BRAVO COMES OUT ON JUNE 1 WITH THE BROADBAND LAUNCH OF OUTZONETV.COM
FIRST EVER BROADBAND CHANNEL DEDICATED TO THE LGBT COMMUNITY LAUNCHES UNDER THE BRAVOTV.COM UMBRELLA FEATURING EXCLUSIVE VIDEO AND EDITORIAL CONTENT
NEW YORK -- May 10, 2006 -- Bravo has set the date of their coming out party in celebration of OUTzoneTV.com, the first-ever broadband channel specifically targeted to the gay and lesbian online community. Timed to coincide with the start of Gay and Lesbian Pride Month, the site will debut on Thursday, June 1, it was announced today by Lauren Zalaznick, President, Bravo.
OUTzoneTV.com is the first online broadband destination for entertaining, thought-provoking content about and for the LGBT audience. The site will feature a wide array of exclusive, seriously fun long and short-form video. Subjects will range from eye-opening historical examples of queer images in media to contemporary explorations of LGBT subjects, to content that is not overtly LGBT, but appeals to the audience. Genres will range from vintage films and television to contemporary documentaries and viral short subjects. The site will be updated daily with a wealth of blogs, features, news, photos, community and user-generated content.
OUTzoneTV.com will receive on-air support from the Bravo network via special on-air presentations of LGBT targeted programming. On June 16, Bravo will host a special OUTzoneTV.com presentation of "Three of Hearts", a two-hour full-length feature documentary film chronicling an untraditional "trinogamous" relationship. Produced by Bravo and Hibiscus Films' director Susan Kaplan, "Three of Hearts" is the real-life story of an extraordinary connection between two men and a woman that transcends all relationship boundaries. The OUTzoneTV.com presentation of "Three of Hearts" will make its U.S. television premiere on Friday, June 16 at 9 p.m. ET/PT only on Bravo.
"OUTzoneTV.com is a culturally provocative site that's fun, kitschy and newsworthy," said Zalaznick. "We've combined our out-of-the-box editorial content with a culturally resonant sensibility for the gay audience."
"Broadband has created an opportunity to superserve passionate, loyal audiences. The gay audience has been one of Bravo's most devoted and building upon that by creating a rich editorial, interactive environment around existing and new content seemed a great way to extend that relationship," said Jason Klarman, SVP, Marketing and Brand Strategy.
Initially created as a programming block on the cable network TRIO, the OUTzone has become part of gay pop culture lore. The buzzworthy program block has been regularly spoofed on national television, including "Saturday Night Live." The new OUTzoneTV.com site will follow in the same vein, with streaming on demand video including:
Comedienne and Bravo's favorite "D-List" celebrity Kathy Griffin - The premiere of three exclusive stand-up webisodes.
"That Certain Summer" - This groundbreaking 1972 made-for-tv movie was the first attempt by a broadcast network to tackle overtly gay themes. Hal Holbrook and Martin Sheen star as live-in lovers.
"My Husband is Gay" - The U.S. premiere of the UK-produced hour-long documentary tells the story of five husbands who have finally revealed the truth about their sexuality to their spouses.
"Gay Weddings" - GLAAD Award-nominated series which originally aired on Bravo in 2002. Exploring the trials and tribulations faced by four gay couples as they plan and put together their dream weddings, "Gay Weddings" examines what happens when gays and lesbians decide to tangle with tradition and walk down the aisle.
"Queer Eye" - Bonus, online-only material from the Emmy-winning Bravo series and a behind-the-scenes look at the upcoming summer season.
"Party/Party" - An exclusive episode from the Bravo series on America's parties featuring two contrasting gay weddings.
"Parking Lot" - Cher look-a-likes of all ages and genders gather in Atlanta for the diva's sold-out show. Also, Dollymania hits Tennessee, when fans gather to see the annual Dollywood Parade.
"The Moth: Reno on 9/11" - The Latina lesbian tells her own 9/11 story in her inimitable style.
"Cooking's a Drag" - Two episodes of the series, taped before a live studio audience, starring the outrageous, bubbly hostess, Betty Dee Lishous, who says, "You can either look good or cook good!" During the first episode, Betty Dee welcomes William Shatner displaying his culinary talents. The second show features writer-actress Nia Vardalos (My Big Fat Greek Wedding); and the "god" of Los Angeleno Greek cuisine, delicious restaurateur Taso Papadakis.
Fashion Video - Multiple video segments from the Spring 2006 Fashion Collections, the Men's Bikini Open and in-depth profiles of male models in The Models: The Men
OUTzone will also feature microsites from two former Bravo series, which continue to be top destinations at BravoTV.com. The "Manhunt" and "Boy Meets Boy" sites feature biographies, photo galleries and more, will be relocated to OUTzoneTV.com.
OUTzoneTV.com's diverse editorial content includes:
OUTzone Update - featuring key news stories culled from the Associated Press newswire, all with an OUTzone spin.
Photo of the Day - a daily relevant or irreverent image chosen from the AP & Getty archives
Gay of the Day - Men & women with distinctive personal styles, submitted by users, with user commentary; builds into photo gallery.
Dennis Hensley Blog- Weekly opinion pieces from LA writer, author and cultural critic Dennis Hensley described as a "scribe with just a little too much pop culture trivia buzzing in his head."
Daniel Vosovic Blog - Project Runway's season two finalist will provide exclusive fashion commentary. Voted into the top three by the panel of Runway judges, Daniel presented a thirteen piece collection at New York's Fashion Week in February 2006 to glowing reviews. One writer said that his "clean and savvy clothing creations have catapulted [Vosovic] into fashion celebrity status."
OUTzone Reader Community - featuring a daily poll and message boards
OutzoneTV.com is a joint venture between Bravo and PlanetOut Inc. PlanetOut Inc. is the exclusive promotional and sales partner of OutzoneTV.com and Bravo will host, manage and program OutZoneTV.com.
Bravo is the cable network that plugs people into arts, entertainment and pop culture with original programming, acclaimed drama series, movies, comedy and music specials, and by showing a whole different side of celebrities. Currently available in more than 80 million homes, Bravo is known for breaking exciting new personalities, shaking up the way we look at style, media, fame and Hollywood, pulling back the curtain on the creative process and making influential and inventive original programming. Its critically acclaimed and award-winning original programming includes "Blow Out", "Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List", "Inside the Actors Studio," "Celebrity Poker Showdown," as well as the 2004 Emmy winner for Outstanding Reality Program, "Queer Eye" and the Emmy-nominated hit competition series, "Project Runway."
Bravo is a program service of NBC Universal Cable Entertainment, a division of NBC Universal one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. Bravo has been a NBC Cable Network since December 2002 and was the first television service dedicated to film and the performing arts when it launched in December 1980. For more information visit www.bravotv.com.
|