In September 2004, the TRIO channel – owned by NBC/Universal –launched a new programming block called OutZone. Targeted at the gay community and featuring a host of new series alongside re-runs of gay-friendly fare, it was intended to bring more entertaining and relevant content to its loyal homosexual viewers. To reach an even broader audience, they teamed up with Bravo Television – also owned by NBC/Universal – and PlanetOut to bring OutZone to the web. Launched in June 2006 to coincide with Gay Pride month, the site is complete with never-before-seen footage and outtakes and original programming, as well as archived videos from the ‘50s and ’60s.
OutZone separates its video into a handful of main categories, including: Movies, featuring old favorites like ABC TV’s 1972 “That Certain Summer” as well as newer films like “Three of Hearts”; Reality, mostly from Bravo TV’s successful series like Boy Meets Boy, Party Party, and Gay Weddings 101 (and 102); Camp & Kitsch, with archived film classics like the 1950’s “Much Ado About Hair-dos” and clips from the early 90s Men’s Bikini Open; Fashion, which profiles designers like Trovata and Karl Lagerfeld; Beefcake, with profiles of male models; and of course, Kathy Griffin. In addition to video, there are News articles relevant to the gay community, Blogs from gay icons like Daniel Vosovic of Project Runway’s second season, Photo Galleries, and Community boards that allow OutZone patrons to speak out on the website and its content.
If you don’t swoon over an old clip of Ashton Kutcher and Josh Duhamel strutting down the catwalk, you might as well be catatonic. OutZone may target the gay community, but this girl’s equally entertained.
