Until now, Canada's gay and lesbian television-viewing audience has had to make do with an episode of Will and Grace here and bit of Queer as Folk there.

Although traditional broadcasters and some specialty channels have increasingly been adding gay and lesbian programming to their schedules, none have offered what PrideVision is promising.

"It's a home that the audience can go to and they know they'll see programming that's reflective of their lives," Bruce Glawson, vice-president of programming, told globeandmail.com.

The channel, which debuts Sept. 7, bills itself as the world's first television network for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered viewers, and its schedule runs the gamut from more run-of-the-mill lifestyle programming - car care and finance shows - to racy late-night fare offered on Frisky Fridays and Steamy Saturdays.

"Fortunately, the terms of our licence are really very inclusive of all genres of programming pretty well, so it's quite broad," Mr. Glawson said. "You get a little bit of everything."

While some networks - such as specialty channel Showcase - have been turning over bigger parts of their programming day to gay-and-lesbian themed shows, Mr. Glawson said PrideVision - owned by Toronto-based Headline Media Group Inc. - remains unique because it takes it further.

"I love what Showcase has done and it's wonderful," he said. "I think what's different is we're able to offer programming that's going to be of interest to our audience 24/7. And that just doesn't exist."

Some PrideVision programs - like the National Film Board documentary When Love is Gay - have yet to be broadcast in Canada because they have been considered "too risqué" by some other channels, he said.

"That's the great thing about the network," Mr. Glawson said. "Finally there is a home for programming like this that hasn't existed before. It's a great opportunity for the audience as well as filmmakers."

PrideVision's signature show is its current affairs program, Shout. Produced by the network, it is a weekly half-hour news magazine show with a national focus hosted by Michael Serapio, Rachel Giese and Guy Gagnier.

"It's a real mix of everything," Mr. Glawson said. "They'll deal with issues of interest to our community, pop culture, artists who happen to be coming through Canada, lots of profiles of unsung heroes in Canada."

The show, he said, will also take on tougher challenges with harder-edged stories on topics such as spousal benefits, same-sex marriage and HIV.

Also produced specifically for the network, Best of the Fests, which presents Canadian films that have been screened at North American gay and lesbian film festivals, and Shorts for All Sorts, highlighting the work of Canadian gay and lesbian filmmakers.

In terms of international offerings, PrideVision has a number of programs that have the potential to become what Mr. Glawson referred to as "crossover hits," meaning they would be embraced beyond the network's core gay and lesbian audience.

One such show is the critically acclaimed British series, So Graham Norton, which defies classification. Ostensibly a talk show - guests include Joan Collins and Dolly Parton - it also serves as a showcase for the sharp humour of its gay stand-up comic host, Graham Norton.

"It's a personal favorite," Mr. Glawson said. "He's an openly gay stand-up comedian who does a talk show, and it's just brilliant. The show was a huge hit in England."

"I think this show has a huge potential to be a crossover hit, not just appealing to gays and lesbians but beyond our community, as with a number of our shows."

Another, he said, is Metrosexuality - from Britain's Channel Four - which is a six-part drama series that made waves when it first aired for its up front portrayal of life in London's Notting Hill neighborhood.

Of course, included in PrideVision's programming stable - which took the better part of this year to pull together - is the landmark series Queer as Folk. The network offer audiences both the British and U.S. versions of the show, which follows the lives of a group of close-knit gay men and lesbians.

"We're launching in September with the original U.K. version, and then in January we will be showing the first season of the American Queer as Folk," he said.