Some say it's long over due; others call it a sign of the consistent degradation in modern society. So it should be no surprise that Viacom is the corporate giant launching LOGO, the first all gay television channel. Certain groups, as well as most of the media, have targeted MTV as the "punching bag," but as much as I hate MTV personally, I feel like I must defend them simply because they really have nothing to do with it.

Here is where some of the confusion may have started: Brian Graden, President of Programming for MTV, has been developing LOGO for over two years. He is also the man responsible for most of the reality-based shows that currently flood the MTV airwaves and basically render the channel unwatchable (the Osbourns, Newlyweds, Jackass and Punk'd). But the same shows and concepts, which I personally think are downright stupid, are actually extremely lucrative, and Viacom knows it.

Viacom, the mother company of MTV, (who along with Clear Channel and Turner Broadcasting control nearly every American media outlet, but that's another story) is launching LOGO today. LOGO will hit over ten million homes and join the family of stations and production companies already owned by Viacom which include: Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, MTV, MTV2, TV Land, CBS, Showtime, Paramount Pictures, BET, VH1 and many more. Of all these channels, LOGO actually brings something financially unique to Viacom, it promises to attract a virtually untapped demographic.

With over 14 million openly gay and lesbian people living in America alone, LOGO will demand the attention of a very large niche audience. Miller Brewing and Motorola are among the companies vying for airtime on the channel and most people, gay or not, agree that money is the main issue. This is why Viacom has finally launched the channel, which has been in the works for quite a while, but just as his history has indicated, Brian Graden continues to produce boring television and LOGO doesn't seem to be any different.

Among the shows lined up for the new season are several cut and paste, I love the eighties style programs (Graden did those too) and Noah's Ark, a show about four gay men living in L.A. Any angry letters should probably be addressed to Viacom (which is awaiting the backlash from the public and has already prepared statements) or more appropriately to Brian Graden. Personally I don't see what the big deal is, there has always been an all gay network; ABC.