Thursday, August 13, 2009

CBS News on Logo shuts down after 4 years

With the economy being the way it is CBS has cancelled CBS NEWS on Logo. Too bad.

Advocate reports:

CBS News on Logo is set to air its final broadcast on Thursday, bringing an end to what has been billed as the nation's "premier LGBT news program." In an online interview with Instinct, popular Logo news reporter Itay Hod called the demise of the partnership between MTV Networks and CBS a "sad day." READ MORE

Wiki profile:

CBS News on Logo is the umbrella title of gay-themed news programming airing on the Logo television network. As the name indicates, the show is produced in partnership with CBS as a result of the former ownership of both networks by Viacom, (though both companies are still owned by National Amusements).

It debuted in June 2005, when the channel began broadcasting. Initially, news items were presented as short segments between scheduled programs. Occasionally the channel would air full half-hour specials on stories of interest to the LGBT community, such as the Gay Games, yearly gay pride events, the October 2006 ruling in the same-sex marriage case in New Jersey, Lewis v. Harris, and the issues facing gay voters in the 2006 mid-term elections.

In late 2007 CBS News on Logo went to a weekly half-hour format. New programs are broadcast each Monday and repeated through the week. Jason Bellini is the lead anchor for CBS News on Logo. Other correspondents include Itay Hod and Chagmion Antoine. Executive Producer is Court Passant. The CBS News Up to the Minute set is utilized for the broadcast of the program.

Beginning in January 2007, a news update podcast became available for download through the iTunes store. It's also available via Zune Marketplace. In 2008, both Jason Bellini and Court Passant departed. Jason Bellini currently reports for The Daily Beast blog. Court Passant is Executive Director of Interactive at CBS News.