We have seven animation television stations in the US (Cartoon Network, Toon Disney/Jetix, Nicktoons Network, Boomerang, The Anime Network, Funimation Channel, and Animania). We have a quartet of do-it-yourself channels (HGTV, DIY, Discovery Home, and Create). We have a cooking channel. We used to have two arts channels, but they've seem to become general entertainment channels mastering in reality programming and pop culture shows.
We used to have a technology-themed channel, but they have no idea what they want to be (this week, they want to be a pop culture channel). We have numerous genre-driven channels. We have channels aimed toward women, men, children, sportsmen, minorities, military buffs, speed freaks, sports fans, classic television fans, religious types, if you can name an interest, there's a channel for you.
Almost every interest.
There is no channel aimed towards the comic-book fan. Yes, there comic-based programming on nearly every animation and genre-based channel. However, nobody has ever plotted nor pitched a network with comic-based programming such as movies, live-action series, animated shows, news shows, specials, and documentaries. There's still this perceived belief that comic books have a limited fanbase in this country and nobody would support a comic-based channel.
That's what they said about channels centered around sports, news, comedy, science fiction, and animation. That's what they said about Japanese animation, and now there are two channels based around anime with other companies planning new anime networks in this country and around the world.
The questions have to be asked. Would a comic-inspired network work in the United States? What would such a network look like? Would there be enough support for the network? Would the two titans of the industry learn to work together (and would they allow independent and manga titles to be a part of it)?
Too many questions. But I'm willing to answer them all. Starting with the obvious question, "What would a comic network look like?"
