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Current TV
HauptsitzSan Francisco, Kalifornien
Ownership
OwnerAl Jazeera Media Network

Current Media, LLC, known simply as Current, is a media company that broadcasts the channel Current TV. The company, initially named INdTV Holdings, was founded in 2002 by former U.S. Vice President Al Gore and businessman Joel Hyatt.[1][2] Current TV went on the air in the U.S. at midnight EDT on the morning of August 1, 2005.

Current Media is owned by the Qatar-based broadcaster Al Jazeera Media Network, which announced its acquisition on January 2, 2013.[3][4][5] Al Jazeera has stated that it plans on shutting down the Current TV channel, retaining its off-air staff and launching a new New York-based channel called Al Jazeera America using Current's distribution network.[6] It also plans on scrapping the channel's programming lineup and brand.[7] Previously, Gore, Hyatt, and Ronald Burkle each held a sizable stake in Current, and Comcast and DirecTV each held a smaller stake.[5][7] Al Jazeera America plans to launch and replace Current on August 20, 2013.[8] Bill Press stated on his radio show that August, 15th 2013 will be the last day of Current TV programing.

History

2002-2006: Launch

After the 2000 U.S. presidential election, Gore and Hyatt wanted to start a conventional cable news network. The plan evolved into making a viewer-generated channel aimed at an audience demographic age 18–34.

On May 4, 2004, INdTV Holdings, a company co-founded by Gore and Joel Hyatt in 2002,[1] purchased Canada-based cable news channel NewsWorld International (NWI) from Vivendi Universal for the express purpose of launching their new network with the space on some digital cable lineups (and DirecTV) that NWI had. The new network would not have political leanings, Gore said, but would serve as an "independent voice" for a target audience of people between 18 and 34 "who want to learn about the world in a voice they recognize and a view they recognize as their own." Other reports said that Gore hoped that the channel would help change the tide of "consolidation and conglomeratization" of the media by leading the change to "democratization." The news network was said to be a combination between CNN, MTV, and blipverts. In the summer of 2004, Gore and Hyatt announced their new network, named INdTV, with a series of public recruitment events. The first of these events was held at the Bambuddha Lounge in San Francisco's Tenderloin, on August 25.

On April 4, 2005, the former vice president and business partner Hyatt announced that they had changed the name of the network from INdTV to Current. The new television network launched in the United States on August 1, 2005.

2006–2008: Expansion and Yahoo! partnership

On September 20, 2006, Current TV started a short-lived partnership with Yahoo! to supply topic-specific "channels" to the Yahoo Video website. Called the Yahoo! Current Network, the first four channels, "Current Buzz," "Current Traveler" "Current Action" (about action sports) and "Current Driver" quickly became the most popular videos on the Yahoo Video web site. There were Yahoo branded segments on Current TV, similar to the Google Current segments. Additional web channels were planned. However, on December 6, 2006, Yahoo and Current TV announced the end of their relationship.[9] Madeline Smithberg, co-creator of The Daily Show, was the Executive Producer for this project.

On October 6, 2006, a deal was announced with BSkyB to create a localized UK and Ireland version of Current TV for its Sky satellite service.[10] This version went live on March 12, 2007 on Sky channel 229 (later moving to 183) and Virgin Media channel 155.[11] In 2007, Current TV started video-on-demand service on Virgin Media. Current TV was also added to the Freewire IPTV network on channel 178. The channel closed on March 11, 2012 following BSkyB's withdrawal of support and a failed rescue attempt from Current TV.[12][13]

On January 31, 2007, Current TV launched on Dish Network.

Current TV Control Room

On September 16, 2007, Current TV won an Emmy award for Best Interactive Television Service at the 59th Primetime Emmy Awards. This was the first year in which this Emmy was presented during the primetime broadcast. The award was presented by Masi Oka of Heroes fame and MySpace founder Tom Anderson (through their own computers), and Al Gore and Joel Hyatt accepted the award on their behalf.[14]

On February 8, 2008, it was announced that the network would also available on the Italian Sky Italia satellite digital platform on channel 130. According to the official website, broadcasts started on May 8, 2008.[15] On June 6, 2008, it was announced that the network would also available on the Italian 3 DVB-H mobile operator, free of charge.[16] The channel closed on July 31, 2011 following failed distribution renegotiations with Sky Italia.[17]

Current TV partnered with Twitter for the 2008 Presidential and Vice-Presidential debates, allowing viewers watching the Current TV version of the debates to post live on Twitter and have their opinions shown on screen, live.

