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UNITED KINGDOM

World-Wide Gay, Lesbian, Transgender Community to Get Original Online TV and Radio Programming

… And it will be free
 

MANCHESTER, February 21, 2009  –  One of the world’s first original online programming platforms is to be fully launched later this year for the international LGBT market.

Fruit TV will provide original and entertaining TV and radio programmes aimed at the global gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered community and will include a rich variety of appointment to view programming – all exclusively online and all for free.

The platform (www.fruittv.tv), which will launch later this year with some big name endorsements, will be a one-stop shop for both television and radio programmes aimed at the global LGBT population.

“There will be documentaries and drama through to arts, lifestyle, comedy and short films,” says director of commissioning Ashley Byrne.

“There will be biographies, light entertainment shows and other regular features from all around the globe.  We are even working on a radio soap aimed at the LGBT world.

“Viewing and listening habits are changing with people increasingly using the Internet,” Mr. Byrne continued.

“So far though there’s little quality content that’s being made exclusively for online audiences.  Fruit TV will change all that.”

Fruit TV has formed through a partnership between radio and TV independent Made in Manchester of which Mr.Byrne is Creative Director, former ITV editor Scott Heslop, ex-Granada assistant producer Anthony Beswick and gay business owner Iain Scott, one of the partners of Taurus bar in Manchester’s thriving gay village.

“Fruit TV is about providing exclusive programming for an audience under-represented and un-catered for. LGBT issues have been forgotten about by the media because producers think they’ve done ‘the gay thing’ but many of the issues are still there and with equality comes new challenges and new stories to tell,” said Mr. Heslop, director of programme production

“Fruit TV is about giving LGBT people an opportunity to make lots of noise about the issues that matter to them.

“It’s about celebrating lifestyles, heritage and culture and providing a voice to those more isolated LGBT people in countries where equality for gay people lags behind,” he added.

Director of Business Affairs Anthony Beswick pointed out: “The exciting thing about Fruit TV is that audiences can access programmes online, anywhere in the world, at anytime they wish.

“We are providing a multimedia platform for audiences who want to watch TV and radio programmes when it suits them.

“We are catering for a niche audience who have an appetite for programmes that place value on who they are and how they live their lives.  We are confident we can provide a product, which will attract not only new viewers and listeners but also keen interest from sponsors and advertisers.”

Fruit TV’s went live from this with regular updates and previews.

“We want people to get involved and register with us,” Mr. Heslop said.

“A full slate of programmes will be available when we launch the live site later this year, meantime we’ll be trying out some of our ideas in coming weeks and months and will be keen to hear what people think.”

Fruit TV wants to hear about your programming ideas too. “The LGBT world is huge and we’ll be looking to cater for its many tastes – we encourage and welcome programme proposals and they should be sent to info(at)fruittv.tv,” Mr. Byrne said.

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