# Current TV

> Current TV was a San Francisco cable channel and online media company co-founded by Al Gore and Joel Hyatt. Launched in 2005, it mixed short original reports with viewer-made videos and ads aimed at young adults, then shifted toward progressive news before Al Jazeera bought the company in 2013 for its U.S. distribution footprint.

- **Founded:** 2002
- **Headquarters:** San Francisco, United States
- **Founders:** Al Gore (Co-founder; executive chairman), Joel Hyatt (Co-founder; chief executive officer)
- **Products:** Current TV, Viewer-Created Content (VC²), Viewer-Created Ad Messages (VCAMs), Current.com, Vanguard
- **Notable:** Won a 2007 Emmy for Outstanding Creative Achievement in Interactive Television (Service)., Expanded from about 19 million U.S. households at launch to about 56 million households across four countries by early 2008., Put viewer-produced programming on a national cable channel, with roughly 30% of programming viewer-created in 2008.

## Products & services

- **Current TV** — Cable and satellite channel launched in August 2005, initially built around short video pods and later focused on progressive news.
- **Viewer-Created Content (VC²)** — Audience-submitted videos selected for broadcast, supported by feedback, training, production resources and one-time payments.
- **Viewer-Created Ad Messages (VCAMs)** — Sponsor briefs that invited audience-made commercials for brands.
- **Current.com** — Online community for submitting, discussing and watching videos and viewer-made ads.
- **Vanguard** — Original investigative documentary reporting.
- **Countdown with Keith Olbermann** — Prime-time political commentary program that marked a shift toward a conventional news schedule.

## Achievements

- Won a 2007 Emmy for Outstanding Creative Achievement in Interactive Television (Service).
- Expanded from about 19 million U.S. households at launch to about 56 million households across four countries by early 2008.
- Put viewer-produced programming on a national cable channel, with roughly 30% of programming viewer-created in 2008.

## Latest updates

- **2013-08** — Current TV ceased broadcasting and was replaced by Al Jazeera America.
- **2013-01** — Al Jazeera Media Network acquired Current Media to expand its U.S. cable distribution.

## Links

- Website: http://www.current.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/current-tv

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/current-tv
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-09-30