Most of the recent news about gay entertainment programming has focused on gay TV —the success of Queer Eye and the failure of Showtime and Viacom's plans for a gay cable channel. TV aside, one of the more interesting developments in gay entertainment programming is a relatively new 24-hour gay talk-radio channel, OutQ, carried on the Sirius Satellite Radio Network.
When I first heard about OutQ, I wasn't really even sure what satellite radio was. Once I heard that it was also available for free on the Internet—(at siriusoutq.com)—and that one of its talk shows was hosted by longtime activist and author Michelangelo Signorile, I decided to give it a try.
Satellite radio, it turns out, is essentially a form of pay-radio, analogous to cable. Sirius is the smaller of the nation's two major satellite radio networks, with 105,000 subscribers compared to competitor XM's 692,000.
However, XM has commercials and no gay-specific programming. Sirius's decision to start OutQ represents a significant competitive strategy of targeting niche markets
Sirius offers 100 commercial-free channels or 'streams'—60 of music and 40 of news/entertainment, such as CNN, Fox News and OutQ—all for a flat fee of $12.95 a month, or $155.40 a year—or for free over the Internet. With the exception of the free Internet access, in order to listen to Sirius, you have to buy special equipment for use in the car or at home, at a cost of about $170.
The benefit of listening to satellite radio on the $170 special equipment rather than for free over the Internet is 1) a higher quality of sound and 2) its portability. The greatest difference between satellite and traditional radio is that satellite is continuously available no matter where in the country you are. Also, because it is a pay service, satellite radio—like cable TV—has greater freedom and is not subject to FCC censorship.
Sirius started OutQ in April. As such, it is still a channel finding its way in a relatively new and unknown medium. OutQ airs five live three-hour talk shows daily, which run at different times in each time zone.
OutQ's strongest appeal is that it provides a unique resource for gay people with an active interest in activism and politics— especially valuable on days of important breaking news. Also, for people who would like to know more about gay political news but who don't have much free time, OutQ provides a refreshing alternative way to receive information. Having OutQ on at your work computer is an almost effortless way to access valuable information that otherwise might take an extraordinary effort to find.
OutQ's best live reporting came during the New York City blackout Aug. 14, and on the day of the Supreme Court sodomy ruling,
OutQ's guests from Lambda Legal Defense, HRC and the National Center for Lesbian Rights shared informative and even moving personal and legal perspectives. When the same guests spoke later on mainstream TV, they were limited to sound-bite debates with right-wing wackos.
Likewise, when OutQ broadcast an HRC-sponsored panel of Democratic Presidential candidates live from Washington, moderated by ABC's Sam Donaldson, the panel received little coverage in the mainstream media.
There are downsides to OutQ's programming at this stage, though. Its nature as a line-up of call-in shows dilutes some of its appeal. Sirius is primarily a mainstream satellite company, and many callers are truck drivers, gay and straight, who subscribe to Sirius for its ability to transmit without interruption on the long-distance road. An aggressive marketing effort at this year's pride festivals has increased awareness of the station, along with word of mouth, and the mix of callers has improved.
The more politically concerned hosts also have a sometimes wearying Rush Limbaugh-style of trumpeting the GLBT Outrage of the Day. It's better than the sleep-inducing monotone style of NPR, but there has to be a middle ground. In addition, OutQ hosts are put in the position of constantly entreating people to call, repeating the phone number and interrupting flow.
OutQ is commercial-free, but corporate parent Sirius sponsors repetitive music news updates ('Country Crosswire' and 'Jazz Cafe')—not really grasping that many have no interest in mindless anecdotes about Toby Keith's tour bus or where Pharaoh Sanders is playing this weekend.
Whatever its programming strengths and limitations, OutQ does represents a significant asset for Sirius as a company trying to compete with XM—and represents an important development in the field of alternative news media.
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vTHE 411 ON OutQ 149:
OutQ in the Morning: 6-9 a.m. CST. Co-hosted by Cheryl Barcenas, longtime Billboard Talent Editor Larry Flick and sidekick Jason Page. Light morning fare. Idle conversation and guests.
Harrison on the Edge 9 a.m.-noon CST. OutQ's worst high-decibel host, Cary Harrison's personal style make it seem like he's trying to trumpet his discovery of the wheel to an audience that's already grown tired of flying. Harrison does have a genuinely wide-ranging array of political guests and interests—for instance, he aired audio of an unarmed British photojournalist in Israel who suddenly found himself being shot at by Israeli soldiers in a raid on Palestinian civilians.
The Michelangelo Signorile Show Noon-3 p.m. CST. Signorile is a well-established author and activist best known for advocating the use of outing as a political tool. Billed as conversion therapy for the misguidedly right-wing, Signorile often invites unsuspecting homophobes as guests and then pit bulls live.
McMullen and Johnson 3-6 p.m. CST. The former owner of GAYBC Radio Networks and OutQ's Program Director, John McMullen created the entire OutQ line-up. Corey Johnson is best known for the media attention that came to him as the first openly gay high school football team captain. Their show revolves around breaking news.
The Derek and Romaine Show 6-9 p.m. CST. OutQ's most entertaining show, hosted by columnist Derek Hartley and former GLAAD staffer Romaine Patterson. Hartley is OutQ's strongest asset, with a relentlessly spontaneous sense of humor that cannot be described. If you enjoy Carson Kressley, you'll love Hartley.
OutQ Overnight: From 9 p.m. CST to 6 a.m. CT, OutQ rebroadcasts the day's episodes of Harrison on the Edge, McMullen and Johnson, and The Derek and Romaine Show.
