About a million years ago (in 2004, I think), we started to produce a new show for The Travel Channel.
It was based on what was then a very radical idea – very.
Using ‘the Internet’, we would allow viewers to watch a show reality TV show and then email their opinions on what direction the show should go, based on what they said.
No one had ever done anything like this before.
(this is lesson in being too early to the party).
Fortunately, in those days, The Travel Channel was being run by Pat Younge (who would later go on to become the Chief Creative Offcer at The BBC).
Pat was (and remains) way ahead of his time. Â He bought into the concept and we launched 5Takes. Â The show ran for four seasons, and during that time we send small groups of young adventurers off to Europe, Latin America, Asia and the USA with a limited budget but the mandate to follow the instructions they received.
The show was done so long ago that they had to go to ‘Internet Cafes’ to get their emails.
This is before Twitter, before WiFi.
Ancient history.
Now, (amazingly), TV producers are starting to tweak their scripts based on what Tweeters say, or so reports The Wall Street Journal today.
Well, better late than never.
Meanwhile, we are out pitching the a twitter-based version of 5Takes.
Who knows?
Meanwhile, no answer from Mark Silva at ZipRealty.
yet
