Logo (TV channel)

Infobox_TV_channel
name= Logo
logofile=Logo-network-logo.svg
logoalt=Logo
logosize=200px
launch=June 30, 2005
headquarters= New York City, U.S.
owner= Viacom (through MTV Networks division)
former names=
replaced names = VH1 Mega Hits
sister names = The N, Nickelodeon, Nickelodeon GAS, Noggin, Nicktoons Network
web= [http://www.logoonline.com LogoOnline.com]
sat serv 1=DirecTV
sat chan 1=Channel 272
Channel 1272 (VOD)
BrightHouse Networks Channel 181
cable serv 1=Available on most cable systems
cable chan 1=Check Local Listings for channels
dummy parameter=
|

Logo is an American digital cable television channel owned by Viacom's MTV Networks division. Targeting programming aimed at the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community; it launched on June 30, 2005. The advertiser-supported channel struck carriage deals prior to its launch date with DirecTV, Charter Communications, Adelphia, Cablevision, Time Warner Cable of New York City, and RCN. A deal with Comcast [ [http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/4900072.html Comcast distribution] ] was reached after the launch date. Logo has partnered with CBS News to provide news briefs and has developed a relationship with LPI Media, publisher of "The Advocate", "Out", and "The Out Traveler" magazines. Logo replaced VH1 Mega Hits in some markets when it was launched. On December 11, 2006, MTV Networks and Time Warner Cable announced an agreement to expand its distribution of Logo to additional markets. [ [http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/061211/nym235.html?.v=7 Logo expansion] ]

Logo was available in an estimated 30 million homes as of February 2008 and is in the 25 largest media markets in the United States. [ [http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS151593+05-Feb-2008+PRN20080205 Lisa Sherman Named Executive Vice President, General Manager, Logo - Press Release - February 5, 2008 - Reuters.com] ]

The channel was founded by MTV President Brian Graden, who in 2007 was named by Out Magazine as the 10th most powerful gay person in America.Oxfield, Jesse, Idov, Michael (March 4, 2007), [http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2007/04/out_ranks_the_top_50_gays_ande.html ‘Out’ Ranks the Top 50 Gays; Anderson Is No. 2] , New York Magazine.Retrieved June 28, 2007.]

Day to day operations are handled by Lisa Sherman, who is Executive Vice President and General Manager. Prior coming to Logo, Sherman was Senior Vice President and Group Account Director of the New York office of the Hill Holliday advertising agency. [ [http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS151593+05-Feb-2008+PRN20080205 Lisa Sherman Named Executive Vice President, General Manager, Logo - Press Release - February 5, 2008 - Reuters.com] ]

Meaning of name

According to company executives the name does not represent anything and is not an acronym. [ [http://www.exoticizemyfist.com/mtvlogo.htm MTV To Launch Gay Lesbian Cable Network - exoticizemyfist.com - Retrieved April 8, 2008] ] . The channel's website says:

Programming

Logo's programming is a blend of movies with gay themes, reality television, travel programming, dating/romance shows, documentaries, music videos, stand-up comedy, news, and syndicated programs with gay characters or gay interest/fanbases. Some content originated from other Viacom properties including Comedy Central, MTV and VH1, although the amount of such content has been reduced in favor of more original programming. As of August 2007 a (non-comprehensive) list of programming includes:

Reality

*"Gimmie Sugar"
*"Open Bar"
*"TransGeneration"
*""
*"Coming Out Stories"
*""
*"Real Gay"
*"Curl Girls"
*"First Comes Love"
*"Transamerican Love Story"
*"A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila"
*"The Cho Show"

Original series

* "Noah's Arc"
* "Exes and Ohs"
* "Sordid Lives"
* "Shirts & Skins(New Series Fall 2008)

Travel

*"TripOut"
*"Round Trip Ticket"
*"U.S. of ANT"

Dating/romance

*"Can't Get a Date"
*"First Comes Love" (originally aired in Canada as "My Fabulous Gay Wedding")

