Gore: Cable Channel 'Not Going to be a Liberal Network'
By Jimmy Moore
Talon News
May 5, 2004

Former Vice President Al Gore along with the investment group he leads revealed on Tuesday that they are purchasing a cable television channel from a French company that will become an all-news network for young people.

Describing the venture as "irreverent and bold," Gore's INdTV Holdings purchased the Newsworld International channel from Vivendi Universal Entertainment at a cable industry convention in New Orleans.

The 24-hour international news channel Newsworld International has 17 million viewers throughout North America, Vivendi claims.

Declaring the new network focus to be "an independent voice" in the news, Gore said he hopes to reach people between the age of 18 and 34.

"We are launching an exciting television network for young men and women who want to know more about their world and who enjoy real-life stories created with, by, and for their own generation," Gore said in a statement.

Gore hopes this younger audience will "want to learn about the world in a voice they recognize and a view they recognize as their own."

"We want to empower this dynamic generation with a network dedicated to them that has integrity and a commitment to excellence," Gore continued.

However, despite his liberal personal leanings as evidenced by his frequent attacks against President George W. Bush in the past couple of years, Gore says politics will play no role in this.

"This is not going to be a liberal network, a Democratic network, or a political network," Gore declared.

Interestingly, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, who has already been the programming provider, will remain on in that role with Gore's group.

Gore will be the chairman of the board and will guide the day-to-day operations of the network.

He will be joined by former Democratic National Committee finance chairman Joel Hyatt. Hyatt, who was unsuccessful in a 1994 run for the U.S. Senate in Ohio, will be the chief executive.

"Having learned from both the successes and failures of other cable networks, we are confident this is a winning concept," Hyatt contended.

Since the focus will not necessarily be on politics or traditional news coverage, Hyatt states, there will be some "formats you haven't seen before."

Comedy will be used strategically to spice up the news and make it interesting for young viewers, Hyatt added.

"Our goal is not to be the 251st cable network that looks like the others," Hyatt remarked.

Both Gore and Hyatt say there are a lot of young people "who need a venue to compete in a meritocracy of ideas."

Gore said during the news conference that he has not thought much about any future run for political office.

The new television news network will be carried by DirecTV, Time Warner, and some areas covered by Comcast.