2009–2010: Financial troubles and IPO plans

On January 28, 2009, Current Media Inc. announced that it intended to launch an initial public offering on the NASDAQ to raise $100 million USD. However, it announced in early April that it was scrapping the plan due to "current market conditions" and that no securities had been sold and all activity regarding the proposed IPO had been discontinued.[18]

Current TV Booth in San Mateo 2008

In June 2009, Current TV received approval from the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission to establish a Canadian version of the channel, which would be a joint venture of Current TV and the CBC, with the CBC taking 80 percent ownership. The channel would be required to feature at least 35% Canadian content. The new service was planned to begin in fall 2009, pending approval by the Treasury Board,[19] but those plans were put on hold later that year.[20]

In July 2009, Current TV made a series of changes due to financial reasons and the failed IPO. CEO Joel Hyatt resigned to a new vice president position and was replaced by Mark Rosenthal, the former COO and president of MTV Networks, with a plan to reform Current TV to more traditional programing. Lisa Derrick of The Huffington Post predicted that Current TV would undergo a transformation similar to MTV's transformation, during Mark Rosenthal 1990s tenure at MTV, from MTV's multi-minute music video format to longer 30 minute/1 hour reality television programing. Ultimately its assorted pod format was discontinued in lieu of traditional 30 minute block programing. Some elements of the pod format survive inside the themed 30 minute programing. In July 2009, 80 in house staff were laid off, about 25% of Current's staff, and plans were announced to air licensed TV series and films and other content that is not produced by Current in-house or by the VC2 system. Andrew Wallenstein of The Hollywood Reporter predicts Current will make its targeted demographic a decade older from early 20s to early 30s, and add more less-serious entertainment programing to its then mostly news and reality/documentary format.[21][22]

In late 2009, after the announcement of the Comcast-NBC merger, Comcast Corporation submitted a filing to the US Securities and Exchange Commission that revealed it owned a ten percent stake of Current Media LLC.[23] Current received three Emmy nominations in the news and documentary category in 2009.

In mid 2010, Current's Vanguard journalism program's piece, Oxycontin Express received a Peabody Award, a first for both Mariana van Zeller the journalist behind the story and Current. Current has also received a Headliner award.[24] Around this time, a report by Reuters on the network's ongoing problems suggested that it could have blossomed into something akin to YouTube's video-sharing platform, MSNBC's role as a left-leaning news outlet, or even the Oprah Winfrey Network. "In retrospect," the report concluded, "what's distinctive about Current's troubles was that Gore's vision had so much potential. It's uncanny how close he was to capitalizing on several key trends that transformed the media world, only to watch others do so."[22]

2009: North Korea incident

On March 17, 2009, North Korean military detained two American journalists, Euna Lee and Laura Ling, working for Current TV, after they allegedly crossed into North Korea from China.[25] On March 30, North Korean state media reported that preparations were under way for indictments and a trial, saying, "The illegal entry of US reporters into the DPRK [Democratic People's Republic of Korea] and their suspected hostile acts have been confirmed by evidence and their statements."[26] The two faced trial on June 4.[27] On June 8, Reuters reported that the two reporters were found guilty of illegal entry and committing "hostile acts against the DPRK" and subsequently sentenced to twelve years of hard labor.[28] On August 4, BBC News reported that Lee and Ling were pardoned amidst a visit by former U.S. president Bill Clinton to North Korea.[29]

2011 major format changes

Current TV logo 2005–2011
Current TV logo 2011–present

Beginning early in 2011, Current TV started implementing major changes in programming and personnel, beginning with the hiring of Keith Olbermann. To signify these changes, Current unveiled new imaging and a new logo in May 2011, designed by branding firm Wolff Olins.

On February 8, 2011, Keith Olbermann announced that he had been hired to host a new primetime show on Current TV and was named Chief News Officer with an equity stake in the network. In April 2011, Olbermann announced that his nightly program would retain the same title from his time at MSNBC. On June 20, 2011, Countdown with Keith Olbermann relaunched on Current TV. The program aired Mondays through Fridays at 8 p.m. Eastern Time and was based out of New York City. Olbermann stated on The Colbert Report that Current TV was planning to make a nightly news segment consisting of his show and others that will launch later on Current TV.

