TV is DEAD

TV is over…

I am watching the riveting British Parliamentary hearings live as they take Rupert Murdoch apart.

Fascinating TV.

However, I am not watching it on TV.

I can’t.

No US TV cable channel is carrying it.

Not even BBC America – who should be hanging their heads in shame.  (They are running Gordon Ramsay reruns).

I am watching on The Guardian’s website.

The Guardian is a newspaper, but they are streaming the hearings live, on their website.

I have run the website through my TV set and you know what? I can’t tell the difference.

I can’t tell the difference between TV and a newspaper.

Not anymore.

I am watching Guardian TV.

If The Guardian can run the hearings live, then Sports Illustrated can run sporting events; Brides Magazine can produce and run Bridezillas; Newsweek can run the nightly news.

TV is dead.

And, based on what BBC America has chosen to do with this incredibly powerful tool, none too soon.

Michael Rosenblum

For more than 35 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.

2 Comments
  • Michael Rosenblum July 19, 2011

    Maybe. I started at 5:30 am and BBC America was live, but they went off at 7 or 8 and then I moved over to The Guardian website, which worked out fine. I don’t think CNN or Fox went 100% live all day (why would they, really?) but The Guardian was great.

    I downloaded a BBC iPlayer when I was in England and now I can watch BBC on my laptop any time. The times are changing fast.

  • Eric B July 19, 2011

    I was watching it on FOX and CNN – they were covering it… maybe they stopped after a while?