Control of the world’s first queer television channel, OUTtv, was sold in mid-July to BC television production firm Shavick Entertainment. If the sale is approved by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, Shavick will acquire a 52 percent stake in the channel, which includes OUTtv’s sister porn channel HARD on PrideVision.
Shavick has produced hundreds of hours of programming for the mainstream as well as a few queer titles, including one of this year’s Out on Screen entries, Shock to the System.
James Shavick is a principal owner of Shavick Entertainment along with his wife Joy MacPhail. MacPhail was an MLA from 1991-2005, and led the BC NDP from 2001-2005. She told the Vancouver Sun, Jul 20, that she would play an active role in front of the camera in new OUTtv programming.
Xtra West did not connect with Shavick or MacPhail before press time.
Under the same deal, Pink Triangle Press, which publishes Xtra West, would increase its minority share of OUTtv to 38 percent.
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