Community | November 15, 2009 | 78 comments

Current Regresses to Status Quo Programming

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JonRaymond
Current's new (old) strategy is to regress to standard 30 and 60 minute TV programming to get away from user created content, the one thing many Current users like about the website and channel. Interestingly they claim the move is not financially motivated. Yet they also claim the move is meant to attract traditional advertisers who shy away from user generated content. Sounds like a load of crap.

This is typical management behavior from what I've seen in business. Mangers seem to continually have to shake things up to justify their existence. The management mantra: If it ain't broke, fix it anyway. It looks good on the performance review.

I also heard that Laura and Euna are being let go.

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-ct-current12-2009nov12,0,6721489.story
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78 comments // Current Regresses to Status Quo Programming

  • JonRaymond
    • 0
      JonRaymond  
    • Image
    • Sick of Current's new format before it's even got well under way? Me too.

      Join me at Under Current... an experiment: http://currentb.ning.com/
      The new current for and by the people, not the corporations. All are welcome. Join and set up your profile. Create groups just like on current. Then add your current posts as forum topics or blogs. Copy and paste your post here or add new ones. But just yours. You posted them. You own them. The people have the power if they have the balls to use it.

      Help figure out what to do next. I'll share the admin with a few of the movers here.
      Hey, it's just a public option to keep Current honest.
      j

    • 2 years ago
  • samthesixth
  • JonRaymond
    • 0
      JonRaymond  
    • And another thing... What happen to the great "Current Developing Stories" experiment? That was pretty cool. But it seems to have vaporized along with the rest of the staff.

    • 2 years ago
  • J_Jammer
  • urbanwolf
    • 0
      urbanwolf  
    • It's becoming FOX news. I knew it couldn't last.

      I've been watching Current for over a year now, and I have come to love the programming. I see the changes happening, and yet no one is hearing our calls.

      Why isn't this a top ranked story? There are over 50 comments! Many of them are completely logical concerns, yet NONE of us has yet to be addressed. I am frankly appalled by Currents new structure.

      If Larua and Euna are let go, Im afraid many loyal viewers will also be let go.

      Please Current, dont become another FOX!

    • 2 years ago
  • KSirys
  • urbanwolf
    • 0
      urbanwolf  
    • urbanwolf:

      Your point is valid. We're upto 62+ comments and it's yet to be noticed. Yet Glen Beck's extremist post is supposedly more important than the station we get our news from? I see the station more and more every day attacking the conservative right.

      It's not right, why can't we just remove ourselves from all the political banter and blaze our own trail?

    • 2 years ago
  • JanforGore
    • 0
      JanforGore  
    • urbanwolf:

      I too wish this site weren't so political in nature. It appears members of Daily Kos and other sites have decided to turn Current into another site like them. If I wanted that I could go to those sites. One reason I don't go there and prefer Current is because it wasn't supposed to be politically biased in nature.

    • 2 years ago
  • Nettle
    • 0
      Nettle  
    • urbanwolf:

      Well, it has been noticed. As of 5am last night (this morning) it was the number one story on news and that's how it got the attention it got.

      Also, this station/site was founded by Al Gore, a big name, liberal politician. How would it not attract people with a left-leaning political interest?

    • 2 years ago
  • J_Jammer
    • 0
      J_Jammer [removed]  
    • urbanwolf:

      I voted it down because it was a year old and it just promotes hate for cops. It's unnecessary because of that. Had it focused only on the incident at hand instead of a chaotic rampage that fueled the rage of those that hate cops....it would have got my vote up.

    • 2 years ago
  • flyingkick
    • 0
      flyingkick  
    • urbanwolf:

      It used to be that the top voted stories always appeared on TV unless there was some copy right infringement. Then they changed the system and now the staff pick the stories that appear on TV. It seems like they pick them based on a mix of the latest news sensation, what's entertaining, and sometimes the Environment.
      I miss the old system >

    • 2 years ago
  • Nettle
    • 0
      Nettle  
    • Wait, does everyone here know that "picked for TV" is coming back? They've mentioned that it's coming back, but it's coming along with the next site redesign launch, so it won't be for a while.

