NEW YORK (September 20, 2006) — Al Gore’s Current TV is going into partnership with Yahoo, Inc. to create four new broadband channels that debuted on Wednesday with a video made by Bono during U2’s last concert tour.
Like the Current TV network that the former vice president created with Joel Hyatt, the new broadband channels will focus on disseminating video created by young viewers.
“We expect this will be the premier video online experience,” Gore told The Associated Press.
One of the four channels, Yahoo! Current Buzz, is being produced by Madeleine Smithberg, co-creator of “The Daily Show,” and will “showcase the best of what’s buzzing the world and the Web,” the companies said.
The other channels will focus on action sports news, automotives and adventure traveling. The latter is where Bono’s video — mostly about experiences with fellow band member The Edge — is being featured.
Yahoo was attracted to Current because it shares the goal of giving young people a voice on the Web, said Dan Rosensweig, Yahoo’s chief operating officer.
The four channels are separate and distinct from Current’s TV network, Gore said. But with Current only available now in 30 million of the nation’s 110 million homes with televisions, the deal promises to greatly increase the visibility of its content.
“The distribution reach and community of online viewers that Yahoo serves gives an unparalleled opportunity to connect the online video experience, including video-related content, with a mass audience,” Gore said.
The best user-created videos on the Yahoo! Current Network will be featured on Current TV each Monday afternoon.
Four more Yahoo! Current channels are expected to be added by the end of next year, the companies said.
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