Broadband TV Service, Tvext, to Distribute LGBT Programming from here!

Broadband TV service, Tvext, has signed a distribution agreement with here!, a TV channel targeting the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. here! offers a broad array of original movies and series, and claims to have the world's largest library of gay and lesbian films. "Millions of people are searching for here! premium gay and lesbian entertainment online and Tvext offers an easy and exceptional broadband experience for finding, watching and downloading here! from the Internet," here! EVP and general manager, Karen Flischel, said in a prepared statement. The deal will see a customized selection of here! programming delivered via Tvext's proprietary desktop application: programs on offer will include the original thriller movie, "Third Man Out--A Donald Strachey Mystery," and the comedic documentary, "Man of the Year."

Tvext claims that it has signed up over 10,000 subscribers since its launch in April, and that it is adding subscribers at a rate of 150 to 200 per day. The service offers a suite of narrowcast channels, featuring news and entertainment content and delivered via a free, proprietary, patent-pending desktop application, called Tvext Desktop TV, which is based on Microsoft Windows Media technology. While some of Tvext's content--for example, programming provided by Reuters News and by international music video channel, Trace TV--is offered free of charge (note: the service is currently running a "special introductory offer" that allows new subscribers to sample all its programming for free), most of it is offered on a paid basis: consumers have the option of making a single $10 purchase to view 10-15 hours of Tvext content, based on a point system, or of purchasing a $7.85 pass that allows them to view the same amount of content, but that automatically replenishes their account balance as points are used up. Tvext is produced by a Washington, DC-based company called Broadband Television Network Corp. that was founded last year by entrepreneur, Trevor Cornwall, who serves as its president and CEO. The company's chairman is Sergio Zyman, founder of the Zyman Group and former chief marketing officer of the Coca-Cola Company.

This article was originally published on August 9, 2006 within the [itvt] newsletter.

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