      Am I the only one that pays attention...

    • 2 years ago
  • simall08
    • 0
      simall08  
    • the reason why i watch current is because of the no commercials...there's enough advertisemnt...sorry current but this is a bad move on your part...its not abbout the money but to get the truth out their...the more advertisers the more they would have to say about what goees on the air...this is some bullshit!

    • 2 years ago
  • KSirys
    • 0
      KSirys  
    • Did anyone see today's main page? same old stuff from yesterday with some new stuff that don't have the support that this article has or the article I have with 90+ comments. AGAIN, current is using it's "guidelines" to control the real news and put their "favorites" up on the main page...

      Good Job Current!

    • 2 years ago
  • UrbanGypsy
    • 0
      UrbanGypsy  
    • KSirys:

      Its incredible... None of the "Top Ranked" come to even 30 comments and this one with over 50 doesn't even appear in the Top Ranked. What exactly is the criteria for being in the top of the page?

      I thought it had to do with popularity! Yet this article is clearly being prevented from reaching the desired people. They won't tke it down, they'll just mke it so that no one finds out it was even posted.

    • 2 years ago
  • KSirys
  • J_Jammer
  • KSirys
  • Nettle
  • J_Jammer
  • J_Jammer
  • libraryowl
    • 0
      libraryowl  
    • I'm new here, and I'm sad to hear that Current's current model is insufficent. I have a lot of faith in user-generated content, and I hope for a future in which amateurs and new artists can reach a global audience. Perhaps this simply isn't the moment. Please don't give up on us, Current!

    • 2 years ago
  • J_Jammer
  • JonRaymond
    • 0
      JonRaymond  
    • J_Jammer:

      That's the thing about liberals. They actually think for themselves, discuss, and disagree, instead of blindly following the leader into the fire we now know as the great depressed third world America.

    • 2 years ago
  • Nocturnus
  • UrbanGypsy
  • UrbanGypsy
    • 0
      UrbanGypsy  
    • All I can say is... Paradise Lost. The final blow will come when they reduce the website to commenting on the stories and videos that they put up. I won't be surprised if one day they take away our ability to post stories.

      Current Tonight is gone. What reason is there for us to post stories?

      It was a pleasure and all of you were such pals, but get ready for the end. It might come sooner rather than later...

    • 2 years ago
  • regjoeschmo
    • 0
      regjoeschmo  
    • I knew it was the beginning of the end when I saw McDOnalds being advertised on the front page...... Way to sell out current!!! We need more user generated content, not less!!!!

    • 2 years ago
  • UrbanGypsy
    • 0
      UrbanGypsy  
    • I remember when I first came on to Current. You could really see how the channel and website worked together. Its not the case anymore... One is mostly seperate from the other. I frequent the site much more than I watch the channel ever since they've been moving away from viewer-created content.

      I remember back when the News Bot used to put your comments on TV. Now its near impossible to get on TV in an way...

      Marketers destroy everything. Another once great site that has been ruined has been Youtube. After Google bought them out, they added Ads all over the pages and now sometimes there are even Ads before and during videos... Yuck.. I joined Youtube to watch vids, not ads.

      Except with Current, its Current TV that has been ruined, not Current dot com... Although even tht is in question sometimes. The management here has the uncanny ability to shove changes down everyone's throats every once in a while...

    • 2 years ago
  • J_Jammer
    • 0
      J_Jammer [removed]  
    • UrbanGypsy:

      Youtube isn't ruined. It's still free and the ads are not annoying. They just pop up and then go away. Plus people can use music in their videos as long as there is a link to buy the song. I think that it was the compromise in the viewer's favor more than in the advertiser's favor....cause it could have been far worse.

