'Let's just declare TV dead and move on'

Mike Arrington at TechCrunch: Let’s Just Declare TV Dead and Move On.

The next generation of television

NY Times: Your TV Would Like a Word With You

[Gail Smith] is one of 160,000 Time Warner subscribers who, as part of a broad experiment, are living with what may well be the future of television: souped-up interactivity. As a result she gets to choose not just when she wants to watch certain programs, but to a greater or lesser extent what those programs look like on her screen — what news to magnify and what personalized information to call up, where to go deep and what to skip.

If she’s watching CNN or CNBC, she can select short video clips on the latest headlines or market news, just as she might while clicking her way around a Web site. When she can’t sleep, she can turn to the Weather Channel, click on an icon and dip into one of the network’s “Storm Stories,” the popular compendium of meteorological havoc.

This taste of control has left her wanting more. “I would like to do more fine-tuning,” said Ms. Smith, 55, who now works as a graphic designer. “And I think that day will come soon.” ...

Amanda developing a comedy for HBO

Hollywood Reporter: Amanda Congdon, co-founder and former host of the video blog Rocketboom.com, says she is developing for a multiplatform comedy property for Time Warner's HBO that will be integrated with original video online. She intends to write and star in the series.

Cool. Congrats, Amanda!

Later: Amanda emails this morning with additional news:

First, her video announcement in QuickTime, Windows Media and for the iPod.

From the Endeavor Agency:  Amanda Congdon signed a deal with ABC News as a correspondent and videoblogger for its online component abcnews.com.  She is the first person to fill this role for the network.  Her relationship with the network will extend to appearances on Good Morning America, Nightline and 20/20 as a specialist in online and electronic media spaces.

Plus, Guy Kawasaki has a Q&A with Amanda.

YouTube and the 'right-brain Renaissance'

Terry Heaton on the Right-brain Renaissance: His latest  essay examines a "right brain renaissance" in our culture -- a shift away from counting numbers and making rules to creative thinking and creative expression. Writes Terry:

When people speak of culture wars, this conflict is very much at the center. This is an important understanding as we move into the Media 2.0 space, for much of what "works" here doesn't make a lot of sense. Or perhaps it's better to say that it makes sense only after it has been up and running for awhile, when we can see what it's all about. But by then, it's often too late for us. Google is the classic example. Their purchase of YouTube doesn't compute with those who think in a purely left brain fashion, but to those who see beyond the numbers, it's a perfect marriage. 

Soap star to co-host Vloggies

The Bold and the Beautiful soap star Daniel McVicar will serve as co-host of the first Vloggies.

The changing face of local news

Terry Heaton on the The Changing Face(s) of Local Broadcast News.

CozmoTV: Welcome to Television 2.0

Thomas Hawk: CozmoTV: Welcome to Television 2.0.

Cross-under hits

NY Times: Have You Seen the Latest Cross-Under Hit?

A few years ago, a music video might have crossed over by going from a bootleg Web site to a slick television show. Nowadays that process often happens in reverse. From the "Chronicles of Narnia" rap (which began life as a "Saturday Night Live" skit) to Marguerite Perrin's famous rant about ungodliness (excerpted from a particularly combustible episode of "Trading Spouses"), big-budget television often crosses under, not over. Scenes seen by millions return to life as underground hits. Things we might have caught by accident on television become things we watch on purpose online. ...

Microsoft ditches MSNBC TV

Associated Press: NBC buys majority stake in MSNBC from Microsoft.

TV goes broadband

A BusinessWeek Online special report: TV goes broadband.

Also, Google's Great Works in Progress.

And if you missed these: Open Source: Now It's an Ecosystem. This software movement is branching into not just mainstream business applications but also the associated services. And VCs are eager to help.

Next-gen computers and a peek at tomorrow's coolest tech.