Next winter, ski enthusiasts will have a cable network of their own.

Steve Bellamy, founder of the Tennis Channel, plans to launch the Ski Channel in early 2008 thanks to a carriage agreement with Time Warner Cable and the support of four charter advertisers.

From studios in Pacific Palisades, the channel will transmit shows year-round to cover the entire range of alpine activities. In winter, programming will focus on skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing; in summer it will switch to hiking, rock climbing and cave exploring. “The mountain world is an industry with over 30 million enthusiasts, 500 resorts, 60 million annual visits and $10 billion of yearly resort and travel spending,” according to Bellamy.

The ad-supported network will launch with support from four name brands: Panasonic, Mirage Resorts, Marquis Jets, and Fender Guitars.