NEWS Viacom revives gay-themed television project March 30, 2004 Megan Mullally from Will and Grace Photo-AFP NEW YORK — US media giant Viacom is reviving plans to create a gay-themed cable network, two years after dropping the project, The Wall Street Journal reported Monday. Viacom chief executive and chairman Sumner Redstone told analysts and investors that a gay-themed channel would have cost 30 million dollars to create and could now "be worth a billion dollars," according to the financial daily. Viacom's chairman now says not pursuing the idea was a mistake, the daily said. Redstone has ordered Tom Freston, the chairman and chief executive of Viacom's MTV networks, to prepare a business plan to launch the country's first network catered to the gay public. Viacom's plan comes as the United States is embroiled in a bitter debate over gay marriage. But some gay-themed shows are among the most successful in US television. Two of the main characters on NBC television's comedy series Will and Grace are gay and the show is broadcast during primetime hours. The reality show Queer Eye for the Straight Guy features five gay men who give beauty, decorating and cooking makeovers to straight men. The show has been a success and its hosts have become celebrities. Canada has had a gay-themed channel, PrideVision TV, since 2001. A similar channel called Pink TV will soon be launched in France. – AFP Related stories Gay or straight, AMC film shows Hollywood can be a drag [09/08/2003]