Gay television: Another politically correct diversity monster

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Written By Gregory Hand

No doubt the GLTB (gay, lesbian, transgender and bisexual) community is just as happy as can be at the moment, despite the continued presence of alleged hate-mongers such as Dr. Laura Schlesinger on radio and a Republican in the White House. Not only is the second season of Showtime’s semi-pornographic Queer as Folk starting up, but speaking of television, they are also about to get their very own TV network.

Showtime and MTV, both part of Viacom, are apparently in “serious discussions” about launching a gay television network. “It’s being given real consideration,” says an insider at Viacom, who also hinted that such a network could launch within a year. Furthermore, Showtime may begin a trial run as early as this March with a four-hour gay programming block on its companion service Showtime Too. Time to subscribe to T.V. Guide.

The only apparent dilemma is whether or not the proposed gay network will be advertiser supported like MTV or a commercial-free pay service like Showtime. Decisions, decisions. Some industry observers believe the latter might be the better solution. “You wouldn’t have the content issues that you’re inevitably faced with if you go the ad-supported route,” says Tom Wolzien, senior media analyst with investment firm Sanford C. Bernstein & Company. In other words, vulgarity unchecked.

The Viacom family, which still has not explained how a channel whose name is Music Television can get away with playing almost no music, is not the only one considering such a move. According to industry sources there have been such discussions at HBO, which is the MTV of movie channels, USA Networks, and Rainbow Media, the programming arm of Cablevision, which operates Bravo and AMC. But luckily for those who already enjoy the high quality content of both MTV and Showtime’s current batch of original programming, their proposed venture appears to be closer to reality.

The role model that all hope to emulate is Canadian network PrideVision, which began broadcasting last September. There one can watch just about anything with a gay theme from game shows to talk shows, from movies to specials, and everything in between. And yes, there is even late night XXX porn for both gay men and their lesbian counterparts. Leave it to the Canadians to be at the forefront of televised pornography.

Not surprisingly, and hopefully not just for the free porn shows, there is a lot of support for the idea here in the States. “It’s ultimately a big market opportunity,” said Matt Farber, an MTV Networks consultant for the project in a Reuters interview, “When you have, even by conservative estimates, well north of 10 million gay adults in the United States with more discretionary income and, therefore, greater spending power … all that leads to big opportunity.” For what? Higher porn sales?

Marketing publication Brandweek lent credence to Farber’s assertions, producing research that suggested that six percent of the adult population, or approximately 15 million people, identified itself as gay or lesbian, with combined annual spending in the $250-$350 billion range. All of which, no doubt, will be spent on all things gay.

Obviously this is yet another tentacle of the politically correct diversity monster that is currently choking this country. To feel included in today’s society gay people, if the experts are to be believed, apparently must have gay television, with gay talk shows about gay subjects, gay game shows with gay hosts and gay contestants, gay dramas and gay comedies and gay movies with gay actors about gay topics, gay specials with famous gay people, with gay commercials possibly sandwiched in between. Oh, celebrate the diversity!

It is unfortunate that so many view this upcoming channel as something that is so vitally important to the gay community. That there are those who feel left out of society without a gay version of Friends, The Dating Game, or Dateline says far more about the person than it does on society as a whole. How tragic a life it must be to be so obsessed with one’s sexuality.

What this country does not need at the moment is further Balkanization, something that the left enjoys doing for its own political power. This channel, between sex acts or references to such will no doubt digress into the usual victim shtick that such mediums often provide, to the detriment of society as a whole. Viacom will be happy, as will the militant activists who will no doubt oversee the channel. Too bad everyone else has to pay the price.

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