Cable Biggies Bringing Homosexual Networks into America's Homes

AgapePress ^ | April 13, 2005 | Allie Martin and Jody Brown

[TheBattman]

Cable Biggies Bringing Homosexual Networks into America's Homes

CAUTION: The following article contains descriptions that are unsuitable for young readers.

By Allie Martin and Jody Brown
April 13, 2005

(AgapePress) - Officials with the American Family Association say they expect a massive public outcry to erupt over the recent announcement that two homosexual cable networks will soon be widely available, compliments of some major cable carriers that provide services to millions of American homes. As a result, homosexual-oriented programming will be available around the clock for the first time.

According to a New York Times article earlier this week, two major cable providers -- Comcast and Cox Communications -- will offer the homosexual network titled "here!" through their video on-demand offerings. Billing itself as "America's first gay television network," here! was established in 2002 by Regent Entertainment and boasts current availability in more than 40 million households.

The same Times report noted that Viacom -- which owns such well-known media outlets as CBS, MTV, Nickelodeon, Nick at Nite, and Paramount Pictures -- will have its own advertiser-supported network targeting "lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) viewers." That network, which will be known as "LOGO" and will be launched by MTV Networks, promises "authentic, smart, inclusive and open-minded" programming that will appeal to the homosexual community -- a group that, according to MarketResearch.com, has a projected buying power of almost $500 billion. That fact is not lost on Viacom.

"Creating a network specifically for the LGBT community is something we've wanted to do for a long, long time, and it's an idea we feel is overdue,” Tom Freston, chairman and CEO of MTV Networks, said in a 2004 press release. "Despite our nation's progress on civil rights and the growing visibility of gay people in business, society and even in television programming -- what has been missing is a full-time home for this important and influential audience on television."

Apparently Freston is neglecting to take into account another important and influential TV audience: parents. Ed Vitagliano, a researcher for the American Family Association, says he is hopeful concerned parents will make themselves aware of the prospect of homosexual-oriented programming coming into their homes. He says even though LOGO is claiming there will be no pornographic programming, parents are still due for a shock.

"It's going to come as a shock when their children are scanning or flipping channels on the way to Cartoon Network or Nickelodeon or the Disney Channel and run across LOGO," the researcher says. He anticipates children happening across programming that "will probably [depict] two men kissing -- or at least having the kind of sexual content that you can get on the regular networks, like NBC or CBS, except that it will be of the homosexual variety."

According to the LOGO website, series in production include one titled "My Fabulous Gay Wedding" -- and another ("Noah's Arc") that features a group of African-American homosexual men living in Santa Monica. A documentary called "Momentum" will feature stories on homosexual rugby players, transgender actresses, and teens with same-sex parents. LOGO says it is even planning to team up with CBS News "to cover LGBT stories and headlines in a professional and authentic voice."

Tim Wildmon, AFA president, says he sees the potential for late-night programming on the new networks to turn pornographic as it targets individuals who define themselves by their sexual behavior. "The very nature of homosexuality is based on eroticism and the infatuation with sex," he says. "[Therefore] one can expect the gay networks to follow the trend in offensive late-night programming such as we saw with NYPD Blue -- only in a more deviant homosexual content."

Viacom has access to more than 10 million homes and is supported by sponsors such as Orbitz, Subaru, and Paramount Pictures. Along those lines, Vitagliano says there may be steps that concerned parents can take with their local cable operators.

"We're going to have to kind of wait and see whether cable companies in local communities have the option of not carrying LOGO," he explains. "We would certainly encourage people to call their cable companies and ask that they not carry it."

But if all cable companies that are linked contractually to Viacom have to carry LOGO, he says, "then our only option is to pressure advertisers not to sponsor the programming -- and that way maybe get this thing off the air."

Wildmon concurs with that approach. "We will hold accountable companies who sponsor this type of offensive, heavy-duty homosexual content," he promises. "This type of programming invading cable reinforces the need for 'a la carte' choices instead of forcing people to pay for a 24-hour homosexual network."

The American Family Association has at its disposal the online activism forums of OneMillionMoms.com and OneMillionDads.com, groups that have been effective over the past several years in getting advertisers to pull their advertising dollars from such anti-family programs as The Shield and Desperate Housewives.

