I was talking with some friends who are gay and they did not see my side and was just curious if I am the minority in this.

My argument was that I should be able to MARKET a cable network as Straight White TV for Men. We have Black Entertainment TV, Lifetime for Women, Oxygen for Women, and 4 Gay Networks starting on Brighthouse I beleive in July, All marketed as gay programming.

BUT, I would get called a racist, bigot, and/or a homophobe, if I made a network marketed as for straight men who are white. Why the double standard.

They argued that all TV now is "breeder" programing or geared toward white people. I didnt argue that point, but no station, not even Spike TV says "TV for Straight Guys", its all in the wording. Example, i love the Man Show, and we all know its for straight guys, but if Comedy Central called it "The Straight Man Show", the gay community would of been up in arms.

So riddle me this batman, why is it ok to market minortiy, alternate lifestyle television, but its not ok to market the majority, "normal" lifestyle.

(please note the word normal was used for purposes of argument)

So riddle me this batman, why is it ok to market minortiy, alternate lifestyle television, but its not ok to market the majority, "normal" lifestyle.

I don't think that question will ever be answered.

Sure it can be, it's the same reason for things like Affirmative Action. The idea behind it is all these groups (women, minorities, gays/lesbian, etc) have been oppressed for so long by the dominant social group (Protestant White Upperclass Men) that they need a boost to help gain equal footing. Gays have had a hard time being accepted for who/what they are, so they need the opportunty to speak. Same for all of 'em. If you tried to create Straight White TV for Men, people would claim that you were catering to a group that had already held power for a long time, already had it's voice heard very easily, and were excluding other views.

There's some truth to that, but I'm not sure how much I buy into it. More than likely in another thirty years or so we'll see the culture shift to a genuine oppression of the people in power now (already happening, more or less guarunteed by history) and you can have your show in another forty years after that after white men march in Washington for equal rights.

It's the identical argument as to why society puts up with slandering against white people in movies, for example, but the authorities will go off the wall if some character in a movie takes the piss out of black people.

It's the simple notion that one has been oppressed and exposed for so long to abusive horrors, that it's simply not funny or "OK" to make fun of.
We can make fun of Nazi's, but not of Jews. It's just the historical or contemporary sensitive nature of the situation.

I think you can market whatever you want, so long as it doesn't violate standard rules of the airwaves. However, prevailing social trends will impede that kind of marketing. You're unlikely to get many advertisers, and you'd have difficulty finding markets in which to advertise your network (for reasons stated by others).

There is already a newtowrk that is trying to market itself like that. Spike TV. As far as I know there has not been a single person flipping out about it either.

Interesting points Kanyli....scary when you think about it but very possible. It's very apparent to me that culture and times are shifting.

<Semi-off topic>

On my way home yesterday I was listening to NPR do a segment on Sex & Violence on T.V. They covered two families with opposing views. One family was urban and very liberal in terms of politics and the other surburanites and staunch conservatives. The one common denominator were that both families had teenagers. Anyway they went on to discuss challenges of T.V., radio, and in general media sources and how they have changed in 20yrs. One segment the father was relating his experience trying to tell his 12yr old son what Viagra was and why there was a commercial for it.

Anyway off topic I know but showing the challenges of people living in an ever changing enviornement. I think the notion of W.A.S.P. male is fading as the years tick away but who is to say what will happen in another 50, or 100, or 200 years. Things change, enviornments change. It wasn't so long ago that violence was part of survival.

I do find it odd that gay people would be so close minded, the few that I know tend to be about as open-minded and accepting as a person could be. As for your network, I suspect that certain parts of the south, mid-west, and north west might actually provide a market for it lol...you should ask Howard Stern to get you in touch with Daniel Carver. :p

Spike TV doesnt market itself as tv for straight men, just men.

If you look at the shows and how it displays things it is obviously targeted at stereotypical straight men as opposed to all men or gay men.

Spike does shoot for the stereotype, a short of "least common denominator" approach, but that approach is inclusive ("men") rather than exclusive ("straight men"). Gay men may not enjoy the programming (or they may, hell if I know), but the network doesn't give them the finger. So to speak. Spike owners may not purposefully want their channel to be for straight white guys, but if they did, that's the way to go about it (as opposed to advertising, "For straight white males only").

