Google & Gore

This time, perhaps Al Gore will "re-invent" the internet, suggests an article by Joe Flint in The Wall Street Journal. Today, the former vice president will announce the launch of a new, youth-oriented cable channel called Current that he says will connect "the internet generation with television in a brand new way." One part of his plan is a segment called "Google Current," which "will report on what topics are generating the most interest on the web, using Google as its source." At the heart of the new channel, however, is "an unconventional approach to TV programming" where viewers can double as programmers.

In other words, viewers be invited "to express their opinions on news and current events" by submitting "short films, documentaries and home videos." A companion website will list "topics on which it wants material, such as reviews of movies, CDs or videogames; items on social trends; and advocacy journalism. Current will pay $250 for the videos it airs." The hope is that the participatory format will attract "viewers aged 18 to 34," which of course is "heavily sought by advertisers" but also "difficult for TV networks and newspapers to reach." David Neuman, who is Current's programming chief, says the new station is basically "a news and information channel," but that the format will be more like "MTV and VHI than Fox News and MSNBC."

Current's vp of sales and marketing, Anne Kallin Zehren, a former publisher of Teen People, says Current will mark a departure from traditional television model, which she describes as "a bunch of executives, probably a lot older, dictating what they think they should be watching." Al Gore and his investor group, which includes Joel Hyatt, purchased the channel, presently called Newsworld International, from Vivendi Universal SA for $70 million last year. Right now the channel reaches about 20 million homes, but Gore's group "hopes to boost its distribution to 50 million homes in five years," as part of the group's fledgling cable network, IndTV, indtv.tv.

Taken from Reveries “Cool News” weekday letter.