TIMM, Germany’s first television channel for gay men, begins broadcasting tomorrow, Saturday. Its schedule comprises series, feature films, portraits, documentaries and comedy. For its first week alone, TIMM promises several German premieres and original productions, whose share of the schedule is set to grow. “With our original productions, which we will gradually expand, we more than meet our ambition of launching as a full-service channel,” said managing director and programme director Frank Lukas.
TIMM has selected licensed programming from around the world for its gay target audience, creating what the broadcaster says is a uniquely curated schedule. Series such as Footballers’ Wives, Noah’s Arc, Mile High and Queer as Folk alternate with feature films including Beautiful Boxer, The Line of Beauty, Ma Vie en Rose and Prêt-à-Porter. Show and comedy formats are satirical, uninhibited and witty, while portraits and documentaries are intended to move viewers and stimulate discussion.
TIMM broadcasts on weekdays from around 4 p.m. to midnight and at weekends until approximately 1 a.m. From 1 November 2008, the programme can be received daily by satellite via Astra Digital, using the former Bahn-TV slot; on digital cable via Kabel Deutschland, Unitymedia, Kabel BW, Netcologne and Wilhelm.tel; and online via livestream at http://www.timm.de and http://www.zattoo.com. The broadcaster says carriage by additional cable-network operators is being prepared.
TIMM is operated by DFW Deutsche Fernsehwerke GmbH, whose shareholders are IBB Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH, through the VC Fonds Kreativwirtschaft Berlin GmbH that it manages; south&browse GmbH; and VGM Verlagsgesellschaft Madsack GmbH & Co KG.