If you want to watch TV marketed towards white men, watch ABC, ESPN, NBC, or whatever floats your boat. If you're wondering why there are no white male TV channels, it's not something caused by ethics or morals, but sound business practices. "White males," as a marketing category at least, isn't exactly a niche. You can't really be advertised to effectively.

Try marketing a kids robot toy that morphs into a penis.

Man, talk about red tape.

Hahahaha!

Its the whole arguement that its working against diversity. You'd be getting in the way of the spread of diversity, which has for a while now been crammed down people's throats with the NAACP and what have you. We've gotten so much of it that now its like the original majority (as stated straight whites) is slowly becoming the minority in terms of recognition + dispensations (minorities/colored people getting protection on more public levels, etc). Its even began to creep steadily into the Holidays. Schools now will sing huge numbers of Hannukah, Kwanza and what not carols, while the Christmas ones may have even been EDITED so it said holiday instead of Christmas. (That was an extreme case though, and its only happened a few times to my knowledge)

Basically, you either accept diversity and become a shadow in their newfound floodlight or you get shoved out. Thats just my take on it though. I'm by no means a die hard conservative, nor a liberal in any case. Just that it seems like they are putting so much emphasis on diversity that they're forgetting the majority.

90% of programming is created for white middle class 24-49 year olds.

Its the largest demographic with the most spending power. Assume someone gave you your channel, wtf would you show that already isnt on.

wtf would you show that already isnt on.

Afghani bear vs. dog fights!

La Raza is a Hispanic group that, depending on who you talk to, can come across as extremely radical. One of their claims was that they were going to breed out the white people, until Hispanics completely dominate California and Southwest territories and reclaim them for the 'native' people. At least, I think it was La Raza, except the only La Raza I can find on the net looks like a normal conservative political group.

And in some areas, parts of the south come to mind, blacks already outnumber whites.

Spike TV is an interesting phenomenon, I almost mentioned that. But I've heard it mentioned that Spike is more of a reaction to the sensitive man movements of the early 90's, channels like Lifetime, and sissy boys like the men on Frasier. :D But it shows from a gender standpoint the swing between the need for one group to express themselves after feeling dominated by another...I dunno. All that's just from what I've read though, never actually see the station myself.

What the hell would the point be to making a 'straight' male tv channel? I've met gay guys that loved football, beer, rock and roll and all that. They just loved wang too. Straight guys can be feminine, and gay guys can be manly. From what I've seen, the gay themed channels just seem to be geared towards the gay pride audience, though I could be wrong.

No really, what would be the point? Thats why people call the idea homophobic, its the only reason they can think of for it to even exist.

Oh, and Spike tv is awsome simply for having Most Extreme Elimination Challenge.

Oh, and Spike tv is awsome simply for having Most Extreme Elimination Challenge.

Right you are, Ken! MXC is the shit.

Here's a good example from a would-be Prince of Wales.
Once again proving he's the biggest fucking idiot around, and not entitled to any title this country has to give him, Harry is a fine example as to this argument:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4170623.stm

It's still just not "OK".

Good luck getting in to Sandhurst, you fucking pleb.

What the hell would the point be to making a 'straight' male tv channel? I've met gay guys that loved football, beer, rock and roll and all that. They just loved wang too. Straight guys can be feminine, and gay guys can be manly. From what I've seen, the gay themed channels just seem to be geared towards the gay pride audience, though I could be wrong.

No really, what would be the point? Thats why people call the idea homophobic, its the only reason they can think of for it to even exist.

90% of programming is created for white middle class 24-49 year olds.

Its the largest demographic with the most spending power. Assume someone gave you your channel, wtf would you show that already isnt on.

Missing the point, who cares if all i show was A-Team, MacGyver, and Married with Children 24/7....its the fact i can't market a channel geared toward a non-minority, non-alternate lifestyle without being slammed by every equal rights group and pride group in the country.

What would be the point...they make Tv for the gay pride audience, is it wrong if i wanted to make TV for the hetero pride audience?

You're conflating "is it wrong" and "I would get slammed," Greystone. People would slam you for the reasons mentioned above, but that doesn't necessarily make your idea wrong.

MXC is undoubtedly why I watch Spike TV so much. Well prolly b/c I'm too lazy to know when the show actually comes on so I just leave it on all the time in hopes that it will come on....but anyway....

90% of programming is created for white middle class 24-49 year olds.

I think you're right, but I still think WASP as we know it is fading away.