Offering a glimpse of the independent network first announced at last year's National Cable & Telecommunications Association convention, former Vice President Al Gore and entrepreneur Joel Hyatt, joined by executives and on-air talent, revealed this morning that the name of the new venture, formerly known as INdTV, will be Current.I was kinda rooting for GOOOOORE!!! Vision.
The first national network created by, for and with an 18-34 year-old audience, Current will offer 24 hours of programming in a unique, short-form content format when it premieres August 1. Current will invite audiences to move beyond their roles as viewers to become active collaborators, encouraging them to help shape the network's content and fulfill its mission -- to serve as a TV platform where the voices of young adults can be heard.Apparently Gore is now appearing to have re-invented MTV. They don't mention music videos anywhere so apparently it'll be just like MTV, complete with left-wing funding. How much money are folks going to dump into 18-34 programming before they finally accept the fact that those folks don't vote?
"The Internet [which Algore invented - ed.] opened a floodgate for young people whose passions are finally being heard, but TV hasn't followed suit. Young adults have a powerful voice, but you can't hear that voice on television ... yet," said Gore, who serves as the network's chairman of the board. "We intend to change that with Current, giving those who crave the empowerment of the Web [which Algore invented - ed.] the same opportunity for expression on television. We want to transform the television medium itself, giving a national platform to those who are hungry to help create the TV they want to watch."You heard it here first, folks. It's DailyKos for TV... with fewer Hitler references, probably.
Promising a slate of programming that's smart, fun and fearless (as a truly independent network)...I wonder if that's more or less independent than MTV's Rock the Vote? It's also good to get that initial "we're independent" claim in there, too.
Taking its cues from their media consumption habits, Current will offer short-form programming in the TV equivalent of an iPod shuffle. Its "pods" will be 15-second to five-minute segments that range from the hottest trends in technology, fashion, television, music and videogames, to pressing issues such as the environment, relationships, spirituality, finance, politics and parenting, subjects that young adults can rarely find on television.Ah yes. We're the ADD generation, too. Nothing over 15-30 seconds, please. Otherwise I'm liable to start counting ceiling tiles because the dots are like oddly-shaped pepper grains on a silly white surface of the moon will be full again soon dinner time will be here and now and later is a chewy candy heh girls named candy are slutty I like class but I skipped my share in college is not a random item art project that's a collage silly...
Back to the article...
Guided by young hosts set in a club-like atmosphere...Then all you'll need are glow sticks and some ecstasy. Now that's entertaining TV. Of course that would make C-SPAN hot to watch, too, I suppose.
Current is led by a talented executive team with deep experience in television news, entertainment, business, finance, advertising sales, marketing and youth culture. They include: Al Gore (Chairman of the Board), the former two-term Vice President...And world's sorest loser (I sure hope this venture doesn't fail!!)
Joel Hyatt (Chief Executive Officer)...Nice one-two punch there.
Current is unleashing the creativity of young people, enabling their voice to be heard and their stories to be shared. What's possible just got a lot more exciting."And in debt. Let's hope they fare better than Air America. I, for one, can't wait... heh, there's 1476 dots on that ceiling tile.
