GayTV channel dropped

Gay and Lesbian cable channel Curve TV has been dropped by Australian Pay TV provider SelecTV.

SelecTV is a smaller subsciption network offering packages that specialise in languages. The CurveTV package which was launched in mid 2006 was meant to appeal to G&L viewers with content built upon the Candian Out Network output in the US.

But SelecTV has a pricey set-up of several hundred dollars for satellite dishes, and nowhere near the marketing push of Foxtel or Optus.

Curve did next to no advertising in the G&L marketplace. The pink dollar is readily available to those who deliver aggressive and comprehensive content. Much of Out’s output is lightweight infotainment and reality fare. There’s not a lot by way of queer drama. And gay viewers want more than gay shows. Whilst the Curve package included Movie One, Movie Extra, MTV, Ovation, E!, and BBC, big ticket channels like Fox8 and Arena which include drama were missing.

The failure of Curve will be closely analysed by Foxtel who are on record as saying a G&L channel was only a matter of time.

Has that time now been and gone?