BitTorrent, well renowned as a peer-to-peer technology firm, announces that it is venturing into live TV streaming, following the company's move to establish its own TV production studio not so long ago.
BitTorrent News, which the company calls "a live-streaming TV news network," will officially kickstart on July 18 during the Republican National Convention.
BitTorrent's Vice President of Media, Erik Schwartz, says that television news showed signs of stagnation for some time as it has become a passé for younger generations, with online media being widely available today.
"Television news has been stagnating for some time," says Schwartz. "It's having trouble appealing to a generation that grew up online. We're building BitTorrent News to solve that problem."
"We are using superior data and tools and the Silicon Valley ethos of lean startup to build a nimble news organization that will learn quickly from user behavior," he adds.
Correspondents
Harrison Bohrman, who formerly worked with CNN and Vice, will be the network's news director and will be working with various correspondents. Most of these reporters come from Al Jazeera America, which was previously reported to have laid off many of its staff earlier this year.
These include Michael Shure, Al Jazeera America's former chief political correspondent; Rita Chan, a producer at Fox News and Al Jazeera; James Reinl, a journalist at Al Jazeera English; Justin Robert Young, a comedian, podcaster and journalist; Alice Anil, a journalist and a filmmaker; and Doc Stodden, a political science professor.
BitTorrent says that during the launch of the news network, it will center on commentaries on the speeches and other developments in the RNC. The live coverage of the convention will be available for 10 to 12 hours daily.
BitTorrent News will start each day with live programming for two hours. The coverage will then continue at 2 o'clock in the afternoon. There will also be a one-hour wrap-up segment after the final speeches are delivered every day.
BitTorrent's co-CEO Jeremy Johnson, in the meantime, says in a statement that he is excited about the company's News initiative. He believes that what BitTorrent is doing is "important for the world."
After the RNC and Democratic National Convention, BitTorrent News will soon feature election coverage and other important news, such as those related to alternative sports and "the worlds of action," in a bid to empower what it calls "progressive athletes." One of the first athletes to be featured in the said news network is motocross racer Sara Price.
How To Access BitTorrent News
BitTorrent News can be accessed via BitTorrent Live, a multichannel app, which is presently available via OS X and on Apple TV. The company promises that other platforms will be introduced soon.
Last month, a rumor emerged that BitTorrent could be mulling to launch its own TV news network, based on a job posting that surfaced on the web.
What do you think of BitTorrent's move to unveil its own live-streaming TV news network? Do you think it can go head-to-head with today's other news networks, such as CNN? Let us know what's in your mind.
