Why Did Al Gore Kill Newsworld International?

[Placebo]

Okay, the best place on cable TV for news about our world has been erased...

and now this Current TV is in its place...

and what do I see?

a bunch of boring 20-something phonies yacking about how you can be individual and how cool their new network is...

commercials for hair care products...

and they're currently showing a "Current Hotties" segment about an Abercrombie & Fitch male model.

:eyes:

Let me be one of the first to say:

FUCK CURRENT TV. :grr:

[Fenris]

1. Nice one, Al.

:eyes:

[Jackson4Gore]

3. Oh get over yourselves

If you want to watch the news, watch MSNBC or CNN. NWI was weak in ratings and was canned because of that.

By the way, if you are not between 18-35, why are you watching Current anyway?

[Placebo]

4. I'm 19!

And I think it's bloody stupid.

[Jackson4Gore]

10. Then why watch?

You know, you can turn the station.

[senseandsensibility]

7. CNN? MSNBC?

You're suggesting these as news sources?

[1932]

17. I don't think it was canned. I think Gore's company bought it.

But I'm not sure.

[Eric J in MN]

29. It went on sale because it had low ratings.

It would have been gone by about now if Al Gore hadn't bought it.

I don't see why the CBC can't webcast 24 hours/day.

C-Span webcasts 24 hours/day.

[Fenris]

18. I'm 21, comrade.

MSNBC and CNN are garbage. NWI actually had journalism on it.

[Lars39]

25. That channel gave in-depth news segments.

And now appears that it has been replaced with segments geared towards those with attention deficits. The criticism is warranted.

[KittyWampus]

27. Funny, DU'ers NEVER Mentioned It Or Any Of It's Wonderful In Depth

news segments.

Been here on DU for quite a few years now... and nary a mention.

Or even video clip linked to.

So I think SOME DU'ers are full of .... and want to shit on something someone else created just because, in a twisted way, it makes them feel better about themselves.

[Moochy]

39. I feel better now

and say I remember posting about NWI here in 2002, and praising the IRAQ war coverage.

[Lars39]

44. It's been mentioned many, many times.

You've just been busy...elsewhere.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

49. Wrong, cryingshame

I have plugged it many, many times over the past four years, especially during the invasion of Iraq. I also expressed my dismay when I first heard that it was going to be killed off.

But then, I don't recall all your posts (or anyone else's) either.

[sysoprock]

26. Well...

I'm 24, I fall squarely within their demographic, and I think Current TV is retarded.

Seriously, this is supposed to be the progressive answer to FOX?

This is a joke.

[mcscajun]

32. Seriously, No.

It isn't supposed to be the progressive answer to Fox.

Gore was very upfront about his plans for the network for the last year. He made it very, very clear that this was not going to be a political effort, but a generational one.

CurrentTV isn't a partisan media effort. I'm Not in the demographic, but I'll echo what others have said here: give it time. Very few things work the first day. Give the channel a chance to build.

But if You're looking for a progressive newschannel, or indeed, any progressive channel on television, don't hold your breath.

[SeattleGirl]

41. Bravo!

People should give it a chance. Are those of you who are already dissing it this way with people you meet? "Oh, I don't like your ears so I don't like you." I'm am not in the demographic this channel is geared for, but will check it out anyway. I say give it some time, and if after awhile you still think it stinks, then fine. At least you will have more input on which to base a decision. I have not checked it out yet myself -- haven't had time. I do hope there is a place for feedback, though. For anyone who thinks it's not a good channel, perhaps you could suggest (not bash) changes that could make it more appealing. Just a thought.

Oh, Randi just said it is interactive TV done by the viewers. So there you go -- sounds like it is set up to reflect the target audience, so make your voices heard folks!

[Montauk6]

2. Where is it located????

I didn't even know it started yet.

[Moochy]

19. direct tv ch 366

the whole "pod" thing is dumb.

It reminds me of when Netscape launched their scripting language and named it JavaScript, Thanks to a deal with Sun who was keen on confusing the public.

Gore is on Apple's board right?

[Deja Q]

5. This is almost as bad asa being on apple's board of directors...

You know, the company that sells ipods with crap batteries and then dumps the defective ones in some 3rd world country's backyard!

