Pat Robertson's Worst Nightmare: WGAY TV

Dunno how I missed this story, but a TV station in -- where else? -- Key West is preparing to become the first over-air station targeting gay viewers. The start date's been pushed back from January to February, but that didn't stop Late Show with David Letterman from offering a Top 10 list pegged to what South Florida viewers can expect once the station comes online.

Check it out:

10. "How I Met Your Brother"
9. "Gary's Anatomy"
8. "Desperate Poolboys"
7. "Everybody Loves Raymond...Especially Steve"
6. "The King Of Queens"
5. "Not-So-Smallville"
4. "I Dream Of Gene"
3. "Gays Of Our Lives"
2. "My Name Is Earl And I Like Construction Workers"
1. "His Deal Or No Deal"

ALSO:

Classic good news/bad news scenario for us newspaper types in media use figures recently released by the Census Bureau.

Good news -- Americans spend more time with media, about 9.5 hours, than any other activity except breathing. Bad news -- less of that time is spent with newspapers than ever, with time spent on the Internet eclipsing time spent with newspapers for the first time.

Here's the figures projected for next year, courtesy of the Associated Press:

1,555 hours watching television, up from 1,467 in 2000. The estimate includes 678 hours watching broadcast TV and 877 watching cable and satellite.

974 hours listening to the radio, up from 942 in 2000.

195 hours using the Internet, up from 104.

175 hours reading daily newspapers, down from 201.

122 hours reading magazines, down from 135.

106 hours reading books, down an hour.

86 hours playing video games, up from 64.

Beefin' Wth NewsBlues
Much as I enjoy reading Mike James' spicy industry Web site NewsBlues, the one place we often agree to disagree is on racial issues.

At the risk of speaking for somebody else, I think Mike feels minorities have too often used the TV industry's concern over looking racist to unfairly get jobs and push for special treatment.

Today, a few days after linking to my column on CBS' lack of diversity, he published this paragraph about somebody hired at a CBS-owned station:

"Burton's hire is part of the "CBS News Development Program" designed
to train young reporters and producers at CBS-owned stations in local
markets for two years, with the goal of then promoting them to the
network. CBS News is covering Burton's salary, giving WBZ, which
recently cut back on freelancers and overtime, an extra set of hands.
(So much for squeaky wheel claims that CBS isn't making an effort to
develop minority talent.)" 

So much for accuracy as well -- my column never claimed they weren't making an effort, and actually detailed the program he references. My point was that it seemed a late effort, and it would take years to see these hires get to the network level -- which is bound to be true in Burton's case if he's just starting work at an O&O now...

But it's a lot easier to knock down a point I never made than address the problem I clearly outlined.

Comments

[Tom LaPointe]

With regard to Oprah, I'm constantly at odds with my wife (a fan) about what she *isn't* doing to support the inner cities.

Besides Magic Johnson, I can't think of another celebrity (black, white or otherwise) who has been consistently proactive in creating opportunities and hope for the inner cities. There are stories of athletes like Warrick Dunn and others who achieve fame and then give some back, but the first (and often only) place successful ballplayers and musicians head is to the car dealership. It amazes me to hear them TALK about the scourge of the inner city in songs they're profiting from, but it APPEARS that if they do anything, they throw a small amount of money at it and head uptown.

The latest MTV aids-fest is the perfect example: they didn't ask for money or offer up their own, they just demanded goverments to send money and resources to Africa. That's still MY money they're demanding. Meanwhile, how much of a sacrifice is it for a bunch of entertainers to have a party in which they are the stars, and walk away with gift bags worth more than $3,000?

Materialism and immediate gratification permeate every corner of our society. We would all agree that it's bad to rob a 7-11 to buy either drugs or an i-Pod, but how about a home equity loan (pawning your house) to buy a Hummer instead of an education for your kids? I've seen that a bunch, and it's equally scary, when you consider the long-term ramifications. Unfortunately, most Americans of all ethnic groups seem to aspire more to Oprah's lifestyle than her achievements.

[Eric Deggans]

You wish is my command...as long as it serves the joke...

[ucfengr]

Pat Robertson would have been a better choice. Bush is opposed to same-sex marriage, but beyond that, I don't get the impression that he is all that anti-gay or would be all that concerned about a gay-themed TV station. Pat on the other hand would be ready to blame every Cat 1 hurricane that hits South Florida on the gay station.

[Eric Deggans]

David Duke is, I think, considered more anti-Jewish and anti-minority rather than anti-gay. And frankly, who cares what his worst nightmare is -- unless we're lucky enough to note that he's now living it for some reason....

[Darkmage]

How about David Duke? Hell, he's even been in the news lately for traveling to Iran to participate in the Holocost Denial Conference they were having.

[Eric Deggans]

Well, Jim, thanks for the kind words. You know I'm an admirer of yours, too.

But there's three paragraphs in the middle of my blog post where I point out specific issues that he oversimplifies on his show.

I also note that he makes the correspondents echo his opinions in his reports, and that he seems to be riding another popular wave in braodcasting now that business news is no longer a big trend.

My tone might not have been as arch as Brady's, but i think I noted more specific criticisms of Dobbs positions and his work than Brady did...

[jim harper]

Eric, Thanks for the WGAY item. Letterman's top 10 is hilarious.

You know I'm a fan, but I wish you could show more direct evidence of Dobb's obnoxiousness than just your recollection of the interview. (Hint, hint.) I distrust him too, and I thought Brady Dennis' piece in metro today was wonderfully arch and informative.

Peace, my friend.

I'm workin' on it! :)

[Eric Deggans]

Objection noted. I just thought it was funny.

And I'm still waiting for another suggestion...

Eric, I get it. I understand it's an opinion blog. That's not in question. But isn't this a blog about the media? You have some interesting points to make about the industry you cover (of which I'm a member), but you lose a lot of your punch with a headline that's unnecessarily political. And that's all I'm saying, to quote a columnist friend of mine.

[Eric Deggans]

This is an opinion blog, my friend. So if you have a problem with my criticism of the Bush administration's anti-gay stances, that doesn't concern me much.

I simply tried to think of the most famous homophobic person who came to mind. If you have a another, less partisan suggestion, I'd be happy to consider it....

Listen, I'm not a fan of the current administration, either, but was the headline on this blog entry really necessary? The entry (as written, anyway) has nothing to do with politics and comes across as a partisan shot for the sake of taking a partisan shot. Does everything have to have a political slant, Eric? You already have a target-rich environment to work with here.