Alex Constantine - April 22, 2010
By The Improper, April 21, 2010
Actor Kelsey Grammer has become the “face” of a new ultra-conservative cable television network the promises to only focus on “pro-America,” “pro-business, pro-military sensibilities.” In other words, jingoism du jour.
The goal of the network will be to influence “the national conversation.” If it sounds somewhat Orwellian, it is. The polarizing network is apparently taking its cue from right-wing radio shows. It will have only one point of view, the “right view;” everything else will be “wrong,” according to its promotional material.
“There’s wrong, and there’s right, right network, all that’s right with the world,” Grammer explains on the network’s Web site.
The RightNetwork, as its called, will target “Americans who are looking for content that reflects and reinforces their perspective and world-view.” It’s expected to launch this summer and is hoping to be available to on-demand cable offerings, online and mobile phones.
“We’re creating a welcome place for millions and millions of Americans who’ve been looking for an entertainment network and media channel that reflects their point-of-view,” Ed Snider, chairman of Comcast-Spectacor, said in a statement.
“RightNetwork will be the perfect platform to entertain, inform and connect with the American majority about what’s right in the world,” he added.
Comcast-Spectacor is a joint venture that Snider founded with Comcast. It’s heavily invested in Philadelphia sports teams, including the NHL Flyers and the NBA Philadelphia 76ers.
It also owns the Wachovia Center and Wachovia Spectrum in South Philadelphia and Comcast SportsNet.
Comcast, which just bought a majority stake in NBC, said in a statement it is not an investor or partner of the RightNetwork and has no plans to distribute it.
From early appearances, the network will be slanted to far right conservative viewpoints, even to the right of Fox News. One of the RightNetwork shows is called “Running,” which Grammer described as a reality show following six political rookies running for the first time. The theme through the promotional clip is that these folks are running against “polished politicians.”
Another show is called “Evan Sayet’s Right 2 Laugh,” a comedy show that appears to be designed to counter the Comedy Channel’s Jon Stewart. Sayet is a conservative comic and commentator.
Something else that’s not right: middle aged men having sex with teenagers (aka statutory rape)