Hyperlocal News

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Yesterday, we held a press conference in Washington, DC to announce the launch of FiOS1, Verizon’s first local TV news and community information channel. We are fortunate to be partners with Verizon in this very exciting project, and now we can talk about it.

Verizon has made a massive commitment to become a major player in what was formerly the ‘cable’ world. They bring a lot to the table, and they are building and pushing FiOS, their fiber optic cable system, and getting clearances all over the country. FiOS delivers every channel that cable providers like Cox or Comcastdeliver and a whole lot more (like phone or Internet service). Of course, this is a very attractive platform.

About a year ago, Carl Spielvogel, former founder and Chairman of one of the largest advertising agencies in the world, Backer/Spielvogel/Bates and I formed a company, Hyperlocal News, to create a partnerhsip with Verizon. The concept: To build a chain of small, VJ-driven hyperlocal news ‘nodes’ unique to the FiOS system. We would place these nodes within the community and young VJs could go out and find stories really of interest to the community. At the same time, they would become magnets for the burgeoning ‘citizen journalist’ movement.

About 6 months ago, we started hiring and training the VJs for our first ‘node’. Today, they go on the air.

It is a very interesting model for a new kind of cable/broadband hyperlocal news, and for us, a fantastic partner to explore this new world.

Michael Rosenblum

For more than 30 years, Michael Rosenblum has been on the cutting edge of the digital video journalism revolution. During this time, he has lead a drive for video literacy, and the complete rethinking of how television is made and controlled. His work has included: The complete transitioning of The BBC's national network (UK) to a VJ-driven model, starting in 2002. The complete conversion of The Voice of America, the United State's Government's broadcasting agency, (and the largest broadcaster in the world), from short wave radio to television broadcasting and webcasting using the VJ paradigm (1998-present). The construction of NYT Television, a New York Times Company, and the largest producer of non-fiction television in the US. Rosenblum was both the founder and President of NYT TV, (all based on this paradigm (1996-1998). The President and Founder of Video News International, a global VJ-driven newsgathering company, with more than 100 journalists around the world. (1993-1996). Other clients include Spectrum News, Verizon and CBS News.

1 Comment
  • invitedmedia March 30, 2007

    congrats.

    launching in washington dc is really nuts!

    i’ve made this point to you before and am aware that it is their ball to run with.

    i wish you and them nothing but the best.

    i would have thought a college town would have made for a good place to start, but what do i know.

    it will certainly be interesting to see this effort grow!

    i’ve always had an issue with the term “hyperlocal” too. to the ubiq. man-on-the-street it sounds like the neighbor kid who needs his meds adjusted. i would say “community” gives one more a sense of belonging. again, what do i know.

    frank luntz (sp?) has made quite a living off the use of words both in the negative and the positive. that much i do know.