influx interview: karl carter, current tv 
Current TV is the Al-Gore backed young adult network that launched yesterday.
Back in May, Influx interviewed Karl Carter, Current TV's VP of Marketing.
Karl
talks to us about Current's new advertising model and its radical plan
to involve the consumer in the development of both programming and
advertising.
Is it true Current's ad model is radically different from other networks-if so why?
Actually,
the Current ad model is able to work with both traditional and
non-traditional spots. We will accommodate the traditional :30 and:60
spots, but we'll also try longer-format ads, up to two minutes in
length, and reduce clutter and cluster by running some spots by
themselves between programming segments. This has the potential to
prevent people with DVR from skipping over our ads, making us
"Tivo-proof".
In addition, were also exploring new forms of
creative, having our viewers produce spots for our advertisers, which
has the potential to more effectively reach the audience they're trying
to communicate with.
So far, we're getting a lot of interest.
How does Current intend to connect and engage its audience in programming?
Were
already running contests to get Viewer-Contributed Content (VC2)
submissions, and with relatively little promotion, weve already
received a few thousand submissions. Our latest contest will give the
winner a development deal, where well work with them to produce a piece
that will air on the network.
In addition, we will utilize
grassroots, online and mass media vehicles to reach out and ask people
to tell us whats on their minds.
Who do you believe will advertise on the network?
We
have already started to receive strong commitments and are in the
enviable position of working with cool, smart and passionate leaders in
the advertising industry. What is more interesting is that due to
developments in the media world, more and more advertisers are
producing short-form content or long-form advertising, depending on who
youre talking to.
So many advertisers are already interested in what were doing.
Its a great time to be Current, the industry seems ready for some major changes.
Please describe your target consumer?
Our
target consumer is authentic, a person who really cares about what's
going on in their world. They are 18-34 year-old young adults, both
male and female who have graduated from MTV and are looking for more
depth, reality and lifestyle appeal in their media.
On April 4, Current's Take Back TV event showed us a glimpse of whod be watching.
People
and artists came out from all over and supported us, artists like Mos
Def, Talib Kweli, Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, Fuse Green, Goapele,
Michael Franti and Spearhead, along with 5,000 regular people who just
wanted to be part of something and have their voices heard.
Should MTV worry?
Definitely
not. People watch MTV for different reasons than Current. We may be
reaching similar people, but we're providing completely different
programming. Current will show informing, entertaining and
thought-provoking content for the 18-34 audience.
We are in
the unique position to play a more active and personal role in the
lives of our viewers, more than any other network before us, by deeply
connecting our viewers with what's going on in their world, and thanks
to our VC2, in their voice. We're not here to be a better MTV, were
here to be ourselves.