Premiering March 1 at 8:00pm ET/PT, OUT TV brings you a new reality competition series, “Blush: The Search for the Next Great Makeup Artist,” where contestants compete for a contract as a professional artist with Max Factor, a cash prize of $100,000 and the opportunity to be the makeup artist for an upcoming InStyle photo shoot.

In each episode, the contestants, all living under one roof in Los Angeles, compete in two different makeup competitions, designed to test the skills and personality traits — including compassion and confidence — necessary for success in the field. Following the second challenge, one contestant will be eliminated.

Meet the Cast

Vanessa Marcil A native of Palm Desert, California, Vanessa Marcil began acting in theater at a very young age and continues to do so today. She made her television debut on the daytime drama “General Hospital” and won a Daytime Emmy® for her work on the series. Marcil’s additional television credits include a series regular role on “Las Vegas” and guest-starring roles on “Lipstick Jungle,” “Spin City,” “Crossing Jordan,” “High Incident” and “NYPD Blue.” Her feature film credits include “The Rock,” “The Space Between Us” and “Nice Guys Sleep Alone.”

Professional makeup artist Joanna Schlip has worked with some of the most celebrated people in the entertainment industry. Her work has graced the covers of the most prestigious magazines worldwide. In addition, she contributes her artistic skill set to cutting-edge editorials, runways and fashion advertising from coast to coast. She has made over 40 television appearances and trained artistry teams for cosmetic giants. She is also a three-time keynote speaker at the IMATS, a beauty author, an international spokesperson and a worldwide beauty expert. Joanna’s extraordinary work ethic and genuine personality have afforded her an amazing clientele including Eva Longoria, Scarlett Johansson, Ellen Pompeo, Laura Linney, Hilary Duff, Sheryl Crow and Jessica Simpson. In September 2006, Joanna launched her first book, “Glamour Gurlz: The Ultimate Step-by-Step Guide to Great Make-up and Gurl Smarts” (Random House).

Fashion Director Hal Rubenstein has been with In Style from its beginning 14 years ago. In addition to creating “The Look,” the signature section that helped establish the identity of the magazine, and the identity of all 14 international editions, he also helped create the highly informative, yet down-to-earth “voice” of the magazine, known for a confidence-building tone that assures readers “you can do this.” Hal is also a leading authority on red-carpet glamour, making frequent television appearances on top-rated national morning and entertainment shows. Prior to joining In Style, he was Men’s Style Editor of The New York Times Magazine. Hal was born in New York and has never seen any reason to live anywhere else.

Charlie Green is a renowned makeup artist who has worked with such celebrities as Naomi Campbell, Jewel, Tyra Banks, Kelly Clarkson and Elizabeth Hurley, to name just a few. In addition, she has done the makeup for celebrities who have appeared on the covers of many national magazines, including Vogue, Elle and GQ.

Todd Homme

Artist

Hometown: New York, NY

At the age of four Todd began a flirtation with makeup, but little did he know this flirtation would turn out to be a love affair that would fuel his artistic passions for years to come. Todd feels makeup is a vehicle to transform and transport any woman into the true radiant goddess she has inside her. Todd is poised and focused, and allows the love of his art to show in all his work.

Maxi

Artist

Hometown: Based in Los Angeles, CA

Los Angeles–based makeup artist Maxi is notorious for his outrageous behavior. He travels around the country doing makeup for music videos and has an impressive list of celebrity clients. Maxi is planning to create his own line of makeup soon. Maxi is just, well … Maxi! For more on Maxi, visit his personal site at MaxiMaxiMaxi.com.

Nolan Makaawaawa

Artist

Hometown: Costa Mesa, CA

Nolan has been a professional makeup artist for the past 10 years and is unfailingly open, charismatic and full of life. He welcomes every opportunity to learn and improve his craft. Nolan feels that if given the chance, he will shine in the makeup world.

Farah Carter

Artist

Hometown: Las Vegas, NV

Farah’s love affair with makeup began at the age of six, when she moved to the U.S. from Iran with her family and discovered that a woman’s beauty is celebrated in this country rather than hidden behind scarves and veils. She believes the only rule that should be strictly followed when it comes to makeup is that there should be no rules. Her career objective is to constantly grow in artistry and creativity.

Sharzad Kiadeh

Artist

Hometown: Cupertino, CA

Sharzad is a self-proclaimed “Persian princess” who is the epitome of class. After working for many years at the counters of Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent and MAC of Beverly Hills, she knows how to deal with high-end clientele. She hopes to revolutionize the makeup world by creating a line of environmentally friendly cosmetics. For more on Sharzad, visit her personal site at BeautyBySharzad.com.

