We live in an age of cable networks. A while ago there was a small boom of cable channels, like Ha! (now called Comedy Central) and TCM (where people could see old movies that no one who doesn't collect social security cares about). Then the there was a bigger boom where channels like TLC, the Sci-Fi network, Cartoon Network came around. And lately I've noticed that they've added even more channels like the Home and Garden Network and the Do-It-Yourself Network.
If they can have all these channels, why can't there be a comic book network? There are more than enough cartoons to fill the channel. There's cartoons from the sixties, eighties, nineties and even modern ones. The 90's Spider-Man cartoon is selling for 40+ bucks on Ebay and the 90's X-Men cartoon can go for as much as 70+ and these are dubs of dubs with horrible picture and sound quality.
There's also live action television shows that you can buy syndication rights of. Isis, the Incredible Hulk, Shazam and Wonder Woman were just the ones that came out in the seventies. There's also the old school Batman and Green Hornet shows (both of which used to be a staple of the FX network). You could also get the TV movies and the failed pilots, like Generation X and Nick Fury. Hell, there's even Mutant X. I'll be the first to admit these aren't all winners but there is a certain level of interest out there for it.
You also could dig up some of the old serials. The Superman shorts and the like. These things are extremely hard to get a hold for the casual collector (and even so for the serious collector) and I've met many people who are curious to see them.
Of course, we can't forget the movies. Not just the recent hits (there seems to be at least three superhero movies a year now, that's enough for its own Oscar category) but the old "favorites" too. I'm sure you can even get the rights to show the unreleased Fantastic Four movie (considering how much people pay for horrid copies of this movie, think of how good the ratings would be for a more pristine showing on the air?).
You could also have regular video submissions. The only problem would be how to get the big companies to agree to show movies based on their properties. I think if you could convince them it was free advertising and pay them a small amount to rent the likenesses of their characters, then you could probably do it. Even if you couldn't, the fan base would still be willing to create their own superheroes.
There would also have to be a news show. More like E! news than 20/20, it would talk about the deals being made behind the scenes, show work being done on upcoming comic related films and the like.
And once the channel got going, it could have original films and shows. Smaller independent creators might come to it instead of trying to fight through the Hollywood system. Also, from pretty early on in the channel's history you could have Flash cartoons (in the vein of Cartoon Network's Adult Swim line-up).
This could be the best thing... ever. Now I just have to convince someone to give me the money to start it.
On a mission from God,
Guy Ryder
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