In August 2011, Current announced that it had hired former CNN Bureau Chief and SVP of Programming David Bohrman as the networks new president. Bohrman later announced that after filling out its prime-time lineup, Current would also gradually begin shifting towards "a full daytime, morning schedule of news, information, analysis, conversation, context – all based on the events of the day" from an independent, progressive perspective.

On September 15, 2011, Current also announced that it had hired Shelley Lewis, former CNN and PBS executive producer, as executive vice president of programming.

On September 20, 2011, the network announced that Cenk Uygur of the internet-based TYT Network would be launching a TV edition of the internet news program The Young Turks in the fourth quarter of 2011. The program is broadcasted from Los Angeles and airs weekdays at 7 p.m. Eastern Time. The program premiered on December 5, 2011.

On September 21, 2011, network president David Bohrman named Jason Odell as executive vice president of technology. Odell has an extensive career at both CNN and NBC, most recently known for inventing and implementing CNN's "holographic" technology during election coverage.

On October 12, 2011, the network announced that it had hired former Michigan governor Jennifer Granholm to host her own weekday prime-time program The War Room with Jennifer Granholm. The program launched on January 30, 2012 at 9 p.m. Eastern Time. It's now called The War Room with Michael Shure.

2012 major format changes

On March 5, 2012, Current announced an upcoming weekday morning block of programming with TV-friendly simulcasts of The Stephanie Miller Show (under the name Talking Liberally: The Stephanie Miller Show) and The Bill Press Show (under the name Full Court Press: The Bill Press Show).[30] This was interpreted by Mediaite's Political Editor and White House Correspondent Tommy Christopher as an attempt to compete against MSNBC's Morning Joe (which airs from 6AM to 9 AM).[31]

On March 30, 2012, Current announced that Keith Olbermann had been fired and would no longer host a show on their network. A statement released by network founders Al Gore and Joel Hyatt explained the network's "values are no longer reflected" in Current's relationship with Olbermann, and that former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer would begin hosting Viewpoint effective immediately in the time slot previously occupied by Olbermann.[32]

On April 18, 2012, Current announced that California Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom will host a show titled The Gavin Newsom Show while concurrently serving as lieutenant governor.[33]

In June 2012, it was formally announced[34] that Joy Behar would be getting another talk show, Joy Behar: Say Anything!,[35] premiering September 4, 2012[35] on the Current TV network. Its content was expected to be in line with her previous HLN series The Joy Behar Show.[36] Before the new show's launch, Behar began acting as fill-in host for Eliot Spitzer's Current TV talk show, Viewpoint with Eliot Spitzer, starting on July 18, 2012.[37]

2013: Acquisition by Al Jazeera

On January 2, 2013, Al Jazeera Media Network announced that it had purchased Current Media, LLC and would be closing down the Current TV channel while launching a new American news channel titled Al Jazeera America using its distribution network.[38][39] Prior to the sale, it was believed that Al Gore and Joel Hyatt each owned approximately twenty percent of Current Media, business magnate Ronald Burkle owned about twenty-five percent, and Comcast and DirecTV each owned more than five percent. The terms of the deal were undisclosed.[40] According to Forbes and The New York Times, the purchase was about $500 million USD.[7][41][42] The purchase by Al Jazeera occurred after an attempt by TheBlaze to purchase the media company was rejected in 2012.[43][44]

Immediately after the announcement, Time Warner Cable, which broadcasts Current TV to nine million American homes, announced that it would be dropping the channel,[7] but stated that it would consider airing Al Jazeera America.[45] It was previously reported in April 2012 that Time Warner had been considering dropping the channel due to ratings.[40] Al Jazeera America is still expected to replace Current TV on Comcast, Dish Network, Verizon, DirecTV and AT&T.[42]

Defending his decision, Current TV chairman Al Gore wrote: "I am incredibly proud of what Current has been able to accomplish. But broadcast media is a business, and being an independent content producer in a time of increasing consolidation is a challenge."[41] In a news release, Al Jazeera Director General Ahmed bin Jassim Al Thani said, "By acquiring Current TV, Al Jazeera will significantly expand our existing distribution footprint in the U.S., as well as increase our newsgathering and reporting efforts in America [...] We look forward to working together with our new cable and satellite partners to serve our new audiences across the U.S."[39] The Al Jazeera network also expects to increase its U.S. based staff to a total of more than 300 employees and retain most of Current's staff.[39]