Maura “Mo” Lewitts

Artist

Hometown: Northbrook, IL

Maura, a.k.a “Mo,” is passionate and perky, and believes her outgoing personality is what sets her apart from other makeup artists. She attended two prestigious makeup schools and has worked on numerous celebrities, including Sarah Ferguson. Her ability to wear any look makes her stand out in a crowd.

Jessica Millington

Artist

Hometown: Dallas, TX

Jessica, a mother of two little girls, is passionate about makeup and her family. She believes she can have it all and wants to prove to the world that being a mother doesn’t keep you from pursuing your dreams. Jessica is currently a makeup artist in Dallas.

Myke Michaels

Artist

Hometown: Studio City, CA

Myke, a single father, has been a makeup artist for over 20 years and worked on 300 films. A bit of a rock ‘n’ roll tough guy with a heart, Myke says he could use crayons as makeup if he had to. He loves to see women feel and look good, and says they are all like beautiful pieces of art. Myke works best under pressure.

Rainell Chivonne

Artist

Hometown: Brooklyn, NY

Rainell, a freelance makeup artist, has an alter ego she calls “The Glamazon,” whose mission is to glamorize the women of the world. Her ultimate goal is to help women accept who they are and feel comfortable in their own skin. Rainell is passionate, confident and very emotional about her work.

I just wanted to let everyone know that we have just acquired a number of new films for OUTtv to add to our ever growing library of the best gay and lesbian films. Our 9:00 showings continue to lead our ratings almost every night. We are so pleased with the audience feedback and assure you we will continue to acquire new titles as we go forward. We have licensed more than 70 of the best gay and lesbian films available in 2009 alone.

Four new films come to us in November courtesy of our friends at E1 distribution. The French Canadian comedy “J’en Suis” premieres this Sunday night at 9:00pm ET/PT. Next Saturday the 14th sees the premiere of “I Think I Do” followed by “Kick” on the 19th and the Canadian classic “Prom Queen.” Check out the movie listings page at http://www.outtv.ca/reallifemovies.php for full descriptions.

We have also acquired 2 of the best independent films released in GLBT festivals over the past few years. Tom Gustafson’s “Were the World Mine” is a fabulous musical film that won numerous awards across North America. The brilliant “Hollywood Je t’aime” opened the Image + Nation festival in Montreal this year. Watch for these films and other new additions in December as we continue to bring you the top gay films available.

As many people know, OUTtv has had many problems with Shaw Cable, the nation’s second largest cable service, since launching as PrideVision in 2001. Our most recent problems came from changes in channel placement and other marketing of OUTtv by Shaw which we felt was unfair and harmful to OUTtv. A complaint was filed with the CRTC last Spring with the decision released today.

We consider the decision a huge victory for OUTtv and independent programming services. You can read it below.

http://www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/ENG/Decisions/2008/db2008-299.htm

With any luck we can now get together with our friends at Shaw and move beyond this.

BD

The CRTC released its decision on the proposed changes to the Broadcasting Act today. Great news for OUTtv! The CRTC agreed with many of the arguments that Chair Joy MacPhail and I made at the hearings in Ottawa last April. OUTtv will retain our mandatory carriage, genre exclusivity and other license conditions.

In addition, the CRTC will impliment a “reverse onus” provision on disputes which will be very helpful in our on-going battles with carriers who treat OUTtv inequitably. This provision is appropriate because carriers have most of the information regarding consumer behaviour. For example, in order to make our complaint against Shaw we had to obtain direct information from consumers and provide considerable data over many months to prove we were being harmed.

Great news!!!!

OK. I admit it. I am completely addicted to all news matters relating to the US election. (When I am not watching OUTtv) I just can’t stop reading the news, tracking the polls and waiting for the “October Surprise” that the GOP pulls out of their bad of tricks. However as each day passes………dare I dream?

One of the best things to come out of the media this election cycle is the arrival of “The Rachel Maddow” show on MSNBC. Tucked between the ever growing in popularity Keith Obermann and veteran Hardballer Chris Matthews we have the openly gay, super smart Rachel Maddow with her own show. While most news shows take years to build an audience she has rocketed to the top of the ratings – even beating veteran Larry King on CNN in the 8 pm time slot. Recently the Financial Times referred to her as the “Chirpy Gay Liberal” host of the show. Could have been worse.

I admit that in a few short weeks I have become a total “Maddowholic” and watch her every night.

Go Rachel Go!

I wrote on my Blog recently about the comments I made at the recent Queer Film Festival in Vancouver about Shaw Communications treatment of OUTtv.  I also commented that this is a relevant election issue as it relates to Steven Harper’s relationship to Jim Shaw Jr.

