20 to use the service.

===Germany===
In Germany the service was launched as a test service in Kaiserslautern by Deutsche Telekom in late 1996. Whilst still running in October 1997 it was still limited to it's Kaiserslautern test, and was presumably discontinued at the end of 1997 with the rest of the international service.

Customers were charged a DM80 set-up fee and a DM28 monthly cost.

===Norway===
Along with the U.K., Germany, and the Netherlands, Telenor was announced as the supplier for Norway. It's not currently known if the Sega Channel was actually launched there.

===Australia===
Said to be distributed by Austar and Galaxy. There were internal rumours/ talk about it but nothing ever eventuated and Galaxy went bankrupt in 1998.

===France===
TCI originally said that they planned to involve Multithematiques S.A., although this doesn't appear to have ended up happening.

===New Zealand=== 
Was expected to be one of TCI's Sega Channel "launchpads". It's not currently known if the Sega Channel was actually launched there.

===Malta=== 
Was expected to be one of TCI's Sega Channel "launchpads". It's not currently known if the Sega Channel was actually launched there.

===Argentina===
:''See also: [[Sega Channel AR schedule]].''

Cablevisión TCI launched the Sega Channel on September 1996{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/19970725004526/http://www.cvtci.com.ar:80/cvtci/frhis.htm}}{{intref|Press Release: 1996-11-26: El Sega Channel ofrece videojuegos las 24 horas del día}}, with 25 video games a month and in English and it's thought to have received the same service as Europe. The service had a cost of 15{{intref|Press Release: 1996-11-26: El Sega Channel ofrece videojuegos las 24 horas del día}} [[wikipedia:Argentine peso|''pesos'']] a month, plus 8{{intref|Press Release: 1996-11-26: El Sega Channel ofrece videojuegos las 24 horas del día}} ''pesos'' for installation expenses, an aditional 50{{intref|Press Release: 1996-11-26: El Sega Channel ofrece videojuegos las 24 horas del día}} ''pesos'' of deposit, and 100 ''pesos'' for the adaptor (67% of the price of a [[Mega Drive]] in Argentina, which at that time was sold for 150 ''pesos''). According to Cablevisión TCI, a month after the launching of the service in Argentina, more than 20,000{{intref|Press Release: 1996-11-26: El Sega Channel ofrece videojuegos las 24 horas del día}} people asked for information about the service  and approximately 2,000{{intref|Press Release: 1996-11-26: El Sega Channel ofrece videojuegos las 24 horas del día}} had subscribed to the service, and was also expected that by the end of 1997, two percent  of the 465.900 subscribers of Cablevisión TCI would be subscribed to Sega Channel.

====List of Games====
{{multicol|
*''[[Alien Storm]]''
*''[[Ballz 3D]]''
*''[[Bass Masters Classic]]''
*''[[Beast Wrestler]]''
*''[[Championship Pool]]''
*''[[Clue]]''
*''[[Decap Attack]]''
*''[[Earthworm Jim 2]]''
*''[[Ecco: The Tides of Time]]''
*''[[Flicky]]''
*''[[Gemfire]]''
*''[[Hurricanes]]''
*''[[Jurassic Park (Mega Drive)|Jurassic Park]]''
*''[[Mega Bomberman]]''
*''[[Primal Rage]]''
*''[[Shining in the Darkness]]''
*''[[sonic:Sonic the Hedgehog (16-bit)|Sonic the Hedgehog]]''
*''[[Super League (Mega Drive)|Super League]]''
*''[[Super Thunder Blade]]''
*''[[Super Volley Ball]]''
*''[[The Adventures of Batman & Robin (Mega Drive)|The Adventures of Batman & Robin]]''
*''[[The Humans]]''
*''[[The Revenge of Shinobi]]''
*''[[Thunder Fox]]''
*''[[Wacky Worlds]]''
|cols=2}}

===Chile===
Metrópolis Intercom{{ref|https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metr%C3%B3polis_Intercom}}{{ref|http://logos.wikia.com/wiki/Metr%C3%B3polis_Intercom}} launched the Sega Channel on October 17th, 1996 with 25 video games a month and in English it's thought to have received the same service as Europe. At that time, the coverage of Metropólis Intercom reached the Chilean [[wikipedia:Communes of Chile|''comunas'']] (communes) of [[wikipedia:Las Condes|Las Condes]], [[wikipedia:La Reina|La Reina]], [[wikipedia:Peñalolén|Peñalolén]], [[wikipedia:Macul|Macul]], [[wikipedia:Ñuñoa|Ñuñoa]], [[wikipedia:Providencia, Chile|Providencia]], [[wikipedia:Vitacura|Vitacura]], [[wikipedia:Lo Barnechea|Lo Barnechea]] and a few others, all located in the [[wikipedia:Santiago Metropolitan Region|Santiago Metropolitan Region]]. There was plans to provide coverage to all Chilean territory, however this goal was never achieved.

