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Gore's Current TV Live
So after all the hoopla, all the acerbic musing about whether we
need another 18-34 demographic TV channel, Al Gore's Current.tv is finally live and
broadcasting to select cable outlets around the country. I think some 20 million households are being covered, so most
likely you'll be able to see it.
Lots of articles were run this weekend about the effort, including this one in the
New York Times, and this one in the
LA Times. All the speculation so far about the channel's
success has been more or less positive. Optimists are crossing their fingers that the channel will indeed usher in an
entire new genre of compelling, user-created TV that takes us away from mainstream tripe. But critics are saying the
channel is likely to be the "same ol' same ol'" in an already over-saturated marketplace. Personally, I hope the former
is true.
Why? Because I really admire what they are doing. In fact, as folks here may remember, I submitted
a video to them that became a finalist in their
user-created content contest. It was tremendous fun, and the piece will supposedly air on TV sometime today. In fact, I
was psyched to see that Time
Magazine this week mentioned my piece, calling it, "a gripping, sensitively shot video of Indian
families cremating their loved ones on the Ganges". That's positive, right?
The Current Web site is completely new as well, and has a much nicer look and feel than the earlier iteration, whose color scheme was kind of an electric vomit. They break out what's on and what's coming up on the channel, and provide a nice overview of their "pod" system (one wonders what Apple think about that name?) which breaks out stories into themes like "Current Parent", "Current Soul" and so on.
Everyone give this new channel a look. Find out if it's on in your area and watch it. Or at the very least check out
the Web site and give it a once and twice over. And if you've got some interesting ideas, submit them. You never know,
you might become a star.
.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Willy Dec 18th 2005 5:08PM
I tried to find out if it would be broadcast in my area, and they wanted me to fill out reams of paperwork (name, birthdate, etc). I get that they want to learn who's using the site, but c'mon! Annoyed, I left. However, I found out elsewhere that it's on 366 for Direct TCV users; starts tonight at 9pm.
Jon Rawlinson Dec 18th 2005 5:08PM
Awesome. Cant wait to see it. By the way, congrats on the quote in Time!
Erik Olsen Dec 18th 2005 5:08PM
Thanks, Jon. And I love your site. I'll post about it again, for sure. Killer trip.
Willy Dec 18th 2005 5:08PM
Erik -- I've had Current TV on almost constantly for the last three evenings. My wife has even asked me what's going on with my viewing habits. I told her I was waiting to see Erik's piece on India.
Well, guess what? Tonight I saw it, and I really enjoyed it. It was much smarter and more thoughtful than many of the other things I've seen on so far (although I've enjoyed several of the items, especially the piece on base jumping). Anyway, congratulations!
BTW - When do we learn if you were chosen as THE finalist?
Erik Olsen Dec 18th 2005 5:08PM
Thanks, Willy. Yeah, it was interesting to see it myself. I'm following closely how they do things over there...it seems pretty hit or miss. Some of the stuff is great, some of it kinda lame. But I applaud the effort and hope they'll hang on.
Willy Dec 18th 2005 5:08PM
Lame -- The hosts. They're all oddly, alienly good-looking and plastic. And they sound fake when they say, "Dude, I'm really stoked about this next piece..."
Lame -- The montages between the clip are too long.
Cool -- Fewer commercials, it seems. I think they play one commercial every 6 or 7 minutes as opposed to 3 or 4 every 15 minutes. Seems like less.
Cool -- That they feature new stories from independent voices and they ask for viewer submissions. I'm going to raft the Grand Canyon for 6 days in September, and I think a short video report of the trip would be right up their alley. Mainstream media would condescend to these people with an Aren't-You-Cute? Attitude. CurrentTV, on the other hand, really tries to showcase talent, quirks, eccentricites, different approaches. Dude, I'm really stoked about what's coming up for them... Oh wait...
Erik Olsen Dec 18th 2005 5:08PM
Well, they'll take all the comments along these lines to heart, I think, and make adjutsments. They'll bring in some folks who are a little more natural looking and who will (hopefully) be more reserved about using the word "cool". The thing is when you look at the actual stories, they're quite good, and I think they'll get better as they find a group of producers (!) who they can turn to for interesting pieces not covered by the mainstream...and that was kind of the point, right?
Cid Dec 18th 2005 5:08PM
I've seen your "pod" and I think it's awesome.
I'm sick and tired with the "professionals" in the old-fashioned media so I'm glad Current gives talented people like you a chance for greater publicity. I didn't know about you before but now I would like to see more of your works on TV.
Keep up the good work,
Cid
Kristina Wong Dec 18th 2005 5:08PM
About Current TV using the word "pod"...probably sublimal as Al Gore is also on Apple's Board of Directors. Couldn't hurt to make the word ubiquitous, right? And congrats on your piece...I didn't see it, let alone Current TV yet, but sounds like it was a quality piece.