Please click here to read the PDF article. I hope that you find it interesting.

Please have as many friends as possible read this before they vote!!

At the Closing Gala of the Queer Film Festival I made some comments in my awards presentation speech regarding the issues between OUTtv and Shaw Communications. In addition, I also made some general comments that these issues relate to the current federal election as well, and in particular I expressed specific concerns about a potential Conservative majority government. I have been told by festival organizers that a significant number of people have made inquiries about the specific details of this issue. In response, I have therefore prepared this summary of the issues to make people aware of the situation faced by OUTtv and other broadcasters in regards to Shaw Communications and the current broadcasting environment in Canada, and how these issues relate to the upcoming federal election. I hope you will read this summary and consider the issues it raises.

OUTtv was originally licensed by the CRTC as Pride Vision in 2000 and began to air as a digital service in Canada in 2001. It was the world’s first television channel licensed to directly serve the GLBT Community. Pride Vision was licensed along with a number of other channels to take advantage of the new digital broadcasting spectrum available on Canadian cable and satellite services.

The bids were competitive, but the licenses being offered by the CRTC (called Category 1) were considered potentially valuable as they would come with a “must carry” provision, along with beneficial packaging rules. Essentially this meant that the broadcasting distribution companies, being the cable carriers (such as Shaw, Rogers, Telus, etc.), and the satellite providers (Bell, Star Choice), would have to carry the services on their systems, and were required to package and market these channels in a positive and equitable manner.

Prior to its launch, Pride Vision met with general resistance from a few carriers, but with Calgary-based Shaw Communications, the country’s second largest cable provider, the resistance was particularly vocal. Shaw’s CEO, Jim Shaw Jr., commented at the time (to paraphrase), that he was very concerned about customer complaints being made because of the gay subject matter. The inference was that his customers did not want this channel and that he was unhappy with the CRTC for giving it a license with mandatory carriage provisions. Citing these concerns for customers when Pride Vision was launched, Shaw Communications refused to allow for “Free Previews” of the channel to its subscribers.

Shaw Communications took this action even though the CRTC licensing provisions clearly required them to do so. Pride Vision filed a formal complaint with the CRTC, which it ultimately won, upholding the right of Pride Vision to Free Previews. In their decision, the CRTC made it clear that they expected the carriers to carry the service on an equitable basis with other channels even though it obviously would contain Gay and Lesbian content. However, Pride Vision’s problems did not end there.

The owners of Pride Vision were put under pressure from a number of carriers not to take full advantage of the Category 1 rules and to instead operate the service on a “stand alone”, direct subscriber basis. The majority owner was particularly vulnerable to pressure, as they owned other programming services that were not protected with Category 1 status. Partly for this reason and for other strategic reasons, the Pride Vision owners decided to broadcast more “aggressive” programming, including adult content, which essentially required them to switch to a stand-alone, pay-per-view channel. Both these changes proved to be a serious strategic mistake and ultimately led to failure of Pride Vision, which resulted in the sale of the majority of their interests in the channel in 2003.

The new owners re-branded the channel as OUTtv and moved to recapture the valuable Category 1 licensing rules in an aggressive fashion. Resistance from the Shaw Communications service and their satellite service, Star Choice, was immediate. More threats of complaints and arguments ensued until a settlement was reached in 2005 in the form of a written agreement. Shaw Communications and Star Choice agreed to carry OUTtv; however they insisted that instead of carrying OUTtv in normal package they would create a special “dual” package for OUTtv, which would be offered at the same time, so consumers could pick one set of channels with OUTtv or an identical one without OUTtv. This dual packaging arrangement, along with other issues are the subject of the latest complaint by OUTtv against Shaw Communications.

The main thrust of the current complaint is not the dual packaging but the inequitable marketing. Shaw Communications essentially uses the dual package to bury OUTtv, and does not bring its availability to the attention of potential subscribers. OUTtv can be found in some online materials, but, where it matters most at the customer service level, OUTtv is not directly offered to consumers. The only time it is offered is if the consumer specifically requests OUTtv by name. In other words, like a specialty pay per view channel instead of a properly packaged lifestyle channel, as OUTtv is licensed by the CRTC.

OUTtv is the only channel that Shaw Communications treats this way. To make matters worse, if you contact Shaw Communications and ask for “all digital channels” you get “all digital channels” except OUTtv. You have to say, “All digital channels and OUTtv.” Of course, no one at Shaw Communications advises you of this option. They simply omit to mention the availability. As a result, we get calls and complaints from potential subscribers saying they ordered “everything” and they got every digital channel except for OUTtv. Many people have commented that they thought we were not even carried on Shaw’s cable services.

