Conservative TV Channel goes bankrupt

[ck4829]

Here's something for all you people who have to put up with the rumors of Air America Radio going bankrupt.

"National Empowerment Television (NET), also known as America's Voice, was a cable TV network designed to rapidly mobilize Religious Right followers for grassroots lobbying. It was created by Paul Weyrich, a key strategist for the secular and religious right. At its peak, it claimed to reach more than 11 million homes.

NET began in 1993 as a project of Weyrich's Free Congress Foundation and went to air for the first time on December 6, 1993.

Although NET was launched with a budget of $10 million, it bled money. In 1995 alone, Weyrich transferred $2 million in assets to the project, but when it failed to get financial support on a continuing basis, NET split off as a private business and sought private funds. It re-launching in the spring of 1997 as a for-profit TV channel called "America's Voice," with another $20 million in seed money. However, Weyrich's strident political tone brought him into conflict with Robert Sutton, a broadcast executive who had been hired to run the network. Sutton persuaded the network's board to force out Weyrich in a hostile takeover, but the station continued to flounder financially. In 2000, it was purchased by E-Cine, a Dallas-based multimedia company, which briefly returned Weyrich to the airwaves before succumbing to bankruptcy later that year."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Empowerment_Television

[blm]

1. They don't need it - they now have the NBCs, ABC, CBS, CNN, FOX and all

the religious networks towing the fascist line OPENLY for them.

[underpants]

2. Weyrich

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Weyrich

[LTR]

3. I was just thinking about that one the other day

I was the one who copied that entry from its original spot, Sourcewatch.org.

I also plan on writing a blog entry on NET/America's Voice as well on my own blog in the near future.

Very interesting story behind it too. I'm just bummed out I missed the "Newt Gingrich Show", but alas, it was not on in my area.

NET/America's Voice was a much bigger sinkhole than AAR ever will be. Interesting that nobody (especially the wingers) ever talks about it anymore.

Incidentally, I'm bookmarking this, so if anyone has more knowledge of this televised money pit that I could use in my write-up, just post it here.

[Coexist]

4. kick

[NoAmericanTaliban]

5. Was hoping you meant Faux news, but no such luck n/t

[MethuenProgressive]

6. When?

When did this go bankrupt? And no... I don't mean morally bankrupt :D

[ck4829]

8. Sometime in late 2000 I believe

[tomreedtoon]

7. Can it be turned into a porn channel?

With a name like "E-Cine," it sounds like "Caballero Control Corporation" or one of those anonymous names that porn filmmakers used to use. But then again, isn't right-wing propaganda porn of a kind anyway?

[bridgit]

9. so not only does shit happen...shit goes bankrupt too...

:rofl: