PANEL PRESENTATION:
TV AS WE KNOW IT?
Friday, March 27, 3:15 – 4:30 p.m.

SPEAKERS: MARC WEISS, Executive Producer of WebLab (http://www.weblab.org); and JOSHUA HARRIS, founder of Pseudo Programs, Inc. (http://pseudo.com) By: Linda Earle

The session focused on a discussion of the similarities and differences between cable and broadcast television, and Internet broadcast. Harris described his 4-year-old company as similar in format to broadcast TV, since Pseudo offers “channels,” shows, and advertising. The difference in terms of experience is that “viewers” communicate with each other. Harris also noted that where broadcast leaves a geographic ‘footprint’ – and is therefore limited in size – the Internet has no such imprint, with worldwide and nearly unlimited potential for audiences and content sources. Harris showed a number of introductions from Pseudo’s programs, which range from “game shows” to performance art showcases.

Marc Weiss described his journey from journalist to internet producer as an example of how the new medium served his personal goal of making work that engages audiences (rather than being simply consumed by them), and provokes a level of thought and discussion that outlives a particular moment. Weiss facilitated a participatory discussion that included a broad range of questions and opinions about the technology and experiences of broadcast and Internet. There were many practical questions about the technology of Internet broadcast. Harris pointed out that it is in fact fairly straightforward and available to potential producers. Weiss asked the audience to think about Internet’s potential for facilitating communication that is, in effect, a manifestation of a “many talking to many” concept that is opposed to the current broadcast standard of “one talking to many.” One audience member commented that the concept opposed the traditional Western idea of authorship in basic and very interesting ways. Others explored the notion of the Internet’s community building potential.

Weiss pointed to the PBS series P.O.V.’s Web site (www.pov.org), a page of which is, REGARDING VIETNAM. The site was developed in connection with the airing of a film about Maya Lin, the designer of the Vietnam Memorial. Though structured as a simple, text-based bulletin board, the page was a powerful one that encouraged interaction among people who would otherwise never have held a conversation. A discussion of this led many audience members to the conclusion that the community-building potential of Internet had to be nurtured around specific issues. One audience member also pointed out the web experience could be like a “revolving door,” in that many sites “whisk you through too fast” to think and truly interact The panelists and audience also considered the effect of the availability of free sounds and images Internet on video and CD distribution.