Certainly one issue here is also that consumers who are interested in OUTtv must identify their interest directly to the Customer Service Representative (“CSRs”). This is different from other channels that you can get in “Lifestyle”, “Movie” or “Action” packages. The Shaw Communications approach forces potential subscribers to specifically identify themselves as being interested in OUTtv. This is not the case for any other Category 1 channel. It is also particularly troubling as a human rights issue when the customer is most often a gay person who must essentially identify themselves as such (or at least interested in Gay and Lesbian content) to a complete stranger.

Normally programming services try and deal with these sort of awareness problems by marketing directly to the CSRs and their affiliate relations people. OUTtv has a key employee who goes to conferences through out the year and meets with the CSRs from cable and satellite providers. This fall alone she will meet with more than 4000 people who operate the phones for the various cable companies and satellite services. This is an important marketing area as it gives us a chance to speak to the people on the front lines and tell them about OUTtv and how to sell it to potential subscribers. Unfortunately Shaw Communications does not allow OUTtv to meet with their CSRs. In fact, it is not clear that they let representatives from any channel meet with their CSRs.

Our group in Vancouver bought a majority interest in OUTtv in 2006. The other main shareholders are the Pink Triangle Press and Peace Point Entertainment Group. We were always amazed at how few subscribers OUTtv had on the Shaw Communications system in comparison to other major suppliers like Bell, Rogers, Telus and others. Even on other smaller carriers in the West, such as SaskTel and MTS, OUTtv soon had more subscribers than on Shaw. Our chair, Joy MacPhail, tried to reach out to the executives at Shaw directly, but it took months to even get a phone call returned. In the end, they remained immovable.

We have other complaints against Shaw Communications as well. Two years ago, we were channel 100 on their cable system. Then, without notice (contrary to CRTC guidelines), they moved us to channel 200. Then a few months later, again without notice, they moved us to channel 370, which places us squarely in their adult hard-core porn channel line-up. This is despite the fact that in our agreement with Shaw Communications we specifically agree not to play adult content. The obvious inference is that even GLBT lifestyle programming is equivalent to pornography in the opinion of Shaw Communications. In our place in Channel 100 we now find an infomercial channel selling consumer products which is owned by Corus Entertainment, which itself is largely owned by the Shaw family.

In April of 2008 we filed a formal complaint with the CRTC. The substance of the complaint was that OUTtv was being treated unfairly and differently than other Category 1 channels by Shaw. Included in our argument was a substantial amount of evidence from subscribers who had complained to us about how difficult it was to subscribe to OUTtv and how Shaw Communications CSRs did not properly advise people of OUTtv’s availability. Combined with the channel placement changes and other marketing deficiencies the complaint contains a long, egregious list of poor conduct against OUTtv.

The other factual evidence that we filed was in regards to the financial impact of Shaw’s behavior on OUTtv. Rather consistently OUTtv is getting between 9-15% of the digital subscribers to each distribution service across the country, meaning if a service has 100,000 digital subscribers in total, then OUTtv has roughly 9,000 to 15,000. These numbers are consistent on services such as Bell, Rogers, Telus, Videotron, SaskTel, MTS, Cogeco and others, where we are generally carried in a manner consistent with the CRTC rules and regulations. However on the Shaw Communications service we are less than 1% of the subscribers. Our opinion is the reason for this is the combination of the ways in which Shaw Communications markets (by not properly marketing), packages and carries the OUTtv service. Shaw Communications rejects this argument and essentially argues that this is because “their consumer” does not want the channel. However they offer no evidence to support this assertion, presumably because there is none. The OUTtv matter is now before the CRTC and we expect a determination before the end of October, 2008.

It is only fair to point out that generally Shaw Communications is an equal opportunity offender. Shaw Communications has also moved around other channels including the Aboriginal channel, APTN, and has a terrible reputation with other Canadian programming services with whom we have spoken. Most recently the CRTC took the extraordinary step of putting them on probation at their license renewal granting them only a 2 year extension instead of the usual 7, primarily because of their constant poor treatment of Canadian programming services. This is an extraordinary measure and demonstrates the significant amount of abuse handed out to the Canadian programming services. Yet, it continues.

To be clear, the Broadcasting Act marketing rules exist because it is understood that channels cannot easily market themselves directly to consumers. The distribution companies, like Shaw Communications, control the consumer relationship and wield considerable influence at the point of purchase. The power of this direct relationship is the reason these companies have been so successful in moving from cable and telephone into satellite, Internet and mobile services over the past few decades. They have your name and your number.

