Al Gore, chairman of the "youth-oriented" Current TV, wants to pressure the cable giant to include his channel in its lineup. The former vice president sponsored a "Take Back TV" rally in Philadelphia.
The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that the event took place under chairman Brian L. Roberts' nose, "way under his nose. His office on the 35th floor of 1500 Market St. was well within view of the crowd in the plaza."
The Inquirer reports that Al Gore invited "7,000 Current TV fans"--whatever those are--to attend. The term "Democratic activists" would probably be more accurate, although it was not mentioned in the press release.
Al Gore took aim at the big media corporations, as reported by the Inquirer:
"Besides the Comcast systems, Current is also carried by satellite distributor DirecTV and on some Time Warner Cable systems.
"Gore called for a 'national debate' on the state of American TV. The corporations that control TV, he said, are not always interested in putting on programs 'that are in the best interest of the American people.'"
Whatever problems Gore faces, Current TV will likely not have to face the difficulties of Fox News in gaining access to cable lineups across the country.
