Al Gore's TV Network Launches

Current, the television network aimed at the younger generation and chaired by former vice president Al Gore, silently went live on Monday to about 20 million households. The network allows its viewers to submit content to be shown on the channel that will give it a television news magazine feel.

The network does its programming in what it calls "pods." Each of the sections are about two to seven minutes long and cover a broad range of topics from parenting, to fashion, finances, and current events.

Every half hour Current will produce a short news brief listing the top searched for news stories courtesy of Google.

The channel also makes use of the Internet through its Web site. Viewers will be able to submit content, vote for what they would like to see on the air, and see a continuously updated schedule of upcoming "pods" on the main page.

However, the network's producers say they realize in order to keep viewers attention, the content they select for air needs to be compelling. Gore has said that they intend for Current "to be the television home page for the Internet generation."

Forget about Gore's political affiliation too. At a news conference for the network in July, he said that Current would be completely non-partisan and would be open to views from all walks of life.

"I think the reality of the network will speak for itself," Gore said. "It's not intended to be partisan in any way and not intended to be ideological."

Current will be broadcast on the old Newsworld International channel, which is available on some cable networks and nationwide on channel 366 on DirecTV - about 20 million homes in total. The network hopes to double that number in a few years.