A lot of folks seem to be curious about why we decided to launch Roots Television™ online. Not surprisingly, we pondered other possibilities, but ultimately, we decided that online was the way to go. Here are a few of the reasons behind this choice:
-
Being online allowed us to go global from the start. Even before our launch, we received inquiries from our friends in the U.K., Australia and elsewhere, asking whether they would be able to view our programming – and the answer is yes!
-
Being online also allows our viewers to watch their favorite shows at their convenience. No more need for “appointment TV.” You can watch what you want when you want.
-
Being very practical and blunt for a moment, it makes good financial sense. The online environment is a more cost-efficient way to deliver programming, so we can devote more money to producing great shows than to getting them on the air. As one expert recently said, “TV and the Internet will eventually merge into one giant multi-media melting pot.” We seriously considered the possibility of a cable channel, but realized it would be less expensive to get ahead of the curve by launching online.
-
We felt this was the quickest way to provide programming for the sorely neglected millions who are actively researching or even mildly interested in their roots. You read constantly that genealogy is the second most popular hobby out there, so where’s our HGTV? Roots Television™ is it. And incidentally, we’d be delighted if some of our programming winds up on traditional television and cable channels as well, so keep an eye out!
-
The industry of online television is still in its infancy – that wonderful phase where there are no rules because it’s all just being invented. This means that we have lots of freedom and flexibility. For instance, we can create shows in traditional half-hour or full-hour formats, or we can make a show that’s 4 minutes and 21 seconds long – whatever the story dictates. And there’s just enough rebel in us to enjoy that aspect!
|
