TNN (formerly the National Network [formerly the Nashville Network]) wants to become the FIRST NETWORK FOR MEN.
They want to change the name to SpikeTV. Spike Lee says when people think of Spike they think of him.
Do THEY???
Quoted
"TNN loses Spike appeal
Allison Romano
Broadcasting & Cable
6/20/2003 12:00:00 PM
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Viacom-owned TNN lost a second attempt in court Thursday to proceed with plans to change the channel’s name to Spike TV.
A panel of Appellate Division judges in New York City upheld an injunction granted to filmmaker Spike Lee last week to keep the channel from being renamed Spike TV.
TNN had been seeking to freeze the injunction.
The network, part of the MTV Networks group, plans to appeal the decision.
“We intend to appeal vigorously and still expect to be vindicated ultimately,” TNN said in a statement. “We firmly believe we have an absolute right to use the common word ‘spike’ as the name of our network.”
In the meantime, TNN is still morphing into “the first network for men” as planned.
A new block of adult animation, including Gary the Rat with Kelsey Grammar and Stripperella with Pamela Anderson, was slated to debut on schedule Thursday. For now, the shows are airing on The New TNN for men.
Lee alleges TNN is trying to profit off his name and likeness and does not want to be associated with the channel.
I always thought of Mr. Lee as being a putz, especially one sorely lacking in any talent beyond garnering publicity.
TNN should forge ahead and rename their network.
I’m not a lawyer, but one would suspect that the fact that he hasn’t been laughed out of court might suggest he has a case, as opposed to people who keep asking “why does he think he owns the name Spike,” which isn’t the issue.
I mentioned this in another thread, but at least they got rid of the black bar across the bottom for now. But considering some of the programming they have in mind and the intentionally smarmy way they’ve been promoting the change, maybe “The First Network For Cretins” would be more fitting.
But how cynical and paranoid am I that at first I thought the “Spike vs. Spike” injuction thing was a deliberate attempt to generate publicity? I saw a figure on several news and business shows as well as the NY Times that TNN was claiming they had lost $17 million in wasted promotions and advertising. But I still can’t feel sorry for them.