EarthTV
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EarthTV is a German satellite television network which airs live broadcasts of webcam streams from sites all around the world. The network features a mix of both personal and scenic webcams. Personal cams are often chosen to be aired because of their unique content or theme (examples include cameras which claim to feature ghosts), and scenic cams usually feature beaches, mountains, seaside resorts, or skylines of major cities. The network has a colorful history, and continues to enjoy high ratings and technological development.
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[edit] History
The idea that would eventually become EarthTV was conceived in 1994, when Michael Knorrs and Diana Hubert, two television developers, met in New York City with the intention of creating a TV show which would showcase a series of webcams from around the world. Some of the cameras would feature scenery and interesting natural features, the others would feature personal webcams, which Knoors and Hubert believed would attract a greater audience. The team put out an ad for anybody who operated a webcam and who would like to appear on a network television show. The response was overwhelming. The idea was praised by critics for being original; no other show had given ordinary people the opportunity to appear on television using nothing more than a webcam. This was considered to be one of the first "reality shows" on TV.
After months of planning, financing, and production, the show debuted on the UBS network on June 11, 1996, under the name EarthWatch. It was hosted by Daniel Kirkpatrick and Michelle Dawes, both newscasters with the UBS network, and featured six webcams:
- San Francisco Bay
- Richard Hubert and family, who operated a webcam focusing on their adopted kids
- New York City, NY (Times Square)
- Sandra Newton, who bred horses
- Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Diane Ross, a newscaster in her hometown of Peoria, Illinois
Though the show boasted strong viewership, it was critizied for being too plain, and focusing too much on its theme of the common man getting his fifteen minutes of fame. Others said the show was "pointless" and "a waste of technology".[citation needed] The idea caught on, though, and the show was revamped with more features and less focus on just webcams. The hosts no longer offered what was called "pointless banter" about each webcam, and instead engaged in discussions in topics relating to each webcam. They later went on to feature guests with stories or expertise that could relate to that show's webcam. For example, one show featured a webcam in Los Angeles, California, and a guest told a story about how she'd grown up in the ghettos of that city, but rose up out of the ashes to become a successful businesswoman. Other shows featured guests doing extraordinary things, and beating incredible odds. Ratings soared, and more people applied to have their webcams featured on the network. Sales of webcams actually rose after the show's peak.
EarthWatch grew with its acclaim. In mid-1997, several new anchors were added to host special features. These anchors included Kevin Taylor and Grant Newman, who are still with the network.
As ratings continued to rise, and EarthWatch continuted to grow, talk began of making the show into a full-time TV network. UBS President Daniel Ross offered the producers of the show more airtime, allowing them a full two hours to broadcast their content. Although some people were initially opposed to this idea (including host Daniel Kirkpatrick), the idea caught on as demand for more personal webcams grew. Finally, in the fall of 1998, UBS decided to incorporate EarthWatch into a multi-million dollar TV network spin-off, making it a full-fledged, 24-hour network devoted to webcams, technology, and pop culture. However, Daniel Kirkpatrick refused to be a part of the idea, feeling that it was taking a good thing and pushing it to far, exploiting the voyeurism of their audience. He left the project, leaving Michelle Dawes to anchor the network alone. On January 2, 1998, EarthTV debuted, with Dawes behind the anchor desk, and a webcam in Austin, Texas as its first feature. In fact, that camera is still featured on the network today.
[edit] Webcams
EarthTV currently features about 200 webcams. Of those, about 60% are considered "personal" cams, operated out of a home or office. The rest are considered "scenery" cams, which feature buildings, beaches, cities, mountains, or other such scenery. EarthTV maintains a strict policy when it comes to screening and airing their webcams. Anybody who operates a webcam may apply to be featured on the network. All cameras must be carefully screened by network producers before it can be considered for airing. Cameras cannot feature nudity, violence, drugs, alcohol, or sexuality. Each camera is given a 30-day "trial period", during which producers carefully monitor the camera to determine if it is appropriate for the network, and interesting enough to capture the attention of viewers. The network also has strict regulations when it comes to children. Due to the risk of exploitation, children under the age of 18 cannot be featured on the camera for more than two hours a day, and must have parental permission and supervision. As of September 1, 2006, no child under the age of six can appear on air at all. If any incident occurs, the camera is placed on "probation", in which it is taken off the air for a period of two weeks. If another incident occurs, it is removed for two months. After the third incident, the camera is removed from the network "until further consideration".
