ITV

Tag: Pink TV

  • Gay channel Pink TV launched in France

    MUMBAI: Gay Paris. This is not just a line that applies figuratively anymore as France today welcomed the country’s first cable and satellite TV station aimed at homosexuals.

    The launch of Pink TV, a channel financed largely by France’s main three main commercial networks, was preceded by reams of generally positive coverage in the French media these past few weeks.

    Among the staples on Pink TV are certain gay icons like Wonder Woman, the 1970s United States superhero series starring Lynda Carter. Wonder Woman will air daily on the channel. Also on the menu are Japanese “manga” cartoons, English-language series such as Queer as Folk, Metrosexuality, and French and Saunders, along with documentaries of celebrities like Freddy Mercury.

    The more controversial side of Pink TV is that it will be telecasting four gay pornographic movies a month to be telecast once a week slotted for a post-midnight screening.

    Pink TV will be essentially subscription driven and aims to have a subcriber base of 180,000 within two years of launch. Advertising is expected to make up just two per cent of the gay channel’s revenues.

  • France gets gay with Pink TV

    France gets gay with Pink TV

    MUMBAI: After Viacom announced that it would launch Logo for the US gay and lesbian community early next year, it is now France’s turn to get one. Pink TV launches on 25 October at a price of $11 a month.

    An AP report added that Pink’s founders believe that there’s a ready audience for the channel across Europe, and not just among France’s estimated 3.5 million gays.

    The report notes that recently France legally recognised gay couples and elected a gay mayor for Paris. Homophobic remarks will be punishable with prison and fines under a draft law expected to be debated in parliament before the year’s end.

    At the launch event, Pink said that while it would take part in the debate on homosexuality and other topics it had no plans to be militant.

    Pink is aiming for at least 180,000 subscribers. There will be debates every Monday on topics such as homophobia, gay unions, gay parenthood and other topics. On Thursdays there will be a chat show. X-rated films will air four nights a week after midnight.

    Italy’s Gay-TV became Europe’s first gay network in May 2002, free to satellite dish owners. The channel, owned by Dutch investor Coril, claims daily viewership of up to 500,000 Italians, half of whom are straight.

    Another report has indicated that all gay networks and programmes count on a substantial portion of straight viewers, up to a third or more, for success.

    In America, there is tremendous scope for channels devoted to gays and lesbians. In addition to an estimated 14 to 24 million lesbians and gays, there is also strong interest from the general population.