Dyke TV was founded and created by Ana María Simo, playwright and cofounder of Lesbian Avengers; Linda Chapman, theater director and producer; and Mary Patierno, independent film and video maker.
[1] Dyke TV also sold tapes, including quarterly subscriptions or best of compilations, giving out of network fans the opportunity to watch the show.
Founder Linda Chapman remarked, co-founder Ana Simo "was looking for a better way to promote Lesbian Avengers and this seemed really ideal.” solidifying Dyke TV's position as fundamentally activism oriented.
[5] Episodes were filmed, hosted and produced in New York City at the Dyke TV studio, but most segments were sent in from volunteer stringers and correspondents from across the country.
In line with the show's activist sensibilities, Dyke TV strove to report underrepresented cases of violence against lesbians, gay men and transgender people.
This included the firebombing of AIDS activist Dee Deberry's home in Tampa to the murder of Hattie Mae Cohens and Brian Mock in Salem, Oregon.
Notable features include filmmaker Cheryl Dunye, actress and performance artist Carmelita Tropicana and singer Ani Difranco.