BRAVO (TELEVISION NETWORK)

'Bravo' is a cable television network owned by NBC Universal. It is currently seen in more than 79 million homes and was the first service dedicated to film, drama, and the performing arts when it launched in December 1980. Bravo's programming schedule includes feature films (primarily from the Universal catalogue). Bravo also airs reruns of series from parent network NBC, and produces original reality content, most popularly ''Project Runway'', ''Queer Eye'', ''Top Chef'', ''Inside the Actors Studio'', and ''. Many of these programs are Emmy-nominated.

Contents

Ownership

Positioning

Target audience

Distribution

Promotion

Programming

Originals

High definition

See also

External links

Ownership

Bravo TV was originally a service of Cablevision's Rainbow Media. Between 1999 and 2001, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer had a 20% stake in the channel (in addition to fellow Rainbow networks AMC and WE). In 2001, a stake of Bravo was acquired by NBC, buying the entire channel in 2002. Today, it is owned by NBC Universal. Its corporate offices are at Rockefeller Center in New York. Other cable networks owned by NBC Universal include: CNBC, MSNBC, mun2, Sci-Fi Channel, ShopNBC, Telemundo, Sleuth TV, Chiller, Universal HD, and USA Network, as well as some partial ownership of international cable channels such as CNBC World, CNBC Europe, and CNBC Asia.

Positioning

According to NBC Universal’s Bravo fact sheet, "Bravo is the cable network that plugs people into arts, culture and pop culture with original programming, movies and by showing a whole different side of celebrities." They cultivate an arts and pop culture focused image including original niche reality programs. Their new positioning statement, "Watch what happens," is a reference to the network's current focus on original reality programming.

Target audience

Bravo's target audience is age 25-54, affluent, educated and tech-savvy males and females with high levels of disposable income. Bravo's market share of this demographic continues to grow, and according to Bravo's annual programming report, is higher than that of competing networks such as A&E, The History Channel, The Discovery Channel, Food Network, HGTV, and The Travel Channel. Their focus on this demographic is apparent from their programming, particularly their reality programs that focus on celebrities, living and home improvement, as well as reruns of programs that play well to this audience. Local and national advertising is appropriate to the target demographic: local advertisers include jewelry shops and computer stores, and national advertisers include computer companies and business services.

Distribution

According to NBC Universal's Bravo fact sheet, Bravo is currently available in more than 79 million homes. Some sources including Bravo's Programming Highlights for this year put the number at closer to 78 million.

Promotion

Bravo gives substantial advertising to both their original and off-network programming. Heavily promoted original content includes ''Inside the Actors Studio'', ''Project Runway'', ''Top Chef,'' and ''Celebrity Poker Showdown''. ''Queer Eye for the Straight Guy'', which Bravo now produces in-house, was once an example of the off-network shows aired by Bravo, such as ''The West Wing''. Much of Bravo's success in differentiating itself from other cable channels has been in its ability to maintain a balance of original and classic series.

Programming

Bravo utilizes block programming for both new shows and successful existing ones. Bravo has also had great success with programming franchises. These include their "100 Greatest..." TV and the film retrospectives, based upon the concept of AFI's 100 Years... 100 Movies; Project Greenlight and Project Runway; Showbiz Moms & Dads and Showdog Moms & Dads; Party/Party and a handful of successful gay-themed dating and reality shows (i.e. Queer Eye, Project Runway, which contains several gay contestants, and Workout, which features a lesbian lead) a niche which had yet to be filled by the reality-heavy networks.

Originals

★ ''Queer Love starring William Snow''

★ ''Inside the Actors Studio''

★ ''Celebrity Poker Showdown''

★ ''

★ ''The Real Housewives of Orange County''

★ ''Project Runway''

★ ''Top Chef''

★ ''Work Out''

★ ''Million Dollar Listing''

★ ''Top Design''

★ ''Shear Genius''

★ '' reruns

★ ''Six Feet Under'' reruns

★ ''Solstrom''

★ ''Queer Eye for the Straight Guy''

★ ''Queer Eye for the Straight Girl''

★ ''Blow Out''

★ ''Showbiz Moms & Dads''

★ ''Project Greenlight''

★ ''Tabloid Wars''

★ ''Boy Meets Boy''

★ ''

★ ''Manhunt''

★ ''Being Bobby Brown''

★ ''Long Way Round''

★ ''The It Factor''

★ ''Battle of the Network Reality Stars''

★ ''The Awful Truth''

★ ''Breaking News''

★ ''The Jake Effect''

★ ''Significant Others''

★ ''Hey Paula''

★ ''Flipping Out''

★ ''Welcome to the Parker''

High definition

Bravo has also launched an HDTV network called Bravo HD+ (now Universal HD). This network is not an HDTV simulcast, but rather has its own schedule and programming.

See also

★ List of DirecTV channels

★ List of Dish Network channels

External links

★ Official Website

★ Interview with Bravo exec Andy Cohen