Coordinates	37°46′45.48″N122°25′9.12″N
Name	Current TV
Logofile	current.png
Logocaption	Current TV's official logo
Slogan	Your World. View.
Launch	August 1, 2005
Owner	Current Media, Inc.
Headquarters	San Francisco, California
Web	current.com
Terr avail	Not Available
Sat serv 1	DirecTV
Sat chan 1	Channel 358
Sat serv 2	Dish Network
Sat chan 2	Channel 196
Sat chan 3	Comcast
Sat chan 3	Channel 107 or 125
Sat chan 3	Channel 406
Sat serv 4	Sky
Sat chan 4	Channel 183
Sat serv 5	TopTV
Sat chan 5	Channel 406
Cable serv 1	Virgin Media
Cable chan 1	155
Cable serv 2	In-House (Washington)
Cable chan 2	Channel 22
Cable serv 3	Available on most cable systems
Cable chan 3	Check Local Listing for channels
Iptv serv 1	Freewire
Iptv chan 1	Channel 178

Current TV, or Current, is a media company led by former U.S. Vice President Al Gore and businessman Joel Hyatt. The Comcast Corporation owns a ten percent stake of Current's parent company, Current Media LLC.

The Current cable television network went on the air in the US at midnight EDT (4:00 UTC) on the morning of August 1, 2005. A second network, operated in the United Kingdom and Ireland started its operation March 12, 2007, for Sky in the UK and Ireland and on Virgin Media in the UK. A third network, operated in Italy started its operation February 8, 2008, for SKY Italia subscribers and later for 3 subscribers. Current TV was launched in South Africa for satellite subscribers on the TopTV platform on 1 May 2010.

History

2004–2005

After the 2000 U.S. presidential election, Gore and Hyatt wanted to start a conventional cable news network. They were disenchanted with the existing networks. 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, purchased 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. Currently, Current is available in 30 million homes nationwide in the US, with plans underway for several international versions.

2006–2008

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. Madeline Smithberg, co-creator of The Daily Show, was the Executive Producer for this project.

On October 6, 2006, a deal was announced with British Sky Broadcasting to create a localized UK and Ireland version of Current TV to its satellite systems in the United Kingdom and Ireland. This version went live on March 12, 2007. The channel launched on Sky EPG number 229 and Virgin Media Channel 155 following a refreshed brand identity and advertising campaign developed by Heavenly.

In 2007, Current TV started video-on-demand service on Virgin Media.

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

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.

On February 8, 2008, it was announced that the network will be also available on the Italian SKY Italia satellite digital platform on channel 130. According to the official website, broadcast has started on May 8, 2008.

On June 6, 2008, it was announced that the network will be also available on the Italian 3 DVB-H mobile operator, as free of charge.

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–present

On 28 January 2009 Current Media Inc, revealed it intended to launch an IPO on the NASDAQ to raise $100m (£67m), but it told US regulators over Easter that it was scrapping the plan due to "current market conditions." The company added that no securities had been sold and all activity regarding the proposed public offering had been "discontinued".

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% 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, however those plans were put on hold later that year and as of June 2011 there are no plans to bring Current TV to Canada

In July 2009, Current TV, because of financial reasons and the failed IPO abandoned, did a series of changes. 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. The Huffington Post's Lisa Derrick 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. Hollywood Reporter's Andrew Wallenstein 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.

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 owns a ten percent stake of Current Media LLC. 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 Zellar the journalist behind the story and Current. Current has also received a Headliner award. 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."

On June 20, 2011 Keith Olbermann relaunched Countdown with Keith Olbermann (previously on MSNBC) on Current TV. 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.

Programming

Prior to the 2009 format change, Current TV featured "pods," or short programs, of which a portion are created by viewers and users.

An experimental Canadian show from CBC called ZeD was the first programmed broadcast of user-generated video content. Other inspiration for Current TV came from a 1990s series on MTV called UNfiltered, where the network sent cameras to viewers in order to report on stories they thought were important. Current TV was the first American 24-hour network based around viewer-created content, which it dubbed VC².

Users (called VC² Producers) contributed three-to-seven-minute "pods", which are on a variety of subject matter. The content was filtered by registered users, on Current's website through a voting process, but pods are ultimately approved or disapproved by Current's on-air programming department, VC² made up a portion of the material aired on the channel. Users could also create Viewer Created Ad Messages, or V-CAMs and Current TV promos which were small promotions for either Current TV or the general topic of VC². The channel has exclusive broadcast rights for all media in perpetuity on viewer-submitted pods, and in some cases outright ownership of the pod and its raw footage, although this is negotiated on a pod by pod basis.

Current at the present broadcasts a variety of programs, including:

infoMania is a weekly produced half-hour show which takes a satirical look into the world of politics and other pop culture news; similar to The Soup and The Daily Show.

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. In addition to contributing original pods to Current's daily shuffle, Vanguard airs a weekly half-hour or hour long program of longer and more in depth pieces.

Kill it, Cook it, Eat it features diverse participants hunting, butchering and preparing their chosen prey for the dinner table.

Bar Karma is the worlds first community-developed television series. Developed by Will Wright (the Sims) and Albie Hecht (Nick, Spike TV).

4th and Forever is a reality TV program featuring High School Football in California.

Long Way Round features Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman traveling by motorcycle from London to New York.

Cooking in the Danger Zone features Stefan Gates traveling the world to check out the crazy foods that some people eat.

The Beat is a reality show featuring the Vancouver police.

SWAT: Miami Dade is a reality show featuring the Miami-Dade police.

Deadliest Journeys is a reality show featuring the worlds most dangerous roads.

Hooked on Danger is a reality show featuring Tuna Fisherman in Australia.

This American Life is a television version of the Public Radio program.

