Duane, TheBlackInformant.com - For some time now I have been begging Black television execs to stop begging Comcast and Time Warner for a place on their grid and to create their own space. Although still in its early stages, Internet-based television services like Roku are becoming the best alternative to those who are fed up with rising cable prices. But are they listening to me? Nooooooo!

While in Costco recently, I noticed an interview on ESPN that was being displayed on all the shiny new HDTV’s in the front of the store. As I moved closer to one of the televisions, I noticed the little “GBTV” logo embedded in the video right alongside ESPN’s logo. Apparently, ESPN picked up on this seemingly notable interview on Glenn Beck’s network and decided to rebroadcast part of it. To most people, this qualifies for a big “so what”. But to me, I saw opportunity.

To most people on Main Street in cyberspace, Glenn Beck is just a complete waste of space in the gene pool. He constantly rails against Obama, he’s insensitive, he’s an idiot, and he’s racist. As he was increasingly becoming a lightning rod, even Fox News had to get rid of him. But with all of that being said, and the world seemingly against him, he managed to survive in his own lil’ medium: Internet-based television.

Instead of waiting for some other network to hopefully pick him up, he started his own network. For $9.95 a month, viewers can dine on all of Beck’s programing 24/7. He calls the shots–he controls his content. Based on this article, as of September, 2011, his network has surpassed Oprah’s OWN network. And unlike Oprah, Beck doesn’t need to beg fans on Twitter to watch her failing network. Every one of GBTV subscribers BRING income to the network. Oprah’s model is largely dependent on large investors giving her money to continue. You can hate the man all you want. But in the world of media, he’s got game.

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