Walter Kaitz Foundation's Michelle Ray Offers Insights on Industry's Diversity Efforts
This past Spring, the Hollywood Creative Forum returned to Los Angeles after nearly four years, bringing together more than 200 diverse, high-level writers, producers, directors, showrunners, and content creators along with talent and acquisition executives from television networks, streaming platforms, and production companies across the entertainment industry. The Forum is one of the major events hosted by the Walter Kaitz Foundation, which raises significant funds for its targeted grants program while promoting programs and initiatives that provide women and diverse professionals access and
5G vs 10G: Where Did the “G” Come From and What’s the Difference?
Most Americans have probably heard of 5G and likely 10G, but there is a good chance they don’t know exactly what that means. Some may be surprised to learn that the “G” signifies something different in each. The G in 5G means “generation”, while the G in 10G means “gigabit”, and although the technologies are different, they will both be used in tandem to provide faster and more reliable broadband. What is 10G? In 2019, NCTA along with CableLabs, SCTE•ISBE, and GigaEurope announced the launch of the 10G platform, a combination of technologies that will allow faster symmetrical speeds over cable
TV Stats: LGBTQ+ Representation on TV
Pride Month celebrations are underway, and as LGBTQ+ communities find themselves up against new waves of homophobia and transphobia, their stories remain as vital and valuable as ever. For decades, cable TV has been an important platform to tell LGBTQ+ stories. From the creation of the first LGBTQ+ focused network (Logo), to featuring groundbreaking series like “The L Word” and “Pose,” cable has been at the forefront of inclusive programming even at times when many other platforms were hesitant to feature these stories. Given its strong track record, let’s take a look at where the cable TV
TV Networks Focus on LGBTQ+ History for Pride Month and Beyond
Pride Month is here, and TV networks are celebrating the LGBTQ+ community with special programs, documentaries, and new shows that not only spotlight people who identify as LGBTQ+, but that explore how this community has been treated throughout history, in the media, and in today's culture. TV networks are offering curated programming, including AMC+'s "Stream with Pride," HBO Max's "LGBTQ+ voices" collection, and NBCUniversal's "Pride Is Universal: Better Together" campaign, that feature breakthrough shows for the LGBTQ+ community over the last couple of decades. And one programming event to
The HISTORY Channel Premieres Buffalo Soldiers, Theodore Roosevelt, and Bill Clinton Series for Memorial Day
To commemorate Memorial Day, The HISTORY Channel is premiering three special programs—two documentaries and a new series—that highlight different facets of American history and that pay tribute to the brave men and women who have served the United States. "Black Patriots: Buffalo Soldiers" is a one-hour documentary that tells the largely unknown story of the country's first all-Black peacetime regiments who fought to expand America's presence in the West and defend the United States on foreign soil. In the aftermath of the Civil War, Congress passed the Army Reorganization Act, which
GCI Aims to Reduce Suicide Rate, Promote Mental Wellness in Alaska
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and Alaskans know better than anyone how important it is to support mental wellness initiatives. Alaska has one of the highest rates of suicide per capita in the nation, according to the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services. And in a state where distance already proved a challenge for its rural residents, with some only being able to travel by airplane to visit nearby cities or villages, the isolation periods that the pandemic brought with it were of no help to Alaska's ongoing battle against suicide and mental illness. But as the state's
Broadband Stats: Building on Network Success to Connect Every American
With the possibility to get every American connected in our grasp, it’s important to look at the state of the broadband network as it exists today. By targeting funds to extend service to unserved communities, the goal of closing the digital divide is even closer. Here’s a look at America’s cutting-edge internet networks.
HBO Returns to Baltimore in “We Own This City”
Over the past few years, the issues of police brutality and civil rights have come to a head, notably in the worldwide protests after the murder of George Floyd in 2020. For many, the issue wasn’t new, it was a reality that had been by and large ignored for decades. In the years since, many cable TV programmers have renewed their focus on addressing systemic failures that disproportionately impact Black Americans, including HBO with the new limited series, “We Own This City.” Showrunners George Pelecanos and David Simon were all too familiar with the bad behavior within the halls of power in
Cable TV Networks Spotlight AAPI Month Through Curated Programming
For Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, TV networks are recognizing and celebrating the contributions of the AAPI community in the U.S. by showcasing their stories in special collections throughout the month of May. Cable programmers are deeply committed to using their reach and influence to advocate for a more diverse and inclusive world, and this includes helping to increase representation of the AAPI community on screen, lifting the voices of people of AAPI descent, and condemning racism in all of its forms. Below is a small sampling of the programming and on-screen
Smartly Reforming USF While Building Broadband to All
Over the next few years, federal and state governments will pour once-in-a-generation funding totaling over $140 billion into making robust broadband services available to every American. Chief among these efforts will be NTIA’s Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program, representing the country’s largest investment ever in broadband deployment – $42.5 billion. This massive amount of government support will, in turn, unleash additional billions in new private investment to help finish the job of constructing robust networks in places of greatest need. This is a historic