Al Gore's cable channel aims for young viewers

Al Gore's cable channel aims for young viewers
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - A new cable channel headed by former Vice President Al Gore hopes to draw twentysomethings looking for news, information and features produced by young adults for young adults.Current TV, of which Gore is chairman, will launch Aug. 1 in 20 million cable and satellite households nationwide in place of 24-hour news channel Newsworld International.About 25% of the content will be produced by viewers, much of it submitted over the Internet using new, cheaper video and editing technology; all of it will be in short three- to seven-minute "pods" of content on topics including youth culture in Iran, parenting and spirituality."We want to be the television home page for the Internet generation," said Gore, who along with other members of the San Francisco-based channel made a presentation Monday afternoon at the Television Critics Assn. summer press tour at the Beverly Hilton.What Gore and his young staff are trying is an innovative blend of content and advertising that will merge high- and low-tech video along with advertiser-sponsored spots and three minutes of longform advertisements every hour. It wants to have a heavy Internet component, allowing viewers to vote on what they want to see on the channel as well as serve as a two-way conduit between viewers and programers. It's not a news network, though there is a collaboration with the search engine Google that provides reports every half hour on what Google users are looking for in popular culture and the issues of the day."At its core, Current TV will be a place where 18- to 34-year-olds can tune in to see what's going on in their world," said Laura Ling, who will appear on air and manage enterprise video journalism for Current. Ling has been a producer for Channel One News and has worked for ABC's "Nightline," PBS and NBC.While early stories about the channel highlighted Gore's role in the network, the former presidential candidate said there's no political tilt to Current."I think the reality of the network will speak for itself. It's not intended to be partisan in any way, not ideological in any way," Gore said.

Al Gore Dinner may signify return to political Arena

Al Gore Dinner may signify return to political Arena

The Davidson County Democratic Party is holding the first annual Gore Family Dinner later this month at the Millennium Maxwell House Hotel.
That’s Gore as in Al and Tipper.
The stated purpose for this dinner is to raise money for Democratic candidates in 2006, but it’s also the first time we’ve seen Al Gore politically back in his home state in some time.
Even though the Gores maintain a home in Belle Meade, Gore’s new cable channel has kept him on the move. The channel will be geared towards young people and will debut in August.
But Gore’s name is already out there for the presidential election in 2008. Enough time has elapsed since the Florida presidential election fight of 2000 for Democrats to put it behind them.
At the same time, Gore’s tremendous popularity is still intact and he would not be the divisive candidate that Sen. Hilary Clinton would be.
In the 2000 race, Gore didn’t carry his home state of Tennessee, a critical factor in his presidential loss. He wouldn’t make the same mistake twice.
The first annual Gore Family Dinner may have more implications than just raising cash for party candidates. Stay tuned.