For an "environmentalist", I've yet to hear from Al Gore about those allegations. But it's only business, of course.

[crikkett]

14. ooh, interesting!

thanks for the article.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

6. And when I checked in this morning, they were

rerunning the same segments they ran last night.

If they're going to be so "innovative" and "exciting," they need more content.

And those hosts are self-consciously hip, as well as being "upbeat" in a sort of kindergarten teacher way.

[Placebo]

11. exactly...

it's like watching one of those hour or two hour long Dell infomercials

[proud2BlibKansan]

35. It's off the air now

on my cable.

[Moochy]

8. Yup, Americans dont need real news, esp. Canadian news

We need edgy fluffed up hotties talking about how empowered we all are. GRAB A CAMERA! You think Current TV will be running any uncommercials?

And a "pod" progress meter since its just like a Media Player.

:thumbsdown:

[me b zola]

23. edgy fluffed up hotties + commercialism

Yeah, this will get the young adults to think critically about the issues :eyes:



Hey Al, this is the formula directed at the youth that the neo-fascists use to stay in power.

[Eric J in MN]

43. If you're against commericialism, support "Independent World Televison"

set to debut in 2007.

www.iwtnews.org

No commercials. No money from corporations. No money from the govt.

[ThomWV]

9. I Watched Last Night

As NWI went off the air with their final good by and the new network struck in with the introduction by some guy. He gave the premise of the network. He said there are no regularly scheduled shows, just 5-7 minute "Pods" of information. I thought to myself, what a pure and simple crock of shit.

[crikkett]

12. hang on, give it a chance.

Fox started with only a couple of lame shows, so did WB, and MTV only had a handful of videos.

Patience, they claim they're listening to their audience and they're experimenting with a new format.

It's going to be okay. It could take you by surprise.

[Benhurst]

13. I haven't been able to pick it up on my Stromberg-Carlson. Is

it broadcasting yet?

[KharmaTrain]

15. He Didn't Kill It...He Was An Investor For A New Buyer

I enjoyed NWI as well and miss it, but I'm not blaming Al Gore.

NWI couldn't make it go financially and this is what made them go down. The CBC first tried to find a commercial operator to save the network, but even they couldn't keep it from losing money.

I watched the first couple hours last night and thought I was watching the Independent Film Channel or some college film school project. But then I suspect that if it's getting such a panning here, it's not going to do well in the marketplace.

Let's see how the next couple months of this network goes. If can't get on cable systems and secure advertising, they'll be back in the same situation NWI was...and with less resources.

[Moochy]

20. I hope they adapt

Agreed, its silly to blame Gore for this. If NWI would have had better ratings it would have stayed around.

I hope they will react, since its now just sort of an informercial/feel-good format.

[KharmaTrain]

24. Call It Natural Selection

This network is taking a chance in reaching the younger 18-34 demographic that really doesn't have real news and information programming aimed at them other than MTV "News". I think the concept to build a channel to reach them is good, but I don't think this is the way to do it.

I knew there'd be disappointment when this network came on...I've been following it since it was announced last year. The venture is heavy on a board of directors and consultant...short on resources and talent. Sadly it's showing right out of the box.

I wish them luck and hope, as you do, they see this altruistic exercize won't be able to stand alone and other types of programming are aired.

[1932]

16. Read The Roaring Nineties by Joe Stiglitz.

He describes the process for passing the Telecommunications Bill.

Clinton gave Gore complete control over drafting that bill. Gore ignored all the pro-consumer arguments made by people like Stiglitz and, instead, chose all the pro-Wall St. proposals put forth by people in the Treasury Department.

What is he doing now? Making some money off the bill he created.

[Eric J in MN]

38. How does the Telecommunications Bill help Al Gore? nt

nt

[SeanQuinn]

21. I'm in that age group and I'm looking forward to Current.

With that being said, I've got it on my TV downstairs and am not watching it at the moment. It looked kind of informative and I can at least get all the news NWI gave me from CBC and BBC online or on NPR.

[wiley]

22. Give it time

Some people might relate to it.

