The Curt Jester makes a good point today:

"I was thinking that Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ has also gone on to set another record. It is the only international blockbuster that gets zero television, cable, or subscription cable replay. While channels like HBO and others run the same movies over and over as far as I am aware TPOTC has never appeared on any of these channels.

Hmmm, I thought. I looked into it.

Turns out that Showtime, in fact, did recently show Mel Gibson's brilliant film. It also turns out that the Curt Jester's point is still pretty valid. Consider this, from the story linked above:

Apparently, Showtime was the only premium network to have much passion for Gibson’s film. Despite its box-office success, Home Box Office passed, saying it didn’t have room for the Icon Distribution Inc. title within its huge Hollywood library, according to HBO VP Jeff Cusson

Starz Entertainment Group LLC’s decision not to acquire the title was purely financial, senior VP Thomas Southwick said. He noted that with much of the potential audience for the film having already seen in the theater or owning the DVD, Starz felt it wouldn’t draw many new customers.

HBO doesn't have room for the movie in it's library? Oh, don't tell me they're still storing their films on video cassettes in a cardboard box under their CEO's desk! I mean, geez! Get a DVD player, HBO! DVDs are slim and easy to store.

They don't have room? Did they even try to come up with an excuse? Do you get the feeling that some Public Affairs underling got caught by surprise with that phone call?

And as for Starz and that network's unwillingness to show The Passion because it's already out on DVD... well, that makes sense. After all, Starz is currently devoted to showing films that didn't get a theatrical run or a DVD release. You know, underseen films like Con Air, The Alamo, and that long lost art-house gem Tank Girl.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not suggesting Christians boycott Starz or HBO. Showtime, after all, wouldn't be showing the film without it's commercial reasons.... so it's not like one premium cable network is more Christian than any other.

I just think it's interesting.