Gorevision
: Al Gore’s TV network, Indtv, is going public with a web page that describes the network and gets it half right:
TV can be better. Much better.
Want to see more than just reality television? Tired of news outlets that cover celebrity trials instead of tackling critical questions? Bored with shows that don’t challenge or engage you? So are we.
The sad reality of TV is that young adult viewers are coveted, but not really asked to participate. You can be characters, but rarely creators. We want to change all that. And with your help, we will create shows that are bold, irreverent, intelligent and relevant to the passions and experiences of our audience.
I say they got it half right because if they really wanted to be ballsy about this new network and how they present it, then the people (formerly known as the audience) wouldn’t just help create shows, they would create them.
Become the first network that hands over the network to the people: You create the shows and we watch, you speak and we listen. That should be what the net execs of the future say.
Or better yet, get rid of the first-second-third person separations altogether: This is our network. To paraphrase Jay Rosen: The people are the programmers and the network executives are the audience. The people don’t help the executives make TV; it’s the other way around: The executives help the people make TV. Now that would be new. That would be TV worth watching.
Also, I suggest they stop talking about “young adults;” that turns people into a demographic rather than democratic equals. Programming to a demographic nearly always ends up smelling like condescension or pandering. You don’t hear MTV speaking to young people; they simply air the music and programming young people like.
Full disclosure: Someone I know sent an email intro between me and Gore’s partner in this venture, Joel Hyatt. I sent him email offering to talk and share experience about citizens’ media and exploding TV and interactivity, just because I find this interesting and I really do hope they invent something new, media of the people. He never responded. OK, so I’ll do what bloggers do: I’ll share my advice, whatever it’s worth, right here, in public, and solicit yours, too. [via Lost Remote]
