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
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
Leaders in Sustainable TV Production
Today the world celebrates Earth Day, but more importantly, people around the globe come together to bring important environmental issues to the forefront and to advocate for more sustainable practices in how people live and work. The cable industry collectively takes great measures to ensure that its businesses minimize their carbon footprints and utilize energy efficient methods in their operations. Just like cable broadband providers, TV networks have their own divisions that focus on finding ways to lessen the impact their productions, operations, and facilities have on the environment and
Cable TV Networks Are Building for a More Inclusive Workplace
Diversity Month continues throughout the month of April, and as previously explained, diversity is one of the main pillars of the cable industry. Cable TV networks pride themselves on lifting the voices of people of color, women, and underrepresented populations on the screen and off, and on building the next generation of diverse content creators. Industry-wide initiatives aim to encourage and fund professional development programs and pipelines for women and men of different races, ethnicities, sexual orientation, and cultures and to foster a more inclusive America. And on their own, cable
AMC’s “61st Street” Brings a Spotlight and Jobs to Chicago’s South Side
This weekend AMC Networks premieres its highly-anticipated original series “61st Street” from creator and showrunner Peter Moffat. Moffat, known for HBO’s award-winning miniseries “The Night Of” has assembled a two-season, 16-episode long saga that takes on the broken criminal justice system and the realities faced by many residents of the South Side of Chicago. Timely and provocative, the show brings to the forefront the systemic abuse happening in some of America's most vulnerable communities. “61st Street” follows Moses Johnson (played by Tosin Cole), a promising, Black high school athlete
TV Stats: Delivering High-Quality TV for Decades
Over the years, cable TV has produced some of America’s favorite television moments. Those unforgettable season finales, the vital news coverage of world events, and those rich and diverse storylines have characterized cable TV for decades. Thanks to the investment by programmers and their devotion to what TV can do for the world, it’s a trend that continues to this day. The cable industry has long delivered top tier TV programming ranging from news to entertainment, with famous milestones including the launch of the first 24-hour news network to the first TV network devoted entirely to the
Turner Sports Produces Most Interactive NCAA March Madness Live Experience Yet
It's that time of year when college basketball dominates screens and fans partake in the fun of bracket challenges and competitions. March Madness games kick off next week, and Turner Sports and CBS Sports will provide live coverage of all 67 games from the tournament across TBS, CBS, TNT, and truTV. Turner Sports, in partnership with the NCAA and CBS Sports, is also the producer of the NCAA March Madness Live platform—the live streaming and second screen destination for the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship. The network continues to experiment each year with new technologies and