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The First Gay and Lesbian Online Television Network

Posted in: Industry News | Feb 20, 2006 - 2:06:00 PM

"Competition is good. I want to welcome OutZoneTV.com to the world of Internet Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, and Gay Curious (GLBT+) Online Television Broadcasting," stated the owner of Out of the Closet Television Ted Trenton on launching the world's first Gay and Lesbian Online Television Network.

While audiences have undoubtedly heard of TV networks LOGO, Here! and Q Television, you may not have heard of www.OOTC.com, but it was just last month that over 200,000 unique visitors stopped by and watched some of its original GLBT+ programming.

Setting the record straight: Bravo and PlanetOut Inc. are claiming to be the first gay and lesbian online television network, but OutoftheClosetTelevision.com is setting the record straight by welcoming OutZoneTV.com to the world of online gay broadband internet television.

 Since 2000, OOTC has been playing on your home computers connected to broadband or cable. OOTC Founder Ted Trent (not Turner) has been called by media observers "a powerful entrepreneurial spirit who focuses on making a difference in the lives of the entire GLBT+ community." Ted quoted, "I care about bringing real answers to real questions facing the people who are struggling with life and the challenges it brings."

 "OutoftheClosetTelevision.com is free video programming for anyone who wants to learn more about GLBT+ community on a global basis," according to Trent, who is rarely modest about the impact of his online service. "I don't think people realize the impact OutoftheClosetTelevision.com is having on the planet. We do programming and online advertising campaigns in Iraq, Iran, Japan, Brazil, Sweden, and on all 7 continents. Our mission is unlike any mission of any other GLBT+ business or organization. We aren't just focusing on Chicago and New York or the United States. Our vision is to reach all GLBT people on the planet who can access either a mobile (www.OOTC.tv) or a high speed Internet computer via OutoftheClosetTelevision.com.

 "OutoftheClosetTelevision.com's vision is actually much larger than any gay television networks here in the United States," he added. "Currently, our content is available on Mango TV in Austria, Mogenic.com out of Australia, and in the Persian Gay and Lesbian Broadcasting Center in Iran....just to name a few place all around the world."

 Does OOTC differ from other online video providers? "I think it's a unique experience," said Trent. "Everything runs off the free version of Real Player. Real Player is like a record player but it's for videos on the computer. I don't try to provide multimedia in every format because I believe it's most powerfully viewed in Real Player."

 "We are also unique because we work with individuals regarding any type of content that has been created. Websites like PlanetOut.com, AtomFilms.com, and others mainly deal with short films and movie trailers. We have always offered music videos, celebrity interviews, event coverage, prose and poetry readings, television series, feature length films and talk show type coverage. There is no other GLBT website that makes these types of offerings to their audiences for free--if at all. Plus, we don't think of ourselves as only a web destination. We provide video to many different websites and mobile devices," Ted explained. "To experience OutoftheClosetTelevision.com, you don't have to visit our website. You can visit any one of our 30 affiliate websites. They all provide a large selection of many of our shows."

 Last month, OutoftheClosetTelevision.com served video to more than 200,000 unique visitors during the first month of 2006. OOTC provided streaming television series like "Red Lion Square" from London, "Out on the Streets with Momma", and 6 other regular television series online. "Red Lion Square" is a half hour drama that deals with a gay couple, two elderly best friends, and a straight mid-20s couple living in London. Currently, OOTC is showcasing episodes one and two. Episodes three, four, five and six are scheduled to release in the coming months and are sponsored by OurFamilyGame.com(a gay trivia board game).

 Just this past February 3rd, 2006, OOTC screened a Halogen Entertainment full length feature film entitled, "Timeless." This release was made available for 72 hours and was sponsored by JollyKnocker.com (a sandal company seeking gay and lesbian customers). Viewers had a once in a lifetime opportunity to view this 85-minute feature film online. "Timeless" is the story of two elderly women who have the opportunity to catch up on lives well lived, but find out their secret's which have remained in the closet for almost 40 years.

 In 2005, the top viewed videos on OOTC were interviews of the stars of the Showtime hit, "The L Word," pop sensations Jason and deMarco's hit "All I Long For," and Ari's Gold's music video, "Wave Of You." On an average month, OOTC reports delivering over 1.5 million video streams which also means they deliver over 1.5 million GLBT+ video commercials. "What makes us so unique," says Trent, "is that we have been encouraging companies to create GLBT commercials for the last 4 years. We play commercials in front of every single video stream on the website."

 Celebrities featured on Trent's network include the cast of the L Word, the cast of Queer As Folk, the cast of Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, and the entire cast of the Queer Eye for the Straight Girl; plus Gay Pimp, Kevin Aviance, Abbalicious, Angrogene, Atomic Swindlers, Copper Wimmin, James from Boy Meets Boy, Jason and deMarco, Jim Verros, Betty Degeneres, Sacha Sacket, Saturn, Green and Root, Senator Sheila Kuela, Bruce Vilanch, Margaret Cho, Judith Light, Judy Weider, Momma, Lily Tomlin, Kendra Wilson, Marcia Cross and about 2000 more video streams.

 One thing you will never find on OOTC, assures Trent, is porn movies or erotic advertisements. "I wanted to create a safe space for LGBT+ people who are wanting to feel good about themselves."

 Trent is concerned about the front page image of new online television networks such as OutZoneTV.com. "Since it is created by a company like Bravo," he points out, "my fear is that they are going to have home pages like the one they have right now. With men with their shirts off or women in their bikinis, OutZoneTV.com is already promoting a sexual image to the GLBT+ community and those considering advertising on the new channel. OOTC provides images that allow LGBT+ to feel pride in their online experience. My biggest fear about companies like OutZoneTV.com is that they will premier television reality shows like Boy Meets Boy. In "Boy Meets Boy," gay men are tricked into thinking that everyone in the show is gay. Not only did that put gay and straight men in potentially dangerous situations, but in made light of gay and lesbian love," Trent stated. "In the end, I'm happy to welcome the competition in the GLBT+ Internet Television arena. Obviously, I think that having an online gay television network is a good idea," Trent concluded.


 Contact Osiris Munir
 Osiris-at-OutoftheCloset.TV
 Publicity Director
 213-488-2055

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