April 04, 2005
Al Gore's Current will replace Newsworld International on 8/1
Newsworld International (NWI), the little-watched
Canadian-based international news network that formerly owned by USA Networks before their purchase by former Vice-President Al Gore, will go away on August 1, as Gore's brainchild, Current, will debut in it's place. Current will be a news network geared toward the 18-34 age-range with MTV-style short-form programming.
Al Gore and Joel Hyatt announced Current's new name and target start date today.
The new network will try to build on the audience of 20 million homes that NWI has from DirecTV, and digital cable deals on some Comcast and Time Warner systems.
Gore and Hyatt have recruited talent from the exsisting broacast universe to spin their form of news both in front of and behind the camera. On-air talent includes Gotham Chopra from the old Channel One network (and creator of the comic book Bulletproof Monk) and Laura Ling, also from Channel One.
Behind the camera, names include Chief Operating Officer Mark Goldman (former programming president of Channel One), Anne Kallin Zehren (former publisher of Teen People) & former ad executive Joanna Drake Earl.
Sounds like they're going to try to shove "news" in the form of blipverts down our collective throats (for any of you who remember the old Max Headroom storyline). I'm sure they'll fail miserably. Even more reason for me to get my Canadian satellite system - a Canadian dish will at least let me continue to watch CBC's The National and ITV's evening newscast.
I can't believe you watch the CBC on purpose! Maybe we could switch channel line ups.
Posted by: Dex at April 4, 2005 08:21 PMGotta see what the other side does -- besides, when they're not pontificating, "The National" is actually a half-way decent newsmagazine.
Posted by: mhking at April 4, 2005 08:38 PMMaybe they will show Futurama - the best thing to come of Al Gore (I think his daughter or neice or something worked on that show). His guest spots are some of the best stuff he has ever done in all his years of "public service."
I think he should leave politics and do voice-acting. He is pretty good at that. Wasn't very good at the former anyways.
Posted by: TheRoyalFamily at April 5, 2005 06:32 PMHooray! Hooray Gore!
Posted by: Lois at May 30, 2005 09:23 AMThe main reason I bought DirecTV was to get OLN for the Tour de France and to get better INTERNATIONAL news. I don't need more talking heads on TV, more myopic, moronic American centric programming that have the audacity to say they program "news" shows. I want news from OUTSIDE the US, I want alternative perspectives, I want Deutsche Welle on my television. I LIKE The National and Peter Mansbridge, I LIKE Bill Cunningham and his insightful stories. ARRRGGGHHHHH !!! Now what do we get? BLIPVERTS is right. I hope those executives explode.
-Frustrated with bad news in Los Angeles
Time to move to a new satellite provider.
Posted by: VIveMH at July 28, 2005 12:04 AMI think the newsworld international to be unique and necessary, especially to the American audience, who get only the news that American news channels consider not to be unpatriotic.
It is so refreshing to hear the perspective of other countries' views of world events.
For a long time I thought how much better Al Gore would have been as president. Now I think he should be put in a locked box with the key thrown away. Ruth Beazer
I paid extra to receive NWI on Comcast cable. Now, at least I can reduce my cable bill. Maybe I wasn't giving current.tv a chance, but after a week of some of the most banal programming I'd ever seen, I just wonder if it wasn't a way of limiting what news the American public gets. I'm disappointed in Al Gore.
Posted by: Steve at August 8, 2005 06:00 PM