[edit] Operating Policies
As mentioned above, EarthTV operates all its webcames (especially personal ones) under very strict regulations. Anybody who is going to appear on the camera, for any length of time, must sign a contract stating, among other things:
- That EarthTV is not liable for any damages that occur as a result of the camera being aired
- Camera owners will not deliberately depict obscene material
- Those operating the camera are not engaging in any illegal, exploitive acts and will not use their appearance on EarthTV for any personal monetary gain, nor will they exploit the network in any way
- The network reserves the right to, at any time, discontinue airing a camera, for whatever reason, at the the discretion of supervising producers
[edit] Current on-air crew
EarthTV's current on-air talent consists of:
- Michelle Dawes (Since 1998)
- Kevin Taylor (Since 1998)
- Grant Newman (Since 1998)
- Allison Cameron (Joined in 1998, left until 2001)
- Shari Carson (Since 1998)
- Danielle Newton (Since 1998)
- Diane Killpack (Since 1999)
- Kevin Newman (Since 1999)
- Deborah Barr (1999-2001, 2003-Present)
- Kyle Clash (Since 2000)
- Steve Tyler (Since 2000)
- Rachel Carter (Since 2000)
- Tamara Gray (Since 2001)
- Daniel Dawes (Since 2001)
- Teri Boyce (Since 2001)
- Deborah Hill-Newton (Since 2003)
- Kathy Chambers (Since 2004)
[edit] Allegations of bias
Throughout its history as a network, EarthTV has often been accused of a strong liberal bias. Several media watchdog groups have reported some oddities in some of its choices for cameras. For example, 30 of the personal webcams aired during the 2004 Presidential election openly supported a candidate. Of those, 19 of them openly supported Senator John Kerry (or at least the Democratic Party). Other allegations stem from the fact that, collectively, 68% of the money contributed by anchors and management went to Democratic organizations. The allegations escalated after several anchors openly supported Kerry, as well as other Democratic candidates and organizations, though this was not done on the air. It was then determined that several of the anchors and management team donated money to liberal organizations, gay rights groups, and pro-choice organizations. On the other hand, others argue that the anchors do not bring any bias on the air. They have featured both Democrats and Republicans on the air, and have given equal time to both. Still, many Republicans have boycotted the network.
[edit] Notable moments
EarthTV has featured a number of notable events and moments, both planned and unexpected. One of the most notable events in EarthTV's history is without a doubt September 11, 2001. Kathy Chambers and Grant Newman were anchoring the network's morning show when news broke of an aircraft crashing into one of the World Trade Centers. The network immediately went to full coverage of cameras throughout the city, at first utilizing only webcams, but switching to regular network cameras as the situation escalated. Throughout the ordeal, Chambers and Newman anchored with poise, calmly reporting the events and providing a sort of soothing tone that few could provide. They also provided insightful commentary and worked tirelessly to help the victims. Chambers and Newman later won an Emmy award for excellence in broadcasting for their reporting.
Another notable moment occurred on March 9, 2006. A webcam at a grocery store was being shown when two men entered acting suspiciously. A clerk at the store believed that one of the men had a gun, prompting the supervisor on duty to call the police. The police quickly arrived, and swarmed the men with their guns drawn. By the time the situation had calmed down, nearly 20 police officers were on the scene, some of whom were brandishing rifles. No gun was ever found.
Another less serious incident occurred on March 12, 2006. Incidentally, it was at the same grocery store as the previous incident. A young man entered the store and sat down in the store's cold medicine aisle. A customer found him shaking on the floor, and speaking incoherently. The store supervisor (who was the same one that was on-duty during the previous incident) went back to the aisle and found the boy amongst several open packages of cold medicine. Paramedics were called, and the boy was taken to a local hospital.
Both of these incidents were caught on camera, live.
