OUTtv Greenlights Slate of New Originals & Renewals

OUTtv has unveiled a wave of new original commissions and returning hits, spanning documentary, panel entertainment, scripted comedy and drama.

The unscripted slate is led by The Hockey Player, a new feature documentary following Canadian ice hockey player Luke Prokop, who, in 2021, came out as the first openly gay player under NHL contract. It chronicles his journey navigating the intense pressures of professional hockey while challenging one of sports’ most traditional cultures.

The Hockey Player comes from Upper Canada Films and is directed by Jacqueline Doorey. Taylor Prestidge is a producer.

Also on the new slate is Gay vs. Straight, a panel series from British producers David Ian and Milli Productions. Hosted by Ian, each episode pits a gay team and a straight team against each other, with the captains going head-to-head in a battle of wits, stereotypes and lived experience as they debate, compete and challenge assumptions in front of a live audience.

Among the scripted titles on the slate are Pass The Salt, following a sheltered Muslim Iranian grad student who has to navigate the chaos of understanding her queer identity while managing her family’s expectations; Sweet As Sugar, centering on an eccentric university student whose financial insecurity, curiosity and libido lead her to try her hand at sugar babying; and One Baby, Please, following a laidback Arab immigrant and his uptight Barbadian husband, who fight the system, their friend and family to achieve their ultimate dream of having a baby.

The mockumentary workplace comedy Sexy Touch is part of the upcoming catalog as well. From Afro Viking Pictures, it follows a queer, bisexual couple who open a sex-positive shop aimed at breaking a Nova Scotian town’s prudish stigma around sexual expression.

Returning series include the reality show William’s Dark Room and the scripted drama Two Brothers.

“Our latest lineup of programming speaks to the diversity and depth of LGBTQ+ storytelling that we’re committed to championing at OUTtv, whilst also aligning with culturally resonant narratives and highlighting the impact of queer stories breaking into the mainstream,” said Philip Webb, COO of OUTtv. “From documentary to scripted comedy to panel entertainment, we’re continuing to back bold ideas from across the creative queer community and bringing viewers a lineup that’s ambitious, distinctive and built for a global audience.”