    • 2 years ago
  • UrbanGypsy
    • 0
      UrbanGypsy  
    • UrbanGypsy:

      That's true... But I still haven't gotten over how they screwed everyone by switching to BETA channels when everyone was against it. I hated the change, it made customization much more difficult.

    • 2 years ago
  • flyingkick
  • UrbanGypsy
    • 0
      UrbanGypsy  
    • flyingkick:

      I hate how they took that away. I remember how excited I was when I came on TV for those few seconds. I feel sorry for the new members who will never be able to experience it...

    • 2 years ago
  • J_Jammer
  • flyingkick
  • cynker
    • 0
      cynker  
    • maybe there is too much dangerous information on here - such as human rights abuses and news stories pointing to authoritarian governments .

    • 2 years ago
  • Shutchin
    • 0
      Shutchin  
    • The one reason I am so infatuated with the channel, the website, and the overall community is the unique way in which all three of them are linked. Current is unlike any other network, and that is what initially attracted me and eventually got me hooked. I don't know why they would just up and devolve into another same old channel when they are really pushing what it means to be on television.

    • 2 years ago
  • J_Jammer
  • cynker
    • 0
      cynker  
    • have you noticed the amount of celebrity crap and mainstream influence recently - im thinking of closing my account

    • 2 years ago
  • KSirys
  • J_Jammer
  • UrbanGypsy
  • J_Jammer
  • CalPerr
    • 0
      CalPerr  
    • The world is fluid. If current stops providing the products we demand, we will find a new supply. That said I love Vanguard, InfoMania, SuperNews, Embedded, Max & Jason's show and the specials too. The inclusion of 30 min. programs doesn't have to mean a removal of VCC but rather they can just be organized better(like Web Soup or something, just without the fart jokes).

    • 2 years ago
  • vesher
  • Allorno1
  • KSirys
    • 0
      KSirys  
    • Allorno1:

      I don't think moving is needed, I think, just my two senses... that current needs to have some type of Webinar with the most active folks on the site (not the old or popular people) and hear them out. See what people want and what they would like to see change, moved or added.

      I like current and everything that it offers, but the favoritism that goes on, is just annoying and not worth bothering showing up at times.

    • 2 years ago
  • J_Jammer
  • JulianCommongold
  • samthesixth
    • 0
      samthesixth  
    • "the move is meant to attract traditional advertisers who shy away from user generated content."

      There it is. We need to make more money. How much money does Al Gore need?

      Does anyone know of an alternative site that allows for VCC the way current used to?

    • 2 years ago
  • J_Jammer
  • JanforGore
    • 0
      JanforGore  
    • I am disappointed as well and will be telling them so. I have much time invested here and when I first joined the first day I too was excited at the prospect of a whole new way of joining TV to the Internet with a new way of dialogue with viewer created content. So I will continue to push for that and participate regardless of what some MTV reject wants.

    • 2 years ago
  • BustYourFace
  • Nettle
    • 0
      Nettle  
    • Would you guys just wait and see what they actually are going to offer? Does anyone here know what shows they are actually doing?

      All the information you've been given is that they're outsourcing (getting other companies involved), focusing on investigative journalism, and changing the schedule to the 30/60 minute plan (which I think works better).

      Wait until you see the product of the changes before you decide to blow up.

    • 2 years ago
  • MornRail
    • 0
      MornRail  
    • Nettle:

      I sort of understand what you're saying here Nettle. However, it's important I think to talk about it now even if a deal hasn't been made on how Current will run in the future. It's good to get our voices out there to say, "Hey Current, don't go changing things to be like other channels. The way you started out was what brought folks in. A change in programming will make folks go."

      Having been a fan since Current's inception and a user for about 3 years, I haven't been on as much and it's because of some of the ridiculous changes. Changes that have come so that Current can fit in.