There is no public policy rationale for this arrangement. The cable company has no more legitimate right to control this relationship than the programming service. However, since the cable and telephone technology requires a direct hook-up to your home, they get the direct relationship. This is despite the fact that everyone knows you order cable and satellite for the programming. Historically we granted the carriers a monopoly in the marketplace in order to support the enormous expenses and risks associated with building the expensive infrastructure required for cable, telephone and satellite networks. Furthermore, in order to ensure fairness for the programming services, we also created a regulatory framework that is overseen by the CRTC to ensure that the content providers are treated in a fair manner consistent with a broadcasting policy that serves all Canadians.

These regulations recognize the fundamental reality that consumers rely heavily on their cable or satellite provider for information on the programming services available to them. In a 20 or even 50 channel basic cable universe the programming services have a greater ability to self market through mass media. However in the 100+ digital channel age the reality is that the carriers have the ability to “make or break” a programming service through a combination of marketing, channel placement, packaging and advertising. Therefore, the digital age has made the distribution carriers more powerful and more in need of clear and proper regulation, not less regulation and more “free market”. No market is free which one party controls the communications with the consumer.

The reality is that in the digital age, programming services have fewer and fewer opportunities to reach the consumer directly. Mass media marketing is very expensive and less and less effective. In fact, the combination of these economic forces in part underlies the strategic advantage of media consolidation, seen most recently in the purchase of the CHUM channels by CTV Globe Media and the Alliance Atlantis channels by CanWest Global. The power and control of the distribution entities, now multi-billion dollar companies in Canada, have often pressured programming services to combine in order to gain enough economic strength to be able to negotiate with the larger carriers.

Why does this matter?

The issues that OUTtv is dealing with should matter to all Canadians.

First and foremost, members of the Gay and Lesbian Community should be offended by the treatment that a GLBT television service has been subjected to. More to the point, we estimate that if Shaw Communications packaged OUTtv in the same manner as other carriers we would have roughly an additional $40,000 per month. Some smaller carriers initially followed Shaw’s example and have been challenged as well. The net result is that OUTtv has lost millions of dollars in potential subscriber revenue and hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal costs as a result of this improper behavior. Per OUTtv’s CRTC Conditions of License, at least 49% of this money would have to be spent on original Canadian programming for the GLBT community. This means that a significant number of Canadian-produced Gay and Lesbian films, documentaries, life-style shows and other programs do not exist because of Shaw Communications’ actions. Of course, these actions also hurt OUTtv’s goals of promoting diversity and tolerance, and providing programming for the GLBT community.

All Canadians should also worry about the misuse of power demonstrated by this large corporation. Remember Shaw Communications was built in a highly protected environment of economic regulation. If they had to compete in a free market, their cable operation would be wiped out by U.S. companies like Comcast or Time Warner, and their satellite system Star Choice would likely be driven out of business by U.S. Satellite provider DirectTV. The last thing they want is to face real free market competition. They are prepared to take all the benefits of protection but not play by the rules when it doesn’t suit their interest regarding Canadian programming services. It is total hypocrisy.

Companies like Shaw Communications represent the worst of our corporate champions of deregulation. They required protection to be built, but once they reached the size that they didn’t need protection anymore (except from foreign competition), they became the advocates of unfettered free market principles. Then they misuse that power to increase their monopoly at the expense of innovative businesses and the consumer.

Over the past few decades we have seen this pattern repeat itself in many industries, from financial services to media and broadcasting. Instead of innovating and improving existing services, these companies have expanded into new markets that would not have been open to them had it not been for the protection we granted them. Has anyone tried Shaw’s terrible video-on-demand service? They are more interested in selling their new digital phone system than making their cable service properly work for the consumer. Why? Because they don’t have to.

Why does this matter now?

In just over a week Canadians go the polls to elect a new government. Right now the biggest question seems to be whether the Conservative Government is going to get a majority or a minority. If they do gain a majority, it could be the end of the Canadian broadcast system and independent programming services like OUTtv.

Over the past year the CRTC has been conducting an inquiry into the future of the Broadcasting Act and the regulations regarding broadcasting distribution and programming services. The Report from the Commission is due out the end of October, after the election. The CRTC Report is not binding on the government, but will lay out a comprehensive set of recommendations regarding the current system.

No doubt the CRTC will try to find a balance between the competing interests of the distribution and programming services in a manner that it feels is consistent with meeting the objectives of the Broadcasting Act which is, broadly speaking, to serve the Canadian citizens and our culture in all its diversity. No doubt the recommendations will not please everyone, but it would be a big surprise if the CRTC buys into the deregulation that the broadcasting carriers like Shaw Communications have demanded.

