Pride to launch gay TV channel backed with £15m

Pride Television Networks is to launch Pride TV, a new channel specifically for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, which will be backed by a £15m investment for the first year alone.

Pride TV, which will launch in November, will provide news, entertainment and hard-hitting documentaries alongside drama, lifestyle, music, film and late night erotic content.

Initially, more than a third of the programming will be produced in-house and the channel will air for 10 hours daily via subscription on satellite, cable and free-to-air on the new Pride Digital IDTV network.

The launch schedule will include a talent search for a Pride TV presenter and transsexual makeover show. Based in London, the channel will be run by and programmed exclusively for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexuals.

Of the £15m invested for the first year, £10m is in place through sponsorship with several diverse brands. However, Pride Television is not releasing the names of the brands it has signed until near its November launch.

Nicole Saganice, managing director of Pride Television Networks, said: "Pride TV aims to be the first and foremost LGBT channel in the UK -- a channel from the community to the community.
"Pride TV has its own studios, which allows it to produce its own material that no other channel can offer."

Media support will include a dedicated website and bi-monthly listings magazine with the same philosophy.

Marketing support for the launch will include advertising in gay magazines such as Diva and Boyz in London. There will also be some outdoor and taxi ads as well as activity at London Brighton Pride Festivals.
Taken from Brand Republic