50 Documentaries to See Before You Die is a five-part series hosted by Morgan Spurlock.

Hosts on Current TV appear in a set based on The Chemosphere, built by American architect John Lautner in 1960.

Current recently launched Current:News, an hourly news broadcast with news stories submitted and voted for by its online community.

Current TV also gives viewers a chance to win $1000 for making a VCAM advertisement.

On February 8, 2011, Keith Olbermann, the host of MSNBC's formerly top-rated program, Countdown with Keith Olbermann, announced he was joining Current as its Chief News Officer and as a stakeholder. Olbermann will host an hour long primetime news program on Current, also called Countdown with Keith Olbermann, beginning June 20th, 2011. The new show will air at 8 PM Eastern -- the same time slot as his old MSNBC show. Olbermann will also be heavily involved in the development of the rest of the network's news programming.

In May 2011, Current unveiled new imaging and a new logo.

Hosts

Previously on Real World Hawaii.

Anthony Marshall

Angela Sun

Anne Foy

Ben Hoffman

Brett Erlich – Campaign Update, Viral Video Film School, Co-host of the Rotten Tomatoes Show

Bryan Safi

Christof Putzel – Vanguard Correspondent

Conor Knighton – InfoMania

Crystal Fambrini

Donna Ruko

Douglas Caballero

Elizabeth Chambers

Ellen Fox – Co-host of the Rotten Tomatoes Show

Gotham Chopra

Graeme Smith

Jael de Pardo

Jason Silva (of "Max and Jason" fame)

Joe Hanson – Joe Gets, What's Wrong With; no longer a part of Current TV

Johnny Bell

Julia Hardy

Justin Gunn

Kaj Larsen – Vanguard Correspondent

Keith Olbermann - Countdown With Keith Olbermann

Kinga Philipps

Jared Leto

Laura Ling – Vanguard Correspondent; formerly imprisoned by North Korea

Layla Kayleigh – No longer a part of Current TV. She was initially hired as a host, but was terminated before the network went to air for doing a photo shoot with the magazine Maxim. She hosted a segment called the "The Feed" on G4's Attack of the Show.

Mariana van Zeller – Vanguard Correspondent

Max Lugavere (of "Max and Jason" fame)

Michelle Lombardo

Milo McCabe

Nick Carter – a.k.a Murs, an underground hip-hop artist

Nzinga Blake

Rawley Valverde

Rowly Dennis

Sarah Haskins

Scott Logan (TV Presenter and Actor)

Sergio Cilli

Shauntay Hinton – former Current TV employee and now hosts on the Fine Living Network

Zara Martin (TV Presenter and Actress)

2009 imprisonment of journalists by North Korea

The North Korean military detained two American journalists working for Current TV in March 2009 after they allegedly crossed into North Korea from China.

"Two reporters working for a U.S.-based Internet news media outlet, including a Korean American, were detained by North Korean authorities earlier this week, and they remain in custody there," said Yonhap news agency, quoting an unnamed diplomatic source. Reports say that the journalists were both warned several times by the North Korean military, about crossing the border.

The two female journalists are Korean American Euna Lee and Taiwanese American Laura Ling of Current TV based in California in the United States. Lee is the editor of the news for Current TV and Ling is one of the agency's reporters. They were said to have been shooting a video of the border region of China and N. Korea when they were arrested at the Tumen River. Laura Ling is the younger sister of CNN reporter Lisa Ling.

"We're aware of reports that early in the morning of March 17, China time, two American citizens were taken into custody across the Tumen river by what appear to be North Korean border guards. We are working with Chinese government officials in that particular area to ascertain the whereabouts and welfare of the Americans in question. We've also been in touch with North Korean officials to express our concern about the situation," said U.S. State Department spokesman, Fred Lash.

On March 30, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the state news agency of North Korea, 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." The two faced trial on June 4.

According to Kim Tae-woo of the Korea Institute for Defense Analysis, “The journalists considerably weakened their government’s leverage against the North,” in ongoing negotiations over the DPRK's nuclear program.

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.

Stanford Law professor Allen Weiner said that U.S. citizens are charged with crimes in foreign countries all the time, but: "The difference here is that we have grave doubts whether [the two journalists] have done anything wrong, or whether they were arrested because they were Americans." He added that "now we are finding ourselves asking the North Koreans for something when we were trying to increase international pressure on them. That big stick we're holding just got a lot smaller."

On August 4, BBC News reported that they were pardoned amidst a visit by former U.S. president Bill Clinton. They were released and returned home the following day. Upon flying home, they were greeted at an airport in Burbank, California.

References

External links

Current TV official site

Current TV on Hulu

;Articles

'Betting a Network on Youths Who Think' – New York Times article, August 22, 2005

Current TV at one year – Associated Press, July 27, 2006

'The Other Man Behind Current TV' – Broadcasting and Cable. About CEO Joel Hyatt, November 19, 2006

'All Eyes on The Shins' – Wired Magazine, January 2007

Current TV makes its move -Gore promotes new network to overseas markets. Variety, March 12, 2007

Current TV's V-CAMs (Viewer Created Ad Messages) – Adweek

Current TV Tops 50 MM Subs – Multichannel News, March 12, 2007

Al Gore's Low Voltage Network, November 12, 2007

Interview with Robin Sloan, New Media Director at Current, Intruders tv) Video, April 2009

Category:Television channels and stations established in 2005 Category:Al Gore Category:Media companies of the United States Category:American cable network groups Category:American television networks Category:Television channels in Italy Category:Community-created content television Category:Internet television channels Category:Internet television Category:Software projects Category:Web 2.0 Category:Video on demand services Category:English-language television stations Category:Italian-language television stations Category:Companies based in San Francisco, California

cy:Current TV fr:Current TV it:Current TV nl:Current TV pt:Current TV