The Best TV on the Web

Finding the best TV on the Score is like finding the shiniest pebble on the beach – the moment you’ve become happily mesmerized by one, a wave washes up to reveal a hundred more.

When Steve Jobs and George Lucas attended the same The Wall Street Journal’s D: All Things Digital Conference this year, they agreed on one shiny pebble that will play big in our futures: TV.
Yes, TV. It’s glistening anew.

It’s coming, it’s here and it’s not quite here yet.

Huge, Global and Ultra-Personalized TV.

TV that can make you a buck. Free TV and Subscription-based. Video on Request, Internet-only TV, Viewer-created content, (VC2) Voter-generated content, Peer-to-Peer Programming, Streaming TV from Networks, TV on the desktop, (TOD) TV pulled from a set-top box, or watched on your home TV from I-Tunes (something Steve Jobs now describes TV as his latest “hobby.”)

Sexy? Distinct, if you’re open minded. Old media is getting busy with new media. They’re still just canoodling, but their union WILL come. And the creatures they spawn will make up our psychic food chain.

The swimmers are waiting in the womb, aiming for the “Final Mile.” That’s what industry calls the moment when any baby App becomes available on your premises…or washes up on your local beach.

Here are some of the best options that have washed up and stayed attach. All recommended for regular viewing, or adding your jabber and keeping an eye on, just to see what floats up next. When it comes to TV: reality is up for grabs:

Current: They say it’s the fresh MTV. Hmm, but far more Ready Made. More like CNN – but real-er and young-er. Current is the less-heralded project of Al Gore, who actually DID something about improving our media system. It provides 24-hour viewer-created cultural journalism, unscheduled, powered by young adults. You’ll see content ‘pods’ created about compelling, newsworthy topics from around the globe; some is shot off cell phones cameras. I’ve watched Current on a big screen TV and on a laptop; both are great.

Afterworld: A serial drama about the end of the world..and it’s fun. Ad guy from Seattle wakes up in Manhattan to leer IT has happened: The total grid meltdown. Live vicariously through Russell as he proves he can originate his procedure without technology – and get back, Jack. Distopia has never been so…relevant.
MyTVPal: Canadian company offers live TV channels and Hi-Def quality video on demand. International streaming content from many genres. Get streaming content off your PC. You have a choice of viewing content via pay per view or at no charge – all made possible through user-focused advertising.

FreeTube Gives you sports, comedy, sci-fi and their news coverage includes link to the ‘fair and balanced’ (from another perspective) al jazeera news site.
LiveLeak: Brings us something the networks never will: exclusive footage from US soldiers and marines, and hopefully, their lifeline.

Acceptable.tv: Comedian Jack Black and VH1 collaborate to bring this weekly sketch comedy format. They’re inviting viewers to make short, funny videos (3-min.) and win audience votes to see what gets shown.

G4tv: G4 is Comcast-sponsored, podcast cable content aiming for a young male 18-35 demo. Pick Up breaking news and insider opinions on gaming, comics, animations and tech stuff.

Also, their hit Attack of the Show! (or AOTS) is a U.S. live television program shown weeknights, created by guys and gals. Worth checking: The Feed, all about the latest Internet news and fads:

Joost: Beamed from Amsterdam and providing US and Int’l content including soccer, Indy races, National Geographic, Comedy, Animation and music. Here, you download software from site to watch favorite broadcast-quality Internet television from around the world – some free, some you pay for. Software download is available on invitation from an existing user, but if you join their beta test, they’ll’ invite you.

WE tv: Get yer chick-content here: Covers everything from real estate, health and wellness, Bridezillas and the Bounty Hunter Mom. Celebrity news. Lately there’s been an emphasis on the whole bridal smackdown scene.

lulu: Shareholder TV. You create your own channel on this tubby feature site, where video creators get PAID based on how much their local content is viewed, downloaded, or subscribed to. They pour 80% of revenue into a pot, your content is conveniently converted to iPod, PSP, your PC or TV formats. Your posts are contained within your personal profile page on their site. Free or premium accounts give you respective amounts of bandwidth to entertain your public with.
revver: Your Media Broker TV. A fairly genius viral video marketing notion, also lets you benefit from creating content played on their site. BUT when you submit your video, they pair it with advertisers – the more it gets watched the more you all get paid, and they split the profits 50/50.
Go crazy, kid.