LOGO is scheduled to launch on June 30, 2005, in several major American markets, including Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Boston, Philadelphia and Atlanta. Cox Communications and Comcast were slated to begin airing here! content this month.

[ken21]

just throw the stupid tv in the dumpster, and get a life!

life without tv is great. time for books. times for friends. time for college classes.

tv sux.

[Borges]

I obviously disagree with that decision which was a very liberal interpretation of the Bill of Rights. But Free Speech isn't hiding in some penumbra.

[Borges]

What Christian bashing R Rated movies?

[DBeers]

ping.

[mlc9852]

but free speech is? Can I threaten to kill someone? Can I go around town and spread lies about someone and not expect to be sued for slander? Everything has limits, including free speech.

[DBeers]

I already get MTV in a package that I dont want , now they want to send me queers.

LOL

[Borges]

You know perfectly well what sort of speech is subject to goverment regulation. Talking about gay people isn't among that sort.

[mlc9852]

So YOU disagree with it? How about those of us who disagree with some of this smut on TV? Your opinion matters but ours doesn't? Hmmm.

[mlc9852]

Oh, sorry. I didn't know this was about talking about homosexuals. I thought it was about showing semi-porn homosexual acts on cable. My mistake.

[Borges]

Anyone is perfectly free to disagree with various forms of private speech. That doesn't mean you can outlaw it. I disagree with the interpretation of the Constitution that involved Roe V Wade. That has nothing to with disagreeing with people talking about something that offends you. What part of 'Congress Shall Make No Law' is unclear?

[nmh]

"It's going to come as a shock when their children are scanning or flipping channels on the way to Cartoon Network or Nickelodeon or the Disney Channel and run across LOGO," the researcher says. He anticipates children happening across programming that "will probably [depict] two men kissing -- or at least having the kind of sexual content that you can get on the regular networks, like NBC or CBS, except that it will be of the homosexual variety."

That's the idea ... ENTICE kids to WATCH it.

[Borges]

Porn is not illegal. Nor should it be for adults.

[Lorianne]

Don't watch.

[scripter]

That's the idea ... ENTICE kids to WATCH it.

Recruit, recruit, recruit...

[churchillbuff]

What Christian bashing R Rated movies?"""

Michael Medved has a long list of them in one of his books. From Drudge's description of "Sin City," it sounds like the latest

[cibco]

Is Al Gore involved in this?

[scripter]

Related articles:

2005

PBS chief quits amid 'Buster' row (Digital Spy), FreeRepublic
Phase Out Federal Funds for PBS (Naples Daily News), FreeRepublic
Bigots better turn off TV, lest they get offended (Chicago Sun Times), FreeRepublic
MTV Watched by Majority of Young Teens Exposes Children to 9 Sexual Scenes Per Hour (LifeSite), FreeRepublic
Children's Television Shows Unite To Push Homosexual Agenda (Traditional Values), FreeRepublic
MTV Networks To Launch LOGO (Viacom), FreeRepublic

2004

Watching Sex on Television Predicts Adolescent Initiation of Sexual Behavior (AAP Publications)
Gay Channel Comes Out (New York Post - N/A)
'The L Word' Has Tongues Wagging (Fox News), FreeRepublic

2003

Murder and the 'anti-gay' (Townhall), FreeRepublic
Group Blasts NBC for Advancing 'Homosexual Activist Agenda' (CNS News), FreeRepublic
New Gay Dating TV Show on in Canada (AP - N/A)
The 'Overgaying' of America (Family), FreeRepublic
You've Got Male! (Queer Eye is an assault on hetero males) (Wall Street Journal - N/A)
CBS television thrusting 'married gays' on public (WorldNetDaily)
PBS films looks at gay kids and families (AP - N/A)

[Borges]

Just because something is violent and nihilistic doesn't mean it's bashing Christians.

[discostu]

Smaller demographics than that have their own channel. That's what the cable dial has become, a bunch of channels chasing identified 1%s.

[nmh]

"Recruit, recruit, recruit..."

Yup!

Satan is in his glory.