PBS To Offer NerdTV, A Downloadable Web-Exclusive Video Series That Can Be Shared Legally

PBS describes an announcement coming Wednesday as “pioneering another technology first” … On Sept. 6, the network will premiere NerdTV, an hour-long web-only show featuring tech columnist Robert X. Cringely as he interviews tech personalities. First guests PayPal co-founder Max Levchin; Mac programmer Andy Hertzfeld and Sun co-founder Bill Joy. A new episode will premier each week, 13 shows in all.
PBS is taking the download idea a step further by using a Creative Commons license and encouraging viewers “to download and copy the shows, share them with friends and even post them on their own Web sites — all legally.” Viewers will be able to choose formats from several MP4 options or from a variety of audio formats. Cindy Johanson, SVP-PBS Interactive Learning: “Further, NerdTV offers a cost-effective production model that may transform how programming is made in the future.”
The network got scooped a tad by its host. Cringely explains the mechanics and rationale here. PBS doesn’t mention video blogging or podcasting but he does. Turns out NerdTV has been in the hopper for three years or, as Cringely explains, “I was three years ahead of the curve and only just now has the market caught up. What’s changed since 2002 when I first proposed the project is a dramatic expansion of broadband Internet access and a dramatic lowering of both bandwidth and distribution costs.” The CC license also will allow remixing for non-commercial use.
On another tack, his column is switching to a blog because “the market screams for blogs.” He also thinks being a blog will make it easier to get into Google News. Hah.

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