The formal hearings took place in the spring of this year in Ottawa. Generally, the carriers argued for fewer regulations and fewer restrictions for themselves. The programming services, predictably, mostly argued that their situation was untenable without proper and enforceable regulation. I attended along with our chair, Joy MacPhail, for OUTtv. At the hearings we spoke out forcefully of the concerns we had about unfettered deregulation and the impact on independent services such as OUTtv.

However during the proceedings, one of the most bizarre things that happened was a letter that Jim Shaw Jr. sent to the Prime Minister directly. This is unprecedented. After the first week or so of open proceedings, Jim Shaw Jr. apparently didn’t like the direction that the CRTC was going with the proceedings, and he asked the Prime Minister to intervene directly. Essentially he thought the hearings were all about deregulation and he wasn’t happy that the CRTC Commissioners were openly canvassing all possibilities. So, instead of having the courtesy of showing up at the proceedings, he wrote to the Prime Minster directly to express his views. This was widely reported in the papers at the time and prompted the larger programming services, CTV Globe Media and CanWest Global, to respond in turn with their own letters to the Prime Minister. Clearly the CRTC became frustrated with Mr. Shaw’s attempt to circumvent the process. However since that time no one in the media has bothered to discuss this issue again.

My main point here is – why does Jim Shaw Jr. think he can circumvent the regulatory process by appealing directly to the Prime Minister? More to the point, what kind of a relationship does he have with Mr. Harper that we don’t know about? What does Mr. Shaw think (or has been promised) is going to happen to the broadcasting system if the Conservatives gain a majority government? Someone needs to ask this question. Now.

No one, to my knowledge, has asked Stephen Harper yet what his plans are for the Canadian broadcasting system. Based on their current aggressive cuts for a number of arts programs, you have to conclude that a majority Conservative government would be devastating for the Canadian broadcasting industry as we know it. How can we trust that Mr. Harper is not going to give in to the likes of Jim Shaw Jr.? In my opinion, we can’t.

This is why these issues matter now to all Canadians more than ever before.

OUTtv has currently started producing an exciting look behind the scenes of the current “Mr. Gay Canada” competition in Whister. The final show will probably be a 3 part program that goes into the behind-the-scenes of the competition in a style simiar to “How Far Will You Go.” This competition is different as it puts more emphasis on the personality and background of the competitors but still offers some great looking guys! Look for this show coming to you later this year on Man Candy Mondays and only on OUTtv.

I was very pleased to see all the responses we have been getting on the Blog section of the site as well as directly from people who are more interested in what is happening at OUTtv. When we re-built the website last year one of our goals was to create more interaction with our audience and the LGBT community in general. One of our prime reasons for this was to ensure we were giving the community what they wanted in the way of programming.

The challenge is always working through the gap between what the community tells you they want and what people actually watch on television. It really is the age old problem in the entertainment industry. Everyone thinks they know what the audience wants but no one really does. We can do marketing research and focus groups forever but the fact is they are consistently inaccurate.

The best gauge, in my view, comes from looking at what they are watching and what they are looking at on the website. I know this sounds pretty obvious but for years OUTtv didn’t have very good metrics. Now we have Nielsens ratings and an excellent web analytic program that gives us an indication of what is really going on. What I can tell you is the behaviour of our audience is often very different than what many people would expect. Recently we ask our web designer to put together a new tool that will publish our top shows every week. I think people will be amused by the results.

It’s that time of year again! After we launch our Fall schedule it is time to start looking at new show ideas for 2009. We are trying really hard at OUTtv to get members of the Community and the Production community together to make some great content.

Over the summer we have had some very interesting series ideas and completed pilots sent to us for consideration. This fall we have decided to take the best of the pilots and play them on the Network for the OUTtv audience to consider. Watch for this new show coming this Fall on the Network and Online (and if you can think of a title for it please let us know that as well!).

Our Fall Preview Show has just hit the air this week on OUTtv. I am confident to say it is our best show ever because we have the best programming we have ever had! Every year the Fall Preview show is hugely popular and this year should be no exception. Great new series and movies and finally great programming from both US gay Networks, here! and Logo.

Check out returning favs like “Queers as Folk”, “Bad Girls” and “Sugar Rush” but also new shows like “Curl Girls”, “Rona”, “OUT and About”, “Karma Trekkers” returning favs like “Bump!”, “Cover Guy” and “Chris and John” along with new original productions like “The Afterlife”, “Let’s Talk Sex” and “Favorite Places”.

This year we will also be running the show directly off of our website and our Youtube site. Check it out!