==Demo Cartridges==
[[File:SegaChannel01 title.png|thumb|320px|Early Sega Channel logo, seen in Demo Cartridge #1.]]
In addition to retail Sega Channel units, a number of prototype "demo cartridges" have also been spotted. As the name suggests, the demo cartridges exist to demonstrate what the Sega Channel service was intending to offer, though none physically connect to the Sega Channel network to download games, and contain little more than menus - no playable content.

As of 2011 four demo cartridges have been identified, three of them have been dumped. The first to be spotted, "Sega Channel Demo Cartridge #6", appeared for sale on eBay in 2009. Later that year, "Sega Channel Demo Cartridge #4" was spotted and purchased by a resident of [http://www.lostlevels.org/ Lost Levels], who generously lent the cartridge to [[sonic:LocalH|LocalH]] to ROM dump. In 2011 two more prototypes were identified, labeled #1 and #2.

The earlier cartridges show a work in-progress Sega Channel in various stages of production, featuring intro sequences, graphics that would be used in the early days of its broadcasting, a simulated downloading sequence, and in the case of cartridge #4, a background/sound test. Looking into the #4 ROM in a hex editor also shows various "SEGATV" error messages, as well as strange code snippets.

In the menus of the Sega Channel Demo #4's "Test Drive" section, you can see a listing for "The Magical Quest Starring Mickey Mouse, Capcom". ''The Magical Quest Starring Mickey Mouse'' was not released on the Sega Mega Drive in any region, though did appear on the Super Nintendo.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Sega Channel adaptor.jpg|US Adaptor (Scientific Atlanta)
File:Segachannel.jpg|Sega Genesis II with US Adaptor (Scientific Atlanta)
File:E3052.jpg|US Adaptor (Model SGT-3000{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/19961105085348/http://www.gi.com:80/products/cable/sec_8/8g2.htm}}{{fileref|Sega Game Server and Sega Channel Computer US Manual (General Instrument).pdf|page=4}}, General Instrument)
File:SegaChannel JP.jpg|JP Adaptor
</gallery>

==Magazine articles==
{{mainArticle|{{PAGENAME}}/Magazine articles}}

==Promotional material==
<gallery>
SegaChannel US TVAdvert 1994.mp4|US TV advert
SegaChannel US TVAdvert Tom.mp4|US TV advert
SegaChannel US TVAdvert 1996 1.mp4|US TV advert
SegaChannel US TVAdvert 1996 2.mp4|US TV advert
SegaChannel US TVAdvert 1997.mp4|US TV advert
Sega Channel US TVAdvert(Get Hooked In).mp4|US TV advert
Sega Channel US TVAdvert (Stop Just Watching TV).mp4|US TV advert
SegaChannel CL TVAdvert 1996.mp4|CL TV advert
SegaChannel MD US PrintAdvert Christmas.jpg|US print advert 4
SegaChannel Sign Utah.jpg|US sign (somewhere in Utah)
SegaChannel US Cup.jpg|US plastic cup
</gallery>
{{gallery
|{{galleryPrintAd
|SegaVisions US 23.pdf|sv|23|29
|GamePro US 068.pdf|gamepro|68|11
}}
|{{galleryPrintAd
|SegaVisions US 24.pdf|sv|24|41
|VideoGames US 77.pdf|videogamesus|77|17
|GamePro US 073.pdf|gamepro|73|51
}}
|{{galleryPrintAd
|VideoGames US 80.pdf|videogamesus|80|29
|EGM2 US 15.pdf|egm2|15|35
|EGM US 075.pdf|egm|75|133
|VideoGames US 82.pdf|videogamesus|82|31
}}
|{{gitem|SegaChannel US Flyer 1997-08-15 1997-09-11.pdf|US flyer}}
|{{gitem|SegaChannel US Brochure.pdf|US brochure}}
}}

==Patents==
<gallery>
Patent US5239540.pdf|US5239540
Patent US5654746.pdf|US5654746
Patent US6029046.pdf|US6029046
</gallery>

==Physical scans==
<gallery>
File:SegaChannel MD JP Box Front.jpg|Front of box (JP)
Sega Channel Digital Transcoder US Manual (General Instrument).pdf|SST-1 Sega Channel Digital Transcoder Installation and Operation Manual (General Instrument)
Sega Game Server and Sega Channel Computer US Manual (General Instrument).pdf|SGS-1 / SCC-1 Sega Game Server and Sega Channel Computer Installation and Operation Manual (General Instrument)
Sega Channel Addressable Controller System Computer ACC-4000 Manual (General Instrument).pdf|Sega Channel Addressable Controller System Computer ACC-4000 Manual (General Instrument)
</gallery>

==External links==
*[http://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.sega.com/channel/ Archive.org] - Archive of the Sega Channel official homepage
*[http://randomsonicnet.org/archives/segach/segachan.htm Sega Channel] - Technical details on Sega Channel and its game delivery method.

==References==
{{multicol|
<references />
}}

{{MegaDrive}}
[[Category:Sega Mega Drive]]