In addition to ending the Current TV channel, Al Jazeera plans on scrapping the channel's programming lineup, as well as its brand.[7] On January 2, Cenk Uygur, host of the weekday Young Turks with Cenk Uygur, stated that the Current TV show would continue for at least three months and he is open to staying with the new network.[46] That same day, Jennifer Granholm, host of The War Room with Jennifer Granholm, announced that she would leave the channel as a result of the acquisition,[47] as did Gavin Newsom, host of The Gavin Newsom Show, who was reported to have planned on leaving the network earlier.[48] On Sunday, January 6, Eliot Spitzer announced that he had left the network and his weekday show Viewpoint with Eliot Spitzer.[49] It was announced in an article in Politico that Bill Press doesn't expect to continue his show with Al Jazeera once the change officially takes place. Press also doesn't expect Stephanie Miller to continue her show on Al Jazeera, but Cenk Uygur wants to continue with Al Jazeera if given the chance. Press said he would look for TV coverage to replace Current but expected having trouble finding a replacement.[50] On August 1st Press announced that his show's simocast would move to Free Speech TV on September 3rd.[51] In a 22 January article in Politico, Al Jazeera spokesman Stan Collender said the network's launch would be pushed back to within six months, and would create "multiple hundreds of new jobs" and new bureaus around the country. They announced the hiring of 105 total jobs for the new network, with 98 in New York and seven in Washington D.C.[52] On July 3, 2013 Ali Velshi announced on his Twitter account that the network would replace Current on August 20, 2013.[8] Bill Press stated on his radio show that August 15th will be the last day of Current TV programing.

Programmierung

Show time (ET) Program Host Standort Description
6a-9a Full Court Press with Bill Press Bill Press Washington, D.C. Live simulcast of The Bill Press Show (political commentary)
9am-12pm Talking Liberally Stephanie Miller Los Angeles Live simulcast of The Stephanie Miller Show (political satire)
6pm-7pm The War Room with Michael Shure Michael Shure San Francisco Politics-based analysis and commentary program. Hosted by Jennifer Granholm until February 7, 2013.
7pm-8pm The Young Turks with Cenk Uygur Cenk Uygur Los Angeles TV edition of the popular internet news program.
8pm-9pm Viewpoint John Fugelsang New York City Nightly news and commentary program. Hosted by Eliot Spitzer until January 6, 2013.
9pm-10pm Joy Behar: Say Anything! Joy Behar New York City Nightly general talk/interview program

Other programs

  • Vanguard is Current's in-house journalism department, consisting of a team of young producers and correspondents who specialize in enterprising reporting on global issues.

Prior programming

Hosts

References

  1. ^ a b "Company Overview of Current Media, LLC". Bloomberg Businessweek. Retrieved January 5, 2013.
  2. ^ Stelter, Brian (December 29, 2011). "An Election Year Dawns Without Keith Olbermann". The New York Times.
  3. ^ "AL-JAZEERA BUYS CURRENT TV FROM AL GORE". AP. Retrieved 3 January 2013.
  4. ^ Stelter, Brian (January 2, 2013). "Al Jazeera Seeks a U.S. Voice Where Gore Failed". The New York Times. Retrieved January 2, 2013. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  5. ^ a b "Al-Jazeera buys Al Gore's Current TV". Associated Press. January 3, 2013. Retrieved January 6, 2013.
  6. ^ "Al Jazeera buys US channel Current TV". Al Jazeera. January 2, 2013. Retrieved January 2, 2013. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
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  8. ^ a b "Al Jazeera America To Launch August 20". Huffington Post. July 3, 2013. Retrieved July 5, 2013.
  9. ^ Shields, Mike (December 5, 2006). "Yahoo and Current TV Cut Ties". MediaWeek.com
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  15. ^ "Scopri di più su Current TV" Template:It icon
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  19. ^ Staff writers (11 June 2009). "Current TV Receives CRTC Approval". Broadcaster. Retrieved 2 September 2011.
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