Bringing The Mibe
To The Tube

Twenty-four-hour cable network faces funding
obstacles.

evangelism with Judaism to capture
the Christians; others had money
but no content or a CEO who
Atlanta
believed in their plans."
ith Al Jazeera set to
Their common challenge, he
launch a satellite chan-
added, was one of numbers. The
nel in English in 2005, Jewish market is small; making up
and a host of other
just 1.7 percent of the U.S. popula-
Arabic television programs prolifer-
tion, there are simply not enough
ating on cable and the Internet,
Jewish cable subscribers to sustain
members of the Jewish community
the $25-million annual operating
are increasingly
budget of a 24-
interested in
hour news network.
establishing a 24-
Kaiman, too, says
hour Jewish tele-
he has seen a num-
vision network
ber of people
that would polish
"explore the possi-
the tarnished
bility of using the
image of Jews and
media to promote
Israel in the
Jewish content."
media.
According to
"The need for
Kaiman, initiatives
Jewish media is
never got off the
on the mind of a
ground because "it's
lot of people, and
not economically
part of an ongo-
feasible."
ing national con-
Most Jewish pro-
versation," said
gramming in the
Jay Kaiman,
United States is
director of Jewish Amos Kamil hopes to launch Blue er produced locally
White TV: "We have to control our
philanthropy for
for local markets,
own
story" or risk being 'defined by
Atlanta's Marcus
often appearing on
the competition," he said.
Foundation.
cable access, with
And with the
the exception being
recent announcement by the
Jewish Television Network in Los
National Rifle Association that it
Angeles.
will soon unveil a news company to
The longest-running production
produce programs for the radio,
house devoted to Jewish-themed
Internet and possibly television, Jews programs, JTN has 700 hours of
may begin to ask aloud, "Why don't
content in its library; programs are
we do the same?" said Ron Slotin,
licensed typically in non-exclusive
president of Atlanta's Jewish TV,
deals to other networks.
which airs monthly half-hour pro-
Its Passover special appeared on
grams on Sunday nights on Atlanta
109 public television stations and in
Interfaith Broadcasters.
90 million homes in April, according
In fact, over the last decade, five
to founder Jay Sanderson. JTN is
different initiatives have come across
now at work producing a primetime
the desk of Jim Rutledge, who
series for public television on the
launched CNN with Ted Turner and Jewish experience in America, slated
in 1991 conceived Court TV. "All
for 2005.
had their shortcomings," Rutledge
Sanderson does not think a 24-
said.
hour Jewish network can succeed.
"One group had competing reli-
"It's too narrow for broadcast, and
gious concerns; one wanted to mix
cable providers are not worried

GABRIELLA BURMAN
Atlanta Jewish Times

IV

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