Hm. I'm not sure whether to be excited about it or not. I initially was, but now I'm wondering if this will create a drop in gay programmes on other channels--depending of course on whether or not this is going to be original programming or reruns of stuff like Queer Eye, etc. It being a paid channel makes me kind of curious, as well. I see why, but at the same time it feels sort of like, "We'll just make them pay for it and then the rest of us won't have to look at it." (Though I realise that isn't the sentiment, as I doubt very much that they would make a gay channel at all if they were trying to do that with it. I just think it's a sentiment that would come from other people.)

[ edited by weatherby on 2004-03-29 19:27 ]

weatherby | March 29, 21:26 CET

well it depends what kind of pay channel they would make it. Which goes into the whole business of Cable Tiering. It is established in the article that they would pay it a pay station. But they could also put it in it a Multipay service. This means this channel could be grouped with other stations depending on your cable provider. Or this channel could be included with digital cable as a another channel to ordering the service.

Viacom will know how to market this new station because they already own everything else. But it will be interesting to see how they market this channel in terms of the cable tiering.

Viacom could also use horizontal integration to promote this station, which would allow viacom owned stations such as Mtv, VHI and BET among others to promote this station. This station could also use Viacom's other owned (non tv) companies could promote it as well.

And I'm going to stop talking before I start turning into my Fundaments of Broadcasting teacher. But if Viacom is going to take the launch of this channel seriously, they should do the above and even more in terms of demographics and who they should market too.

tvmoobunny | March 30, 01:58 CET

We already have a GLBT channel in Canada. I think it's only offered on digital cable, but I bet you can order it separately from any package deals for the same cost of other channels (about $2.50 CAN per channel). It's called PrideVision and apparently it'll be in the States soon. Dunno if it's any good.

I dunno, is this a good idea? It kinda reminds me of when I read the news about there being a highschool started in New York (not sure if it's open yet) specifically welcoming gay and bi kids. Unfortunately, while I knew the intent was to provide a safe haven from homophobia (at least while in the classroom), it just reeked of "segregate them, that way the ignorant portion of the straight population won't have to deal with them/look at them". Instead of creating a new channel entirely, couldn't Viacom simply encourage the channels it already owns to produce a few more GLBT-friendly programs? I'm sure a bunch of those lousy run-of-the-mill sitcoms and failing dramas could be cleared away to make some room for them to test out some programming.

Kris | March 30, 13:02 CET