By Nathaniel Luce
It's 2017, and Paramount has a tough decision on its hands. The company's LOGO network has cultivated RuPaul's Drag Race into a flagship program with a loyal and growing audience, but the network's size is limiting the show's reach. The CEO has made financial performance a top priority; relocating RuPaul's Drag Race to a larger station in the media giant's portfolio, like MTV or VH1, or even a streaming service, could help management achieve that goal.
A move away from a network that specifically targets the LGBTQIA+ community doesn't come without risk for the trailblazing show. Would the ratings suffer? Would the company have to alter the program to appeal to a wider audience, potentially alienating its original fans?
The decision also invites another question, one that goes beyond revenue projections and positioning: is America ready for drag queens to be featured on a major cable television network?
