Carson Daly Back at MTV?

[Easy Mac]

MTV to launch gay network in 2005

For the lazy:

NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - MTV Networks said Tuesday it will launch a new cable network that carries programs primarily aimed at gay and lesbian viewers.

MTV, owned by Viacom Inc. (VIA.B: Research, Estimates), said the new cable network, called LOGO, will be advertiser-supported and is scheduled to make its basic cable debut in February.

Content on the new network will be comprised of about 25 percent originally developed shows, with the remainder coming from outside sources, according to Reuters.

The plan to launch the gay-themed channel had been on-again, off-again in the past two years at Viacom.

Earlier this year, the Wall Street Journal reported that Sumner Redstone, Viacom's chairman and CEO, made a rare confession, saying that his company made a mistake earlier by scrapping a plan to launch the first U.S. gay-themed network.

Redstone then ordered Tom Freston, chairman and chief executive of Viacom's MTV Networks, to revive the business plan.

Industry watchers said Viacom's renewed interest came amid a surge in the popularity of gay characters and gay-themed shows on television in the past few years, led by NBC's "Will & Grace" and last summer's runaway hit "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" on Bravo.

Major U.S. networks have been reluctant to create a gay cable network because some executives fear that conservative viewers would be bothered by its programming.

But the high amount of disposable income controlled by gay consumers has long remained an attractive target for advertisers, said Howard Buford, head of Prime Access Inc., a gay and lesbian advertising and marketing agency in New York.

The combined buying power of gay and lesbian consumers averaged nearly $500 billion a year, slightly below the consuming power of blacks but higher than Hispanics, according to Prime Access.

"You could reach gay audiences by going on 'Will & Grace' certainly, but it's a very expensive program, and you are reaching a lot of other consumers as well," Buford told CNN/Money.

MTV's new network will be an "efficient vehicle to reach these audiences with specific selling messages," he added.

MTV executives said they expect to launch the network in about 10 million to 14 million homes on Feb. 17 of next year, and has already received distribution commitments from Time Warner Cable in the New York area and Adelphia Communications Corp. in Los Angeles, according to Reuters

[Ragone]

wow. all the 98 degrees and tatu videos you can handle!

[Mantle2600]

Not everyone in 98 disease was gay, nick lachey bagged a hottie, a dumbass but a hottie.

[Draft Dodger]

Originally Posted by Mantle2600

Not everyone in 98 disease was gay, nick lachey bagged a hottie, a dumbass but a hottie.

I think the gay comment was directed towards fans of the bands...

[Schmidty]

Carson Daly left MTV?

[Mantle2600]

Originally Posted by Draft Dodger

I think the gay comment was directed towards fans of the bands...

Oh... but everyone else in the band WAS gay so its all good in tha hood i guess.

[Franklinnoble]

Well, there's a sign of the apocalypse...

[SunDancer]

Originally Posted by Mantle2600

Not everyone in 98 disease was gay, nick lachey bagged a hottie, a dumbass but a hottie.

Nick, actually, comes off as a very cool guy who doesn't look let the success and money get to his head. Seems like a cool guy to go out and have a beer with, and play some pool at the local bar.

[SunDancer]

Originally Posted by Ragone

wow. all the 98 degrees and tatu videos you can handle!

Who is tatu?

[Easy Mac]

Originally Posted by Franklinnoble

Well, there's a sign of the apocalypse...

No, I think that would be when a Republican doesn't reply with a

[Franklinnoble]

Originally Posted by Easy Mac

No, I think that would be when a Republican doesn't reply with a

Bah. I register Independent. I heard it makes me less likely to get called for jury duty (I was misinformed... I'm due to report at the El Dorado County Superior Court next month).

[Ragone]

Tatu is well... find a video of theirs online

[Suicane75]

Tatu are 2 skanky looking russian chicks who realized they could make millions of dollars by acting like they were lesbian schoolgirls.......and they sing......somewhat.

[pennywisesb]

Originally Posted by Mantle2600

Oh... but everyone else in the band WAS gay so its all good in tha hood i guess.

Nick's brother must be a closet homosexual then because his WIFE is on newly weds sometimes with nick and jessica (or so i've heard... )

[JeeberD]

Originally Posted by Schmidty

Carson Daly left MTV?

I didn't know that either...

[BlingBlingKillazz]

I didnt post in this thread before....but I dont like MTV.

(im crawling back up to 38)