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Local News
Local Comcast Affiliate Axes Gay Network
When James Hicks first read about here! Networks, a new gay- and lesbian-themed cable network specializing in original programming and recent video releases, he immediately wanted to subscribe. He visited the network’s website and entered his ZIP code. Sure enough, here! was supposed to be available in Utah through the cable provider Comcast, just as it was across the nation. Hicks grabbed his phone for what would be the first of many calls to the cable company he’s patronized for two decades.
“When I called Comcast the first time, I spoke with someone and they said they had no idea what I was talking about, but they would investigate it and get back to me,” said Hicks, an IBM consultant and Coldwell Banker Real Estate agent. “I waited and finally got a phone call back. The person said, ‘thanks for letting us know about this. We’re going to do some research and we’ll get back with you.’ I never heard a word.”
Deciding he’d waited long enough for an answer, Hicks decided to call again. This time he reached Lisa Jenkins, Comcast’s Utah marketing manager. According to Hicks, Jenkins told him Comcast Cable of Utah wasn’t planning on carrying here! Networks.
“She told me that they did not feel [here!] would have an audience in Utah,” Hicks said. “I said, ‘Did you think it’s because of the gay- and lesbian-oriented theme?’ and she said, ‘I can’t say.’”
Jenkins declined a request for a statement on the decision, and referred questions to Ray Child, Public Relations Director for Comcast Utah.
“We have made a business decision to not carry here! in Utah,” said Child. He said this was all he could say on the matter.
Hicks said he received the same response when he called Child on June 1, even when he asked for more specific information.
“I know that business decisions are based on different factors,” said Hicks. “You don’t just make a business decision without a reason why you’re backing it up.” He added that the lack of a further response has led him to consider that the network was removed “because of the gay- and lesbian-oriented themes.”
“I am frustrated about it,” he said. “It’s unfair, it’s flat out discrimination. I told them that. It’s just another slap in the face to the gay and lesbian community in Utah. I told them I have been a subscriber to Comcast back 20 years ago when it was TCI Cablevision. To be a loyal customer and to tell me I can’t watch a station because it’s gay- and lesbian-oriented, that’s a huge slap in the face, especially when they offer so many things out there to the heterosexual community,” such as the Spice Channel and HBO and Showtime’s late-night sexually-oriented programming.
In the time he’s spent calling Comcast, Hicks said he’s also made an attempt to let Utah gays and lesbians know about the cable network’s decision. So far, he has sent emails to Equality Utah and the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation. Though he has yet to hear back from either organization. He said Valerie Larabee, The Center’s executive director, responded almost immediately.
Although Larabee said most of her time is now focused on preparing for Utah Pride Day, she and her staff “have [the Comcast situation] on our list and will lodge our concerns” shortly.
“I think that it’s important for us to know what is available via these cable TV networks and to understand when we are not being allowed to have access to something,” she said. “If that goes untalked about then we can’t do anything about it. We would like to see anyone that has a Comcast account and thinks that this is important to give Comcast a call and say they would like to have access to here!”
“After a while,” she added, “the squeaky wheel gets the grease.”
Meanwhile, here! officials have said they are aware of the situation and are looking into the matter.
“here! is proud to be in partnership with Comcast, which has rolled here! out across the country in the majority of its markets in the United States,” said Stephen Macias, vice president of corporate communications and Public Relations for here! Networks. “While we understand Comcast’s current business decision, here! looks forward to being in the Salt Lake City market in the future.”
He added that local affiliates are allowed to moderate programming, and that those decisions are “at times unfortunate and sometimes called censorship; but it’s not done on a regular basis.”
Currently, the network’s website www.heretv.com still lists here! as available for Utah ZIP codes 84070 in Sandy City, 84112 in Salt Lake City, 84660 in Spanish Fork and 84601 in Provo—all areas served by Utah’s Comcast affiliate.
Comcast Utah’s decision not to bring here! to customers is not the first time a Utah network affiliate has pulled network programming from its line up. When KSL-TV changed over to NBC in 1994, they refused to air (as they still do) Saturday Night Live. In 2000, KSL declined to air the controversial and short-lived animated series God, the Devil and Bob. In October of the same year, UPN announced it would move away from its Utah affiliate KJZZ when the station objected to airing a number of the network’s Monday night black/urban themed shows such as Moesha and The Parkers. The affiliate objected because these programs received poor ratings among Utah’s predominantly Caucasian audience.
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