Congratulations to the Queer Film Festival here in Vancouver! They just wrapped their 20th Anniversary Festival. We were very proud at OUTtv to be a sponsor of the Festival and to provide some films and, of course, the HOT PINK SHORTS award winner Claudia Morgado Escanilla for “No Bikini” along with People’s Choice Award Winner Tom Gustafson for his feature, “Were the World More.”

We want to thank Drew Dennis, Vanessa Kwan and Will Pratt for all of their hard work for the community.

I had the pleasure of reviewing our Fall Preview Show today. It goes on the Network tomorrow and is by far our best presentation ever. One of the really exciting things – apart from the return of “Queer as Folk”, “Bad Girls” and some great new programs is that we are now working directly with both U.S. GLBT Networks, here! and Logo.

Our relationship with here! has been well publicized before. This year will bring a new season of Dante’s Cove, great movies and original specials from artists like Robbie Williams and comedians such as Margaret Cho.

However this year we also have great programs from Logo including the terrific lesbian surfer series, “Curl Girls” and shows like “Coming OUT Stories” and in the New Year “Noah’s Arc.” 

Great work from everyone involved and in particular our junior editors like Megan Oravec and Janak Subramanian (who also contributed some music) along with “The Voice” Kyle Whitelaw and of course our Senior Editor Allan Canney. Also special thanks to our marketing group at Momentum Media Marketing where Tanya Davis, Tracy Ho and Lara Skibinski along with their fearless leader Shawn Smith have contributed so much in improving the look and feel of the Network.

I hope you enjoy the show!

One of the great things we did when we were shooting “How Far Will You Go” is put together some interviews from the guys on Community interest topics such as homophobia and AIDs as a public service. I really have to give credit to Mel Siteman for taking the initiative to get these issues out. The interviews are great and Megan Oravec our junior editor did a great job of putting them together. Well done!

We have started running the clips on the Network and on the web site. Check out the latest clip on AIDs on the front page and on the page for that show. Keep watching as there are more coming this week.

One our commitments this year at OUTtv is to add more new movies to the schedule. Our new Fall line-up will include more Indie Films, a new season of Hot Pink Shorts and other indie movie highlights on our indie Thursday night. We will also have more premium movies for Saturday and Sunday nights. Movies remain hugely popular with our audience so we are committed to re-freshing our content faster and playing more films from both the indie community as well as Hollywood blockbusters.

One of the exciting things about our production relationship with Here Network in the U.S. is that it allows us to produce higher caliber feature films with them as part of our on-going production relationship. Last year we produced the two Donald Stratchey mystery movies, “Ice Blues” and “On the Other Hand, Death”. The latter has recently been released to critical praise. See the LA Times review. Both these films and the documentary “making of” entitled, “Murder and Martinis” will be on OUTtv after they finish their initial distribution run.

Right now we are working on two more films in Vancouver with Here Networks entitled, “Red Torrent” and “Tidal Justice”. Again, both these films are directed by the fabulous Ron Oliver (see Ron’s Blog). Both of these films will eventually come to OUTtv as part of our relationship with Here Network’s parent company, Regent Entertainment.

If you are keeping an eye on our website these days you will start seeing loads more video content. Hopefully you will notice the new tabbed server at the front of the site and the video players on the content pages of our individual show sites. In addition, you will start to see videos published through our ambassador program for local events across Canada.

We are very committed to making our site more interactive and adding a considerable amount of fresh content on a daily basis. We hope you will come to the site frequently to enjoy what we have to offer!

Brad Danks

So there we were. We knew the competition was happening and knew that it was interesting for us but it really wasn’t set up in a way that would make for “traditional” television with a contest reveal after a number of preliminary episodes like “American Idol” or “The Bachelor.” Still, we had to do it.

Bill Allman and I got together and discussed how we would pull it off. We also had discussions with our head of production, Philip Webb and our development team leader Nicky Forsman. Everyone agreed that we should discuss the possibility of working with Melanie Siteman as the director and her team from the Vancouver Film School that we use on “Hot Pink Shorts.” This would be a great way to put a large crew together quickly and optimize the number of cameras at the event.

Bill got together with Melanie to discuss our ideas for the project. Mel, by the way, is one our true heroes here at OUTtv. She works full-time at the Vancouver Film School and has a tremendous background in the industry. She worked with us on “The New Addam’s Family” in the late 90s as our first AD. She has directed the “Hot Pink Shorts” series and is also a member of the community. By the way – you can see Mel on the Blooper video on the site called, “Cleaning Up With Pierson.” Very funny.

