Posted on 12/22/2002 9:52:56 PM PST by IncPen
Canadian gay TV channel pinkslips staff
Reuters
Dec 22 2002 10:04PM
TORONTO (Variety) - PrideVision, Canada's gay lifestyle channel, is on the block, and its owner has slashed staff by half as it struggles to keep the troubled digital network afloat.
Headline Media Group has reportedly pinkslipped about 20 people, primarily in non-programming areas.
"This restructuring presented an opportunity to realign company resources and reduce operating expenses while still being able to deliver its unique programming to its customers," said a Headline Media release.
The channel's performance has been "below corporate expectations as a result of slower than anticipated growth in the number of subscribers." The company is also looking for investors or a buyer for the channel.
Although it launched alongside about 50 other specialty webs in September 2001, PrideVision's position as "the world's first 24/7 television network focused on the gay and lesbian community" created some business challenges that the others don't face. Some distributors, including cable operator Shaw Communications and satellite service provider Star Choice (both of which are controlled by the Shaw family), refused to carry PrideVision during the free-view period. And unlike the other new digital networks, most of which are bundled according to themes, Pride is offered on a stand-alone basis only, resulting in a higher per-capita cost for subscribers.
Also, Headline Media, which owns the Score Television Network and a sports marketing and specialty publishing division called St. Clair Group, is a small company, lacking the deep pockets to support operating losses that a larger parent, such as Alliance Atlantis Communications (which used to hold a small interest in PrideVision), can sustain.
"Despite this challenge, Headline continues to believe in the viability of this one-of-a-kind network, both in Canada and abroad," said Headline Media chairman and CEO John Levy.
The company said it has reached an affiliation agreement with an unnamed U.S. cable operator, which will allow the negotiation of carriage agreements for Pride with its affiliates.
Reuters/Variety
12/22/02 22:02 ET
I don't think I'd want my staff pinkslipped by a gay Canadian TV channel.
They were so upset at the network, they accidently laid off all of the "catchers" and kept only "pitchers".
Hmmm.
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