:kick:

[Name removed]

31. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[LittleClarkie]

28. Way to give it a chance there

We've been crying for a progressive station. We get one. And we're still crying. Typical.

[mcscajun]

33. How many ways does Gore have to say it? This isn't a political effort.

Despite suspicions created by his former profession,
Gore promises the network won't be advancing a
political point of view.

"I think the reality of the network will speak for
itself," he told reporters in Los Angeles two weeks ago.
"It's not intended to be partisan in any way and not
intended to be ideological."

[parasim]

30. Agreed.

The thing that confuses me most, is, what the hell is so current about it?

- the website indicates that the shows on now are the same ones that were on last night.

- the little tagline at the top of the site that says "Current loading your taglines now" is loading the same taglines that have been cycling all day

- the design of the site and the channel looks like it's from 1998.

- the most recent blog entry on the website says "Current is live in like ten minutes."

other nitpicks...

- half of the links at the bottom of the website say "coming soon"

- the link to find out if your cable system has it, asks for personal info.

- there's no comment section on blog.

- the video quality on my HD television looks to be that of a webcast


Ok, so maybe I'm being overly critical, but I used to watch NWI as my only cable news show and now this thing is in it's slot... :grr:

[Eric J in MN]

36. Maybe they meant it's "current' because the audience should get a charge

out of the stories.

[parasim]

42. Good one.

I hadn't thought of that.

I'll have to give it a second look with that in mind... :)

[LSK]

34. they are discussing this on Randi right now n/t

[Moochy]

37. Randi's not a Malcontent

She's being sloppy and I got to give it to the caller for not getting mad. Anyone who doesnt like that NWI went away are malcontents for not loving Current.tv.

:eyes:

That being said, I'm giving it time, heck I may try to google bomb it with progressive story ideas!! :) j/k

Just everyone should realize it wasnt ever going to be a left-leaning political network, and I think alot of people's disappointment is not from some deep seated hatred of Gore, but rather a personal assesment of the programming, and a incorrect assumption that the network *was* going to be a progressive liberal network.

[David Zephyr]

40. I am in complete agreement with you.

Now we've lost Newsworld International.

Just great. Not!

[socalover]

45. Unfrikkinbelievable!!!!

News World International is gone, replaced by Gore's "Current", totally ridiculous. NWI was one of the only networks where international coverage was properly reported.

Didn't I read here recently that Murdoch took over NWI some months back?

Not sure if to blame Gore or Comcast but channel 287 is now "Current", sad indeed.

Between the death of NWI on cable and Wesley Clark working for Faux, I am not very hopeful for our future as a democracy and definitely think the brainwashing of America via the media will carry us into dictatorship.

[NYCGirl]

48. No, NWI was owned by Vivendi Corp., not Murdoch or his companies. NT

[SeveneightyWhoa]

51. I'm sorry, but I thought..

..that the only people mad about Clark working for FOX would be Republicans and Bush-bots?

[bluedonkey]

46. Get a grip!

I can't believe this is going on!Al Gore bought the station,because IT WAS FOR SALE!He didn't kill it,it was already dead!
He's been talking about what kind of programming it will show for months.No surprises here!

[NYCGirl]

47. NWI wasn't killed. It committed suicide because no one watched it.

It was for sale CHEAP because it had low ratings and lost money constantly.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

50. Or maybe it was "suicided"

Their promotional budget must have been about three cents, because I NEVER saw NWI promoted anywhere, not even in media that would be receptive to it, not on other stations owned by Vivendi, not in newspapers and not even in left-wing magazines.

In contrast, you may have noticed how BBCAmerica cross-promotes its new series on other stations owned by Discovery.

The only way anyone found it was by happening upon it accidentally or hearing about it from another fan.

[RetroLounge]

52. I flipped it on yesterday out of curiosity

Abercrombie & Fitch male model? WTF???

Nice move Al Gore... :puke:

RL

[lildreamer316]

53. BECAUSE HE"S GONNA RUN.

Sorry for the caps. Helloo. He's gonna run for some office. Centerisim; making sure he's not too parisan right now AND courting the young vote.
BRILLIANT.