Q Television Network
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Q Television Network was the first American cable television channel which aired programming targeted to the lesbian, gay, and bisexual audiences. Founded by Frank Olson, and eventually owned by Triangle Multimedia Inc.. The cable channel aired a mix of film, documentary and music programming, along with a number of original live talk information and news programs.
History
Personalities associated with QTN programming included Jack E. Jett, Jackie Enx, Rob Williams, Elizabeth Melendez, Nick Oram, Steve Kmetko, Honey Labrador, Joe Bechely, Reichen Lehmkuhl, and Chrisanne Eastwood.
In 2005, Q became available in Australia via SelecTV.
QTN ceased regular operations as of February 2006 amid allegations of corporate thievery and management incompetence. Q employees were ultimately locked out with thousands of dollars in back pay owed to them. The stock price of the company, traded under the acronym QBID was reverse merged into Circa Pictures and currently valued at under .0001. QTN's former CEO, Frank Olsen, was pulled into California Labor's Court and lost, and was found responsible for over $2 Million in unpaid wages and fines. Olsen, now insolvent, died in Palm Springs, CA some months after the decision and his body remained unclaimed in the Riverside County morgue for weeks.
Some of the production staff and crew reunited under the direction of Queer Edge associate producer Sean Carnage on March 6, 2006 to produce the critically acclaimed music documentary 40 Bands 80 Minutes!.
Programmes
The Queer Edge with Jack E. Jett
Q's most watched programme was The Queer Edge with Jack E. Jett which ran from 2005 to 2006, and included guest stars, musical acts, comedy and Jett's own avant-garde sense of humor. Sandra Bernhard was a semi-permanent guest star in 2006.
Q on the Move
Q on the Move was produced and hosted by Nick Oram. Oram interviewed political and entertainment personalities as the show toured the USA.[1]
The Los Angeles episode of Q On the Move brought audiences to the LA Fashion Week, to Nike's "Run Hit Wonder" and QTN's Burbank studios. Oram also interviewed Hollywood celebrities, including Melissa Etheridge, Paula Abdul, Kathy Griffin, Peter Paige, and the "Mayor of Hollywood", Johnny Grant.
Episodes of Q on the Move covered Miami/Fort Lauderdale, the Midwest, Las Vegas and other destinations. Oram was presented with the "Key to the City" of Miami Beach by Michael Aller, director of Miami Tourism.
QTN World News with Steve Kmetkio
The QTN World News aired from August 2005 till the network went off air in May 2006, and it was the first ever live daily half-hour newscast focused on gay and lesbian issues. The QTN World News reported not just on the domestic LGBT community, but the international community as well by using the resources of NBC News, the Associated Press and Feature Story News to bring a global perspective to the gay and lesbian community.
There was also an internet version of the show hosted by Christopher Jones on PlanetOut.com.
The show won an award from the National Lesbian Gay Journalist Association for its HIV/AIDS reporting.
See also
- Shortbus, a 2006 American erotic comedy-drama film, produced in association with Q Television Network.