Pax TV -- The Seventh Network
By Shelly Lyons (lyonsm@ultimatetv.com)
News, UltimateTV
Lowell "Bud" Paxson had a dream to create the
seventh network, a network dedicated to family
programming.
He's made the dream come true with Pax TV
(formerly called Pax Net), which debuts Aug. 31. To
make sure the dream is fully realized, he's hiring
the best in the business. In comes Jeff Sagansky
(right, below), a broadcasting veteran who's worked
at NBC, CBS and Sony (to name a few), to head up
programming for the newest network.
After a stint at Sony, Sagansky functioned as a consultant for Paxson,
commuting to West Palm Beach, Fla., where Paxson "was sharing with me not
only what his dreams were for the network, but also what the economics were
behind it," says Sagansky, adding, "really this is the kind of programming I've
always succeeded with in my career, and programs that I personally like to
watch, particularly now that I have two girls, 4 and 9, and then I also think it's
programming that's largely absent from network television."
Some of Sagansky's credits include "Highway to Heaven" and "Cosby" at
NBC, and "Touched By An Angel," "Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman," "Picket
Fences," "Chicago Hope," and "Christy" on CBS."
It's no wonder there was instant synergy between Paxson and Sagansky.
After all, Pax TV's lineup includes "Dr. Quinn," "Touched By an Angel," "Highway
to Heaven" and "Christy."
But let's define our terms. Since Pax TV is billing itself as the only truly
family-friendly network, UltimateTV asked Sagansky to define the term.
Family Friendly
"Family-friendly" programs, he says, are ones "that families can watch
together, programs that have positive values and role models and are hopefully
inspirational in nature. Programs that rely on relationships between people to tell
the story rather than on sexuality and violence to tell a story, which I think is
increasingly what's on network television."
The brouhaha in recent years about the
supposed 8 p.m. family hour, reached a fever peak
a couple years back when some folks balked at the
myriad of sexual references on 8 p.m. shows like
NBC's "Friends."
Sagansky believes that 8 p.m. isn't friendly to
families. "Look at what's on 8 p.m. across the
board," says Sagansky. "'Melrose' and 'Dawson's
Creek,' 'Friends' and 'Beverly Hills' -- these are all
shows that are on at 8 p.m. and I don't believe that
anybody wants their kids watching that, or I don't
believe that anybody wants to watch it with their kids."
So what's a righteous family to do? Sagansky, of course, offers Pax TV as
the alternative.
"There's a huge under-served audience for this kind of programming, and it's
the programming that the networks were built on," he says. "It used to be all that
was available on networks largely in the early evening hours, but as the
emphasis became 'how do we attract the eyeballs?' and secondarily, 'how do we
attract young eyeballs' this sort of got left behind. The networks all claim to be
family friendly but if you look at their schedules it belies that."
Christians Only?
If you've had a chance to check out Pax TV's website, or as a member of the
press, received their PR kit, one of the first things you notice is the logo: a dove,
which, if early memories of religious Aunt Betty serve correct, is one of the
insignias of Christianity (it could also denote anti-war, peace-loving hippies, but
Paxson is likely not cut of the latter cloth).
Indeed some of Pax TV programs, like "It's a Miracle," a show about real-life
miracles which airs on Sundays at 9 p.m., sound very Christian. Sagansky even
describes it as "a sort of re-creation/reality show based on God's calling card."
Or what about the children's weekend block from 7-9 a.m. Saturday and 6-9
a.m. on Sunday called "Cloud 9," in which cartoons have 'wraparounds' (general
introductions, kind of like Elvira did for horror flicks) featuring teen "angels in
training" who run a TV studio from the clouds and are named Gabrielle, Michael
and Raphaella?
"We're totally non-denominational," insists Sagansky. "That's not to say,
though, that there's not spirituality in the programming, and I hope there is --
spirituality that everyone can enjoy."
He cites his and "Touched By An Angel" executive producer/creator Martha
Williams' work on the CBS hit show about angels as a non-denominational take
on spirituality. "The way Williams does it makes the show something that
everybody can enjoy - Jews, Moslems, Christians."
Aside from the dove, which is emblazoned on many a car in the church
parking lot across the street from my home, the word "Pax" of "Pax TV," is the
Latin word for Peace. So, the dove could indicate the symbol of peace.
Nevertheless, the company calls itself spiritual but non-denominational and we'll
let that go for now.
Other programs are, indeed, spiritual in a general sense, like "Dr. Quinn," like
"Life Goes On" (7 p.m.), and like "Neon Rider," which is a Canadian import about
a psychologist (Winston Rekert) who runs a ranch for troubled, inner-city kids.
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