Film and documentary

*Logo Films
*The Click List: 50 Greatest Films - film series featuring the 50 most popular LGBT films, as selected by an online vote.
*""
*"Real Momentum" - film series featuring topics including gay parenting, rural gay and lesbian life, a gay rugby team and so on.
*Also showcases documentary films like "Paris is Burning" and "Pick Up the Mic" [Citation | first = Anafaith | title = Review of "Pick up the Mic" | publisher = After Ellen | date = 2006-10-18 | url = http://www.afterellen.com/Movies/2006/10/pickup.html] .

Music video

*"NewNowNext Music"
*""

Comedy

*"Wisecrack"
*"The Big Gay Sketch Show"

Animation

*""
*"Alien Boot Camp" (animated anthology series)

yndicated programming

*"Queer as Folk (US series, content edited from original)"
*"The L Word"
*"Leap Years"
*"Some of My Best Friends"
*"It's All Relative"
*"The Complete Tales of the City" (consists of the three original Tales of the City miniseries)
*"Bob and Rose"
*"The Graham Norton Anthology" (various Graham Norton shows)
*"Wonderfalls"
*"Bad Girls"
*"In the Life"
*"Sordid Lives"

News and events

*"CBS News on Logo"
*""
*"17th Annual GLAAD Media Awards"
*"Advocate Newsmagazine"
*"The Out 100"

Multiplatform content and acquisitions

Online

Logo publishes a collection of web sites, all of which it describes as being a part of LOGOonline, the umbrella name for these sites.

Logo's first web site LOGOonline.com, launched shortly before the channel in June 2005. In 2006 Logo acquired three LGBT websites: [http://www.365gay.com 365gay.com] (a site featuring news relevant to the LGBT community), AfterEllen.com (a site featuring news and commentary on bisexual and lesbian women in media and entertainment), and AfterElton.com (a site featuring news and commentary on bisexual and gay men in media and entertainment).

On March 22, 2006, Logo launched its second site, NewNowNext.com (a blog on pop culture news and trends). On May 29, 2007, Logo launched HappiestGayCouple.com (a site for fans of the series Rick & Steve). On August 2, 2007, Logo launched VisibleVote08.com (a site offering Logo's coverage of the 2008 U.S. Presidential election).

Wireless

As of March 2007, Logo is available on wireless platforms on Verizon Wireless, Sprint, and Helio.

Downloads

As of September 2006, Logo has programming content available for download on iTunes, Amazon Unbox, and AOL Video. In December 2006 Logo began offering content for download on Wal-Mart's service. In February 2007, Logo also started publishing shows for download with BitTorrent [http://www.bittorrent.com/users/logo] . In June 2007, Logo programming became available for download on Xbox LIVE Marketplace.

Video On Demand

As of September 2006, Logo features select programming content on the Video On Demand platform on Comcast, Cox, Verizon and Time Warner Cable cable providers. Logo programming became available on the Joost service since the time it officially launched.

Theatrical

In early 2007 "Puccini for Beginners" became the first film released in theaters in conjunction with Logo. Another film that will be in theaters is the film version of the "Noah's Arc" series with "".

DVD

*"Noah's Arc" season one (released August 6, 2006)
*"Noah's Arc" season two (June 12, 2007)
*"Rick & Steve" season one (August 28, 2007)
*"The Big Gay Sketch Show" seasons one and two (April 29, 2008)

Podcasting

As of January 2007, Logo offers several audio and video podcasts through the podcast section of the iTunes store. At launch the offering includes audio and video podcasts for "CBS News on Logo", Jason Bellini's "Here & Now", "Talking to Manatees", "She Said What?", and "Wisecrack". On July 28, 2007, Logo launched a new audio podcast titled "Oh God I'm Gay", which addresses spiritual issues for LGBT people.

References

External links

* [http://www.LogoOnline.com Official site]