Essentially we plotted out the project so that we shot the contest footage first and then back filled in the interviews with the guys in order to give the show more personality and depth. In addition we added in our star host of “Hot Pink Shorts” Rob Trin to do the wrap arounds in order to drive the plot forward. Again, very risky because we weren’t sure if the event would even have interesting stories at the end of the day.

Fortunately the stories were there and the guys were all great. They are different in so many ways which is terrific but each of them has depth and character. “How Far Will You Go” becomes much more than simply a model search competition. It is about interesting gay men who are all “OUT” for a good cause. We are thrilled with the results.

We premiered “How Far Will You Go” on our Canada Day Special and also on July 4. However the run of the series will officially begin on July 11 with a repeat of the first episode and then a new episode every week for the following 8 weeks for a total of 9 episodes. I hope you will watch it.

On Canada Day we premiered our new OUTtv program, “How Far Will You Go?” This is a program that we are very excited about here at OUTtv. I am also very proud to act as an Executive Producer on the show along with Bill Allman. We are thrilled at how the show turned out and hope that you will watch it.  

People always wonder at the title Executive Producer and what that means your involvement was so I thought I would tell you a bit about this program. It all really started in late December with a call from one of our Executive Producer’s Bill Allman. Bill works with us on “Hot Pink Shorts” and (like me) is a former entertainment lawyer in Vancouver. He called me after hearing an ad on the radio for a casting call on an event called, “Vancouver’s Top Gay Model” being put on by a local events producer named Terry Costa. Bill’s question – should we film it?

You would think that this is the proverbial no-brainer. Hot guys, all gay, in Canada, fun contest. What more do we need? However the tricky part was that the contest itself was only going to be over a few days and wouldn’t offer “American Idol” level weekly eliminations. How could this become compelling television.

Bill and I set up a meeting with event producer Terry Costa to discuss the television possibilities. Terry agreed to be very generous with us regarding the filming however he was not going to be flexible regarding the event. He had already made the arrangements and the event was not going to change. All understandable from his perspective but a dilemma for us.

Bill and I discussed the matter with OUTtv majority owner and we all agreed the event was too important not to produce for television. However we needed to find a different angle other than making the show about the contest. Our decision was to make the show about the guys themselves. Who are they? Why would they do this? What is their story?

It was very risky as the guys had to be compelling people. If they were dull and boring the entire show would be as well. Furthermore there was no way to pre-qualify them or have any control over the caliber of people involved.

James, Bill and I decided to take the risk and roll the dice…….the end result being we rolled a perfect 12. The guys turned out to be more than good looking and top model material but more importantly were just a great group of interesting men. They are all blessed with depth and intrigue making this such a compelling show.

“How Far Will You Go” is going to premiere on Friday, July 4 and again on Friday, July 11th on the Network.  It will then run every Friday night thereafter through episode 9.     I hope you watch it.

More on this production tomorrow.

Over the past few days I have been doing some media interviews with papers such as Xtra and other media about the complaint that we filed at the CRTC regarding Shaw cable.   

I am not going to use my Blog to discuss the complaint.   I encourage you to go to www.xtra.ca to see the initial story by Matt Mills and look for the upcoming issue of Xtra to see a full copy of his story.

The CRTC Hearings in the proposed changes to the Broadcasting Act started today in Ottawa.  OUTtv will appear on the 24th of April.  I will be going with Joy MacPhail to make our presentation.

I promised in an earlier post that I would further discuss my issues with the positions taken by one of the countries largest cable companies, Shaw Cable.  The issues before the CRTC are complicated and hard to reduce to simple concepts but clearly one of the key strategies being pursued by Shaw is to weaken if not eliminate the Canadian Broadcasting system as we know it.

While this may sound like a radical assertion their policies point to a consistent attempt to undermine the role of the Canadian broadcasting service in the system.  Everything from their relentless attacks on the Canadian Television Fund (a fund that supports Canadian broadcasting) to their treatment of Canadian broadcasters to their attempts to bring US programming services in directly – all in the guise of “free market” principles.

The reality is that from their perspective the strategy is probably in their short term corporate interests.  The Canadian broadcasting system does present a drag on their profits and prevent them from going directly to US services for content.  Nevermind the hypocrisy I pointed out last time of being a regulatory monopoly and then biting the hand that raised you.  Nevermind that the last thing you want is competition from the US cable services and carriers.

The real problem is the CRTC itself.  If they did their job and kept the cable companies and larger carriers from becoming so powerful then we wouldn’t have these problems.  They are like the scientists on “Jurassic Park”, to paraphrase Jeff Glodblum’s character, “They should have asked the question – should they? Before they asked – could they?”.  So, now that these large corporations have reached the point where they are taking control of the system – what will the CRTC do?

More to come.