Pam Dec 18th 2005 5:08PM
Direct TV has it!
George Parker Dec 18th 2005 5:08PM
Yeah... They have "nice stuff"... Trouble is, they keep showing the same "nice stuff" over and over. I think I understand the problems with teenage suicide in Japan now... Plus, the 20th time you've seen the base jumpers, it loses some of the thrill. As for Deepak Chopra... Give me a break
Erik Olsen Dec 18th 2005 5:08PM
It's got a ways to go, but they'll work out the wrinkles. I don't think people quite get how revolutionary and wonderful this idea is. Allowing producers to come up with their own stories for broadcast on national television. It's pretty amazing. I woirked at a big network for five years and getting your own ideas on was next to impossible, let alone something you actually shot. And of course, you'd never get to be IN anything you did. They hvea something here, mark my words. Let it gestate, evolve, mature, ripen. I'm going to post on the virtues of Current one of these days soon. People need to "get" how cool it is (or can/will) be.
Bill Elsey Dec 18th 2005 5:08PM
My wife and I can't stand Current TV. We used News World International as a source of Canadian and world news unfiltered through the American media. Now we have no option.
Kelsey Highfill Dec 18th 2005 5:08PM
I wish you could have had your little play station without ridding the air waves of NWI.
I was a big fan of NWI, the station you and your group bought out. I have tried to give Current TV a chance but am not much impressed with your programming…perhaps because I’m not between the ages of 18 and 35. I am saddened by the removal of practically the only true international news and documentaries we in the United States were able to view. Our own news media seems to cover international stories only when they somehow involve the United States. NWI programming was truly an opportunity for U.S. citizens to gain another perspective by viewing news reports from England independent TV, German Journal, China, Canada, and Japan. Then there were those wonderful documentaries by a Canadian Vietman-era correspondent. We could learn in 30 minutes something about a country’s history and position in the world today. U.S. media serve to keep us isolated from the rest of the world’s views.
It’s hard for me to fathom that you could, after comparing Current TV programming with NWI programming, come to the conclusion that you have provided anything great and new. I hope being “cool” with whatever demographics you are trying to reach was worth it.
Jeremy Dec 18th 2005 5:08PM
i saw your piece off the current tv website. It was great. Do you have more planned?
John Hopper Dec 18th 2005 5:08PM
I have watched it and I think it is interesting, but I'm not sure I'd stick around for long. I'm not sure what it's trying to be. But the stories some of them are interesting. We'll see what happens, I guess.
Erik Olsen Dec 18th 2005 5:08PM
Dude, I know nothing about NWI. That's a question for them. As for the naysayers and harsh critics...
Again, give the channel a chance. MTV, VH1, HBO...all these channels experienced growing pains. The fact is, Current is trying to accomplish something quite extraordinary, nay, revolutionary, and I don't think people quite get it. I don't think they grasp how amazing it is that average Joes can get their own ideas on TV. Everyone has a story to tell, so tell yours! I worked at ABC for over five years...the idea of having someone send in their own edited story and to have it air is about as likely as having them do the news in Aramaic. Unless, of course, the footage involved celebrities in compromising situations or if they happened to be present with a camera at a train or plane wreck.
Pushing all this along, too is the spread of cheap digital cameras and viable editing systems like Final Cut Pro and even imovie which have created new opportunities for people to actually produce broadcastable cut stories. So we are in a very exciting time, and Current is a very exciting phenomenon. I urge people to do what they can to keep it around. Appreciate its rawness, celebrate its authenticity, and revel in its break from a world dominated by media giants.
Clinton Dec 18th 2005 5:08PM
I had never heard of NWI either and honestly getting news from the TV is not a good idea. That's what the internet is for :) Check out Watchingamerica.com for a good source of news not filtered through the "american media". Besides the very problems implied with the american media is what this channel is trying to overcome to a degree by allowing the people who are, in theory, supposed to benefit from the media and its information role in society the chance to have a greater level of participation. Its in part about the core values of democracy.
I do agree that they need to change the presenter style. Way too "fake zen" to take seriously if you ask me.
Clinton Dec 18th 2005 5:08PM
I had never heard of NWI either and honestly getting news from the TV is not a good idea. That's what the internet is for :) Check out Watchingamerica.com for a good source of news not filtered through the "american media". Besides the very problems implied with the american media is what this channel is trying to overcome to a degree by allowing the people who are, in theory, supposed to benefit from the media and its information role in society the chance to have a greater level of participation. Its in part about the core values of democracy.
I do agree that they need to change the presenter style. Way too "fake zen" to take seriously if you ask me.
Glenn Roald Dec 18th 2005 5:08PM
Erik, I agree with you whole heartedly. I don't think people quite understand how ervloutionary Current TV is. Some of the stuff works, some doesn't, but the fact they open up the airwaves to the common man, er, producer, is startling. And about time! BTW: your Varanasi piece was superb. Are you producing for them again?