Channel J
Manhattan Cable Television's Channel J was a public-access television channel broadcast from New York City from 1976 to 1990. It became famous and controversial for its lack of censorship and its depiction of marginalized communities and taboo themes. As a public access channel, every subscriber to cable television in Manhattan received the channel as part of basic cable service.
| Type | Public-access television |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Broadcast area | New York City |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Manhattan Cable Television |
| History | |
| Launched | 1976 |
| Closed | 1990 |
Channel J distributed The Emerald City, one of the first television series created by and for LGBTQ people. It also aired straight and gay pornography on shows such as Midnight Blue, The Robin Byrd Show, Men and Films, Blurbs, and Interludes After Midnight, a nude talk show. The channel's robust LGBTQ representation led to the saying "Gay on J."
Other shows that aired on Channel J include The Big Giveaway (New York cable television's first game show), The Live! Show, and The Ugly George Hour of Truth, Sex, and Violence.
Manhattan Cable Television provided free studio space for anyone to use on a first-come, first-served basis. Producers were simply required to pay an hourly rate of $50 for airtime (equivalent to $268 in 2023), with rights to resell the airtime to advertisers.
Channel J has been described as "a funhouse mirror of mainstream network programs" (The Wall Street Journal) and "the Wild West for adult entertainment" (New York Post).