Al Gore’s Current TV launched in August in 20 million homes with programming “pods,” from 15 seconds to five minutes long.

And, last but not least, who is going to finance? Most startup projects fail due to lack of expertise and funding. The expertise required to do any of the above is simply and easily acquired. The maximum investment for a modest version of any of the above would be under $10,000 and, in most cases, would be a trifling fraction. The rest is content, based on your talent, a little imagination and a lot of your time. But take your time and get the business plan right. Then either do it yourself or, if the price is too steep in terms of personal time, effort, stress and expense, find some business angels.

Crass Roots
Style, fashion, technology, music (although before doing anything, please see www.riaa.com/issues/licensing/webcasting_faq.asp#whatis), videogame reviews, shopping, gossip, spirituality, finance, parenting, politics, education, training, hobbies, jobs, photos, rants… anything can fill up the 24 hours. But the animation should be the cornerstone. You can start with a few hours and build. If you’re broadcasting, loop them. If you’re streaming, programming can be done cheaply and creatively like Bill Plympton’s live drawing table for Hair High.

Bill Plympton’s live drawing table for Hair High is an example of cheap and creative streaming programming. © Bill Plympton 2003. All rights reserved.

High concept isn’t necessary, either. Do things like “The Telephone Camera Show” or use public domain (like Mickey Mouse, for example!) “Zero investment, maximum return” should be the battle cry. And don’t be afraid of starting humbly. Or raising hell.

If you want some quick content, organize your own online festival where anyone can win based on viewer voting instead of the glitterati deciding. And let anyone (kids, amateurs, students, pros) send in animation, after signing the requisite online legal release form, of course. Democracy at its best. Get yourself some traditional press by organizing some publicity stunts and preparing some juicy soundbytes and you’re in business. At least until you can cut out the middleman and get a direct bead on your target audience — the kids in the cereal aisle.

Chris Panzner was one of the first technical directors of the Home Shopping Network, colorized movies for Ted Turner, developed theme channels for Canal Plus and has worked on hundreds of hours of animated TV shows and five features. Roughly the opposite karma of Barry Diller… to be continued. He recently created production and distribution company Eye & Ear in France.