Big Weird Al has got a new gig, which frankly is rather hard to describe other than that it is some sort of cable TV network for 18-34 year olds:
Gore TV has arrived at last.I get it now! It 'll run World's Stupidest Home Videos 24/7!
Al Gore announced yesterday that his long-awaited cable network -- dubbed Current -- will debut Aug. 1.
"Young adults have a powerful voice, but you can't hear that voice on television ... yet," said Mr. Gore, who has aimed the 24-hour news channel at 18- to 34-year-olds who are preoccupied with the Internet.
...
Speaking from Current's new San Francisco offices, Mr. Gore claimed he wanted to lend "a national platform to those who are hungry to help create the TV they want to watch."
Young viewers are "collaborators," he said, and have been invited to submit their own videos and ideas to the Web site (www.current.tv).
Here's another explanation:
Current's promoters say it will offer 24 hours of programming in a "unique, short-form content format," described as a synthesis of MTV and CNN.Sounds perfect for folks with Attention Deficit Disorder!
Audiences will not just be viewers, but "active collaborators," helping shape the network's content and fulfill its mission as "a TV platform where the voices of young adults can be heard."
"The Internet opened a floodgate for young people whose passions are finally being heard, but TV hasn't followed suit," Gore said. "Young adults have a powerful voice, but you can't hear that voice on television ... yet."
The network says it will cater to the "Internet generation's need for choice and control."
The short-form programming will be "the TV equivalent of an iPod shuffle," with "pods" of "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."
But here's the puzzle: while Al claims that this lead balloon is not political, the backers seem to be a role call of Democrat moneymen including some of the swells that manage the California public employees pension fund. I guess they just think it's a wonderful business opportunity. I sure would ante up a five spot, if I could invest in it, wouldn't you? I just hope the public employees aren't going to actually need their dough any time soon.
But there's someone I left out. Ole Sergey Brin, one of the founders of Google, showed up on the stage to praise the oddity and announce that Google was partnering with them. Time will tell, but why do I get the feeling that Google is developing a political agenda?
