We need a Progressive Television Network ....

[Amfortas]

I posted this in GD yesterday , but it sank like a stone....

I'm sure you agree with me that this is an important thing to do , frankly I'm surprised nobody did this (surely there are a lot of rich liberals )

where I live (florida) there is this annoying religous channel (channel 55 I think) that has all sorts of nutjobs yapping looney right wing hate and fear 24/7 and it's affliated with something called CBN (christian braodcasting networks)

Now if those dimwits can raise enough money to support such a network ,why can't we on the left do the same !

and don't say "PBS" , it's public TV.

I think this is an important matter....there should be a liberal broadcasting network . what do others think ?

[Todd B]

1. It would be nice... BUT...

A progressive television network (news or otherwise) would be nice, but I'd just as soon settle for an actual, independent media outlet that tells the news but doesn't spin, distort, or otherwise to fit one political party or the other.

The sign of a great journalist is not being able to tell what his political views are.

[Amfortas]

2. I agree .....

we should work on both .....

1) Media networks that are balanced and neutral .

2) Progressive propaganda networks , to counterbalance RW propaganda.

now I now for us propaganda is a dirty word , but WE NEED to conteract their's with ours . we can't just turn the other cheek and scream "balance" "neutrality" ...

in this world of communication we must send our message through !

[ldf]

3. haven't you heard

the rich democrats/liberals/progressives/whatever you want to call them DON'T GIVE A SHIT.

plain and simple.

they would rather keep what they have, than use it to help save this country.

don't expect them to ride to our rescue. they are parasites, just like the republicans, taking advantage of every legal loophole possible.

there are enough that, in the time it takes to snap your fingers the backing could be raised.

but don't hold your breath. they are so rich that no matter what happens, it won't interfere with their world or their life.

/end rant.

:grr:

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

4. Get thee to DishNetwork

FSTV (Free Speech Television) is available on Dish Network. I think FSTV is based in Colorado but they broadcast throughout the United States. I believe they claim to have 5 million viewers. There's also LINK-TV, also available on DishNetwork. These are not widely seen networks, such as cable news or CBS/NBC/ABC but they are growing. The only way they will come into the mainstream is for people to watch them, to support them (listener-supported) and to talk about them. I almost never see threads on DU about programs on FSTV.

You can see every kind of anti-Bush, anti-right documentary on that station and talk/news shows like Democracy Now and the INN World Report. Here's just a very short list of the MANY programs they have recently shown:

Afghanistan: Convoy of Death
Oil, Power & Empire: Iraq & The US Global Agenda
Iraq, A Year Later (a series of several programs on the Iraq war)
Shocking & Awful (another series of the destruction in Iraq)
Empire & Resistance (speech by Tariq Ali of Harvard University)
Their Terrorism & Ours (speech by Noam Chomsky - several Noam Chomsky speeches broadcast)
Good vs Evil: Bush's Theology Of War

The list could go on and on. The best way to establish a mainstream Liberal Network is to support the grassroots networks already trying to expand.
http://www.freespeech.org/fsitv/fscm2/genx.php?name=home

[Amfortas]

5. that is great.....

but the right wing religious channel here (called the super channel) is broadcast on free terrestrial TV , and is on regular cable (I don't have cable by the way)

my point is if the rightwingers can collect enough donations here in florida to support CBN why don't progressives do the same.

we need a progressive network at least as widespread as CBN.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

6. and it begins with one supporter at a time

I agree that we need a widespread progressive network. Why not start supporting the small but ambitious satellite networks already up and running and turn them into widespread networks on cable? It isn't going to happen by itself.

[Amfortas]

7. I can agree with that ....

so a tangible first step is to support the satellite channels that already exist ..... by subscription and promotion .

so ok guys .... lets get started !

is there a list somewhere ? better do some googling.

Edit : currently browsing through your link , great site !

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

8. I don't know if it's the answer, but it's a start

I appreciate the fact that you don't subscribe to a satellite service like DishNetwork. Sorry, but that's the only suggestion I have to offer. I think you can get a starter subscription with DishNetwork for about $32/month. In the alternative, I think the FSTV website has a few sample programs from time to time. You can always promote the network in your community or on blogs even if you can't view all their programs.

http://www.dishnetwork.com/

And there's another Liberal TV network also available through DishNetwork called LINK TV. They're maybe just a touch less radical and hard-hitting than FSTV but they also have some of the same documentaries.

http://www.worldlinktv.org/

Anyway, I think you have one of the most important posts of the day. We MUST start supporting alternative TV programming and, if they don't exist, we have to set the ball rolling. I hear griping about CNN and the MSM on DU every day. Yet, I see no attempt to promote the existing alternatives that are out there. Let's start lighting that candle instead of cursing the darkness on DU every day.

[zann725]

9. There was talk a while back to try and enlist Ted Turner to help start one

up for us. He made comments at a recent Media Convention expressing great dissatisfaction with current Network News. Maybe we need to start mass emailing him...to nudge him along? Once he got us started and organized, we could probably get a crew of people to manage and run it. FYI, George Soros recently bought a large block of stock in CNN in order to begin effecting the quality of news there.

[Amfortas]

10. that's good news...

So , how much percentage of CNN does he own now ?