NYT gives Al Gore's "Current" network a good review --

[DeepModem Mom]

Betting a Network on Youths Who Think
By ALESSANDRA STANLEY
Published: August 22, 2005

It was impossible not to snicker a little at the notion of Al Gore creating a hip, youth-oriented cable network, and sure enough, Current TV is at first glance a punch line: MTV without the music.

But after only three weeks, Current is not a joke. It actually lives up to its billing as a slick, commercial cable network that gives its audience a voice in the programming....

***

...the cable network, which is aimed at viewers aged 18 to 34, is not a Democratic Party pep rally or a liberal alternative to Fox News. Mostly, it is a loop of short subject features, from 15 seconds to 5 minutes.

Outsiders' films are labeled VC2 (as in viewer contributed content squared) and are selected by viewers who looked at them on Current's Web site (www.current.tv) and voted online for their favorites. Only a few of these so-called podcasts are truly distinguished, but they all have one thing going for them: they look nothing like the glossy, overpackaged and bottom-feeding fare found on MTV or VH1, which are both owned by Viacom....

***

For all its rough spots and blog pretensions, Current is for-profit public-access television, an attempt to add grass-roots diversity to a television universe that is ever more controlled by a few media conglomerates. Current is easily mocked, but it is at least one youth-oriented cable network that does not dance to the tune of the 82-year-old Sumner Redstone, the chairman of Viacom.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/22/arts/television/22watc.html

[bryant69]

1. This is the future

Maybe One future anyway.

It's the logical continuation of the reality tv craze. They were able to get rid of the actors and the writers first, now they can get rid of the directors and the rest of the crew.

On the other hand, this gives people an access to an audience they would not otherwise have.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[GreenPartyVoter]

2. Cool

[Moochy]

3. They arent podcasts.. they are PODS

.... but that was the point of naming them pods, no? leeching some of the hip cool off the apple iPod and the ultrahip podcasts. Intentional confusion.

A question for those who like this network, how long do you watch it for, and do you use the website to plan out when you are tuning in?

The biggest problem I have with the format, its not a timeshifting paradigm since it cant be. the promise of the web and individuals chooseing what they want involves some active participation, and a computer. The passivity of TV is going to be a hurdle for them, i fear.

I really liked the segment on the FTAA protests in Miami.

[tinfoilinfor2005]

4. not on dish network yet

hopefully, soon.