Logo announces partnership with LPI Media

MTV Networks' forthcoming gay channel Logo and LPI Media--publisher of The Advocate, Out, and The Out Traveler--announced Monday that they have formed a multiyear, multiplatform partnership to create cobranded television specials and an online headline news service. The partnership will see both companies collaborating on at least five programs a year, with the first special to air in the fourth quarter of 2005; the specials will be based on original content from the three LPI magazines. The Logo-Advocate cobranded headline news service will run on Logo's Web site, www.LogoOnline.com, in the fourth quarter of 2005, with content generated by the staff of The Advocate. "I am very proud to partner with LPI Media not only because of its dominant role but because the company is a true pioneer in the LGBT marketplace and the larger media landscape," said Brian Graden, president of Logo and of MTV Networks Music Group Entertainment, in a statement. "They are continual proof that gay media is a real and viable business. Creatively, this deal has the potential to move our brands beyond television and the Web and onto new and emerging platforms wherever it makes sense." Logo will launch on June 30, offering a mix of programming that includes movies, documentary series, reality shows, and Patrik Ian-Polk's acclaimed new comedy-drama Noah's Arc. "This is a wonderful opportunity for LPI Media to work with Logo to help create this exciting new multimedia LGBT venture," said LPI Media president James Franklin in a statement. "We are thrilled that Logo has emerged as a new television option for the LGBT community and look forward to working with them on developing content that serves our large and important universe."