PRESS
RELEASE from Current
Media Contact:
Bender/Helper Impact
310-473-4147
Melisa Rodriguez
melisa_rodriguez@bhimpact.com
CURRENT AND TWITTER
TEAM UP TO “HACK THE DEBATE”
Integration of
Real-Time, On-Screen Twitter Posts Allows Viewers To Participate In
Current’s Broadcasts
Of The 2008
Presidential And Vice Presidential Debates, Beginning Sept. 26 at 8:45
p.m. ET/5:45 p.m. PT
SAN FRANCISCO (September 15, 2008) - Current, a new breed of media
company that works with its young adult audience to create and
distribute media, has partnered with the pulse of what’s
happening—Twitter, to present “Hack the Debate,” creating unprecedented
interactivity for viewers of the 2008 presidential debate broadcasts.
Beginning with the first presidential debate on September 26, “Hack the
Debate” will, for the very first time, integrate real-time Twitter
messages (aka “tweets”) over major portions of a live television
broadcast. As Twitter users tweet throughout the course of the live
broadcasts, Current and Twitter will collect comments regarding
the debate and layer the individual messages over the debate feed.
Current and Twitter will apply the same technique to all four live
debate broadcasts, allowing the audience to participate directly in the
broadcast while watching real-time debate responses from other viewers.
“Hack the Debate” schedule on Current
TV (all times 8:45 p.m. ET/5:45 p.m. PT):
• Presidential Debate #1 – Friday, Sept. 26
• Vice Presidential Debate – Thursday, Oct. 2
• Presidential Debate #2 – Tuesday, Oct. 7
• Presidential Debate #3 – Wednesday, Oct. 15
“The debate stage is only set for two candidates, but Current was
founded to make room for millions of participants,” says Joel Hyatt,
CEO, Current. “We’re thrilled to work with Twitter and take advantage
of their extremely powerful communication platform, giving people a
chance to speak directly to Current’s nationwide
television audience.”
In addition to the TV broadcasts, each “Hack the Debate” presentation
will also stream live on Current.com. While Current and Twitter
will actively search tweets for compelling debate comments, Twitter
users can highlight and push their “Hack the Debate” comments by using
“#current” in their tweets. Users can also ask questions about
participating via Twitter by directing questions to “@current.”
More information about “Hack the Debate” is available at
http://www.current.com/debate and http://www.twitter.com/current.
““This election will be one of the most massively shared events in
history,” says Twitter co-founder Biz Stone. “Experience has
shown us that Twitter shines brightest during shared events. With 37
members of Congress, both candidates, groups of activists, and a nation
of citizens all sharing their opinions and actions in real-time over
Twitter, we have an opportunity with Current to add some valuable
features to democracy.”
About Current
Current is a new breed of media company that works with its young adult
audience to create and distribute media that informs, enriches and
inspires. The company is comprised of Current TV and Current.com, the
first fully integrated online and broadcast platforms that help users
determine the news and information that is relevant to them. Current
connects young adults with what’s going on in their world through its
unique blend of citizen journalism and viewer participation, offering
programming and content that’s authentic, often surprising and
consistently compelling. Current pioneered the television industry’s
leading model of interactive viewer created content (VC2) that
comprises roughly one-third of Current’s on-air broadcast. The network
has also advanced advertising models via Viewer Created Ad Messages
(VCAMS).
Current is now viewed in the U.S., U.K. and Italy in more than 58
million households through distribution partners Comcast (Channel 107
nationwide), Time Warner (nationwide), DirecTV (channel 366
nationwide), Dish Network (channel 196 nationwide), Sky (channel 183),
Virgin Media Cable (channel 155) and Sky Italia (channel 130). For more
information, please visit: www.current.com.
About Twitter
Twitter is a new form of communication growing rapidly around the
world. Inspired by the simplicity of an “away message,” Twitter is the
pulse of what is happening—with the people, organizations, and events
you care about—delivered immediately, wherever you are. Visitors to
Twitter.com can sign up for free.
# # #
Ed. - As new
messages were typed on the screen, older ones dissolved upwards.