"Participation TV" Event

I went to an interesting panel discussion put on by the Producers Guild of America last night at the New School here in NYC with my friend Hilary Roland. In between a bit of laughter, we learned more about Participation TV and how Game Participation media is a new genre of production in which "call-ins" from audience members, cell phone text messages, and online votes are incorporated into television shows, ranging from American Idol to So You Think You Can Dance.The industry is projected to be a $3 billion market in the United States within the next five years. That's a lot of text messages and should make you stand up and notice.

Chris Pfaff led the panel, which featured Jeff Miller of Telescope, Donna Campbell, Executive Director, Ericsson Mobility World North America and Rick Mandler, Vice President and General Manager, Walt Disney Internet Group and ABC's Enhanced TV.

I personally found some of it useful and it did trigger some ideas for Cutcaster but most of it wasn't that new and sometimes a bit dry. I think they could have spent less time on the presentations which lasted 15 minutes each and more time on the Q and A which lasted about 10 minutes in total and was a bit more lively.

For those of you that don't know, and I am including myself in that group until last night, The Producers Guild of America (PGA) is the premier industry association for entertainment producing professionals.

For the most up-to-date information on the PGA New Media Council East, visit the blog.

And for all you fashionistas out there, I am sure there are a few of you, check out Hilary's revamped New Faces site.

And great to finally put Bill Sobel's name to the face. We had traded emails and now we have met. I'm gald to be a part of the master connector's world ;-)