Al Gets Gore-TV

[kskiska]

The Observer has learned that former Vice President Al Gore and business partner Joel Hyatt, an entrepreneur and Democratic fund-raiser, will close the deal to pay around $70 million to French-owned Vivendi Universal this week, making them the owners of the tiny digital-cable channel Newsworld International (NWI), moving Mr. Gore from politics to mini-media-moguldom.

Mr. Gore’s group plans to transform the sleepy foreign-news outlet into a youth-oriented public-affairs channel, a jump-cut news network for the iPod set. Despite vociferous claims that the network isn’t attempting to be the liberal antidote to Rupert Murdoch’s Fox News, it’s difficult to ignore the obvious: It may be fair, it may be balanced, but it’s going to be owned by Al Gore.

Meanwhile, the other Al among media giants, media-political hybrid Al Franken, incipient Minnesota Democratic candidate and Bill O’Reilly tag-team partner, was launching his somewhat more overtly political media project, Air America Radio, the little liberal radio network determined to correct the Fox effect on American news. And Al’s pal Al was delighted.

"Fabulous!" Mr. Franken said. "I think it’s a good thing. I think Al Gore’s a good guy." He started laughing with pleasure just thinking about it. "And I think Al Gore is a smart guy who has tremendous curiosity, and I think he’s a person who likes ideas," he continued. "And I think, you know, from all I know from the people I’ve met in media, he’d be a good choice as someone to have a piece of it. I’m much more comfortable in his hands than a lot of people."

more…
http://www.nyobserver.com/pages/frontpage5.asp

[madfloridian]

1. I love that!

He has been planning the financing for that for so long. It has been his dream. Exciting.

[Melodybe]

2. I hope he gets it up and running before Nov.

Yay Al!

[Voltaire99]

3. Oh, no!

Jesus f'n Christ, it's the only watchable news channel on US TV. It has been running ITV and CBC, as well as French, German and Asian news broadcasts, along with a smattering of superbly produced Canadian documentaries. This was the only window on world news on the goddamn box. Gone now because Vivendi's epic mismanagement has led to this pitiful fire sale...

Mr. Gore’s group plans to transform the sleepy foreign-news outlet into a youth-oriented public-affairs channel, a jump-cut news network for the iPod set.

Goodbye content. Hello mediocrity.

[mouse7]

4. I'll miss CBC news, but welcome the new channel

I agree NWI was an excellent channel. I had it on my favorite button on the remote. The new channel will be a welcome addition to the cable spectrum, but it's too bad it had to replace a good news source.

[Zhade]

6. Worldlink is better, IMHO. But NWI is one of the better ones.

I've heard a lot of propaganda on it - too much use of stories from CBS News, for one - but it's one of the very few stations I'll watch while at work.

It's going to be interesting to see how my new boss (Murdoch - god help me) handles NWI. If it's too liberal (I have my doubts, alas) he might drop it from DirecTV's lineup. Maybe not, though - we've still got Worldlink, which shows news from Middle Eastern broadcasts (places like Syria, Iran, Israel, etc) and documentaries like "Afghan Massacre" and "Code Name Artichoke". I'm kind of worried that WL will go away, though.

Guess we'll see, eh? I just wish the deal hadn't gone through - it's bad for America that Murdoch owns DirecTV, and I abhor the thought of working to make that man richer.

Damn economy makes it so I can't go find a job at a company with a less fascist owner. :(

[bicentennial_baby]

9. Yep...thanks a lot Gore...

Take away the single best channel on Comcast Digital, and take away my only televised source of real foreign news. Fuck him.

[robbedvoter]

5. I get NWI! wait, it's Murdoch's Direct TV - so I won't

I guess by the time it gets to be progressive, it will be yanked off. The free market thingy...

[cally]

7. Good news!

:kick:

[SemperEadem]

8. Right on, Mr. President!!!!!

That's wonderful!!!!!!

[Ediacara]

10. KICK ASS AL!

[John_H]

11. They've got their broadcast real estate. I bet murdoch can't drop him.

I bet part of that deal w/ vivendi was the direc tv contracts. I'm not sure Direc TV can drop channels at will.