Yesterday I wrote about the launch of Kelsey Grammer’s Right Network — suggesting that, while the idea of a conservative-values TV network is a winner with a huge potential audience, this particular exercise is plagued by an overly-obvious name, an unfortunate preoccupation with politics and inadequate distribution.

Regarding the distribution part of that equation, I wrote that “there are forces out there that can pull it off — if they only would
demonstrate the will (and business savvy).”

Here are some logical candidates who could step up to the plate:

1. News Corporation
    The company is, of course, controlled by Rupert Murdoch’ whose conservatism is well known and certainly reflected in his company’s ownership of Fox News and publications such as the Wall Street Journal and the New York Post.

   Yet, when it comes to the entertainment side of the ledger, conservative values are hard to find on his non-news TV assets.

   On the broadcast side, News Corp. owns the Fox Broadcasting Network (not known as a haven for traditional values) and MyNetworkTV. The latter operation was hastily thrown together in 2006 to provide programming for stations that had carried the late UPN network.  It began it’s life by offering American versions of the TV novellas that are popular on Latin American TV. That idea floundered  and these days the network mostly offers reruns of off-net shows liked The Unit and, of course, WWE Smackdown.

    On the cable side, the company owns the FX Network, home of edgy cable dramas liked Rescue Me and Sons of Anarchy.

    Now, one would think, that Mr. Murdoch could use at least one of these networks as a distribution vehicle for conservative-themed shows. The likely candidate would be MyNetworkTV which is hardly setting the world on fire in its current state. In fact, it might make sense for MyNetworkTV to strike a distribution deal to carry suitable Right Network programming.

2. Anschutz Film Group
    Owned by Philip Anschutz, the conservative billionaire who last year bought the Weekly Standard from Rupert Murdoch, also counts the family-friendly film studio/publishing house Walden Media (The Chronicles of Narnia) among his holdings.

    With some recent speculation regarding the potential sales of ABC and/or CBS, it would great if Anschutz ponied up the dough and transformed one of these networks into a profitable home of values-based entertainment programming. Some Walden properties would actually make pretty good TV series and/or TV movies.

3. Proctor & Gamble and Walmart
    The consumer product giants are on record for wanting more family-friendly venues to promote their products and, in pursuit of that goal, recently embarked on a joint project to produce and promote backdoor TV movie pilots for NBC.  Two of those films have aired, one (Secrets of the Mountain) to strong ratings. Despite very good ratings, however, NBC appears to have passed on a Secrets of the Mountain series — proving, once again, how key control of distribution is to getting values-based product to the market.

    Maybe P&G and Walmart could partner up on a TV network (i.e. buying ABC or CBS).

4. Comcast
    The cable operator is currently in the process (pending government approval) of buying NBC — providing a perfect opportunity to re-energize the struggling (former Must-See) network and chart a course toward creating an overall programming strategy with true mainstream appeal.

    I’ll have some thoughts on how it might do that on Monday.