Village TV: More To See On The Gay Internet

The Internet is beginning to be envisioned as future of gay television. At Village TV, that future is now!

Hollywood, CA - Watch out Cable T.V. (-- Satellite too!) The best and most groundbreaking new gay entertainment is now being delivered directly into viewer's homes via the Internet 24 hours a day -- and it's as easy as logging onto http://www.villagetv.com

Described as the internet's very first 24-hour web channel dedicated solely to the interests of an alternative lifestyle viewership, Village TV has fast come to be regarded as the Gay TV Channel on the Internet. Offering perhaps the most diverse range of gay programs of any media, it's only fitting that they now boast the world's largest homosexual TV audience anywhere!

Traditional broadcast television has been a shrinking market for over 10 years now, losing viewers initially to cable television, then satellite, and now the Internet. The rapid increase of broadband technology in a greater number of households in just the last two years alone means people in greater numbers are now logging on to the internet for longer periods of time. A growing number of them are now even looking exclusively to the web for their daily dose of entertainment and information. All of this has greatly affected the viewing patterns of everyone - but most especially gays and lesbians; now the demand for more specialized programming designed to meet their specific needs has also reached phenomenal proportions.

"Gay people are always innovators and usually among the first to adopt new products and technologies; no where does this ring truer than with the Internet," says Corey Chambers, Village TV President and Executive Producer of much of it's programming. Chambers' involvement in developing programming for the gay community spans the last decade and includes TV, radio and the World Wide Web. He further observes, "On average, we've adopted the use of the Internet sooner and log on much more often than heterosexuals." He also points out that despite the recent trend many are calling Gay-Chic, large numbers of gay people are asking why there's still hardly any programming on television that's aimed expressly at them, while that which is there doesn't represent them in their entirety. Chambers concludes that there will NEVER BE much content on mainstream TV - gay OR lesbian, advising "It's a matter of numbers--straight people generally want to see straight TV -- not gay." He assets that even Bravo's 'homo-related' programs "Boy Meets Boy" and "Queer Eye" were designed to appeal strongly to straight women. "In that respect, they are not as gay as one might think." He further cites recent reports stating how Bravo is already facing criticism from community leaders for having rejected several gay-themed commercial advertisements. "We have the exact opposite policy," he states proudly, declaring that Village TV only accepts advertising that pertains to gay audiences. "Everything - ads, programs, even banners adorning our home page -- must appeal to those viewers."

One of Chamber's shows that has quickly garnered a cult following worldwide is The Gay News, sponsored by MassageM4M.com. Hosts Jonathon Weeks and Mark Ian bring viewers the world's very first weekly television news program devoted exclusively to news and events concerning the global gay community. With entertainment reports by entertainment insider, Leo Buck, the show is packed with irreverent humor, occasional male nudity and some outstanding journalism. (To see a free episode of "The Gay News," log onto villagetv.com/news.)

Another innovative weekly broadcast is The Cathedral of Hope, one of the very few on-going gay-religious programs filmed every week at the world's largest Homosexual Christian church. The Cathedral of Hope now delivers a new online worship service every Sunday, thus allowing viewers the much welcomed opportunity to finally turn off the likes of Pat Robertson, and turn on to a Christian-themed program that is genuinely accepting of them and their sexual-orientation.

Even "Pride Vision"--Canada's gay channel on cable has picked up a number of programs after they made their debut on Village TV. Among these, For The Boys is a live television show featuring in-your-face conversation, viewer call ins, in-studio guests, lots of surprises and plenty of dirty talk-all done for laughs. (Host Steve and Gary-a not so 'ambiguously gay duo' warn, "If we educate of inform you, we apologize. It was an accident.") Still a further example of how Village TV has gone beyond even the so-called "more liberated" cable networks is with a music video titled Soccer Practice. Featuring pop star Jonny McGovern, as "Gay Pimp," along with a pair of scantily clad go-go boys, the openly homoerotic video was deemed "too queer" by top executives at MTV, and was only shown abroad on MTV Europe (--now, viewers from all over have the opportunity to judge for themselves.)

Finally, just in time for Halloween, Village TV's viewers can look forward to a gay-themed horror film and a documentary about real gay witches of Salem. Factory Place, from OutoftheCloset.tv, tells what happens when a murder steals the attention of a gay couple who lovingly opens their home for a class project; while Gay Boston invites viewers to experience a different kind of gay witch hunt--a literal one! In this new documentary, hosts Corey Chambers and Derek Johnson interview real gay witches as they search for the kind of history that "dared not speak its name" in the colonial Boston-Salem area.

Currently offering hundreds of free clips along with the members-only LIVE Channel, Village TV will launch an advertiser-supported FREE Channel in early 2004. Here too, Chambers acknowledges such a move as simply being the next logical step. "For anyone interested in reaching so a lucrative an audience as our community has proven itself to be, online TV is the most effective and cost-efficient solution."

Real Player is required to view any of the programs on Village TV, and can be downloaded free of charge directly from the site. Additionally, broadband or DSL is recommended for the best video quality. This will enable you to see all of the above programs, along with dozens of other clips, advertisements, art films, and of course, the 24-hour LIVE Channel. The Internet is beginning to be envisioned as future of gay television. At Village TV, that future is now!

For more information regarding Village TV programs, advertising, scheduling, or to obtain interviews with any of their producers or talent, please contact Executive Producer, Corey Chambers at:

Village TV
1308 Factory Pl., Suite 402
Los Angeles, CA 90013
(562) 494-7576
corey@villagetv.com
http://www.villagetv.com

To Request a Complimentary Press Pass and Photos, contact cccjunk@yahoo.com
Please make your subject line "Village TV Press Pass Request"

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