      But I think your comment does bring up something important which is that it is not enough to post a story about what's happening to Current but to email and ask questions directly. I think they've always been good about contact. feedback@current.com. Easy as that!

    • 2 years ago
  • thedirtman
    • 0
      thedirtman  
    • Nettle:

      I was a regular before the change to Current TV. Everyday I would tune in just to watch Terry Glecoff. I'll stick around for a few segments, but if its the slightest thing like MTV I'm saying goodbye. I haven't watched MTV in 25 years.

    • 2 years ago
  • JonRaymond
    • 0
      JonRaymond  
    • Nettle:

      They're doing away with the user created and Current staff created content and going for typical cable channel 30 and 60 minute programmimng. How good can that be? They want to mimic eveyione else on cable. The good thing about Current was their unique individuality among cable channels. Without that, I doubt they'll be worth anything.

    • 2 years ago
  • ahappymintleaf
    • 0
      ahappymintleaf  
    • Has Current TV bothered consulting their so-called small viewer base in what they would want? From what I have experienced, the view base is small because there's a minority of people who are not blindly following the trend of useless big media and instead want grassroots productions that aren't thirty minutes of drawn-out noninformation.
      If the network is healthy and successful then how can they say that it doesn't have to do with money? As long as the network is able to support itself, generating an excess profit should not be a remote consideration. News media clearly should never get into the business of greedy profits.
      This article reads like Current TV is a small pet project that needs to be "normalized" in order to be a true success. Perhaps it would have had more success if it weren't completely ignored in larger media circles. Rarely did I read or hear of large media corporations mentioning Current TV during Laura Lang or Euna Lee's horrific ordeal. It has always seemed like other news sources ignored it, hoping it's true threat to the status quo would disppear. And I suppose it now will.

    • 2 years ago
  • UrbanGypsy
    • 0
      UrbanGypsy  
    • ahappymintleaf:

      It's sad because I think all the realists here know that it will NEVER be the same. Once you turn something into a money making machine, it will never turn back. The old Current TV I used to be attracted to will never exist again.

    • 2 years ago
  • LadybugLady
    • 0
      LadybugLady [removed]  
    • Like people are saying it's going to be like MTV wow I stopped watching that about 20 years ago when they started the show with all the whores moving in with each other. It's garbage.

    • 2 years ago
  • yepyep
    • 0
      yepyep  
    • The new CURRENT sounds horrible, it's so sad. The whole reason that I watched the channel and go to the web site is that I got 5 minute shows. This used to be my favorite site. Does anyone know any good sites that can take it's place for me?

    • 2 years ago
  • JonRaymond
  • samthesixth
  • regjoeschmo
  • JonRaymond
  • samthesixth
  • JulianCommongold
  • JonRaymond
  • mojojuju
  • flyingkick
  • J_Jammer
  • regjoeschmo
  • UrbanGypsy
  • Sam_the_Wizer
    • 0
      Sam_the_Wizer  
    • JonRaymond:

      Totally agree. They're two sides of the same coin, just like Democrats and Republicans. They sing and dance for us and keep us riled up and divided, then systematically strip away our rights. I think it might be time to find a new website to keep me occupied.

    • 2 years ago
  • flyingkick
    • 0
      flyingkick  
    • JonRaymond:

      Actually, the article isn't anti-Current at all if you read it. It's just the Headline by JohnR that is anti-Current. And of course they aren't going to pick this article for TV. How lame would that be- an article about the LA Times reporting that Current is possibly changing their time schedule? They would just announce that themselves.

    • 2 years ago
  • KSirys
    • 0
      KSirys  
    • I thought this site was going to be fair and balanced, but the more I come here the more I see the favoritism that goes on and how current staff manipulate how news are shown. Instead of fixing the problem, they tell you to read the "guidelines" and go about their way.

      Everyone falls for the mighty dollar... I thought current was going to be different but, they prove me wrong every day.

    • 2 years ago
  • Ihatethemall
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