BitTorrent is officially launching its ‘BitTorrent News’ TV network at the Republican National Convention on July 18 in Cleveland, Ohio.
Like so many other news platforms, BitTorrent News will focus on news breaking in real-time, as well as commentary from experts on various subject matter. In a statement, Erik Schwartz, Vice President of Media for BitTorrent, Inc. had the following to say:
Television news has been stagnating for some time. It’s having trouble appealing to a generation that grew up online. We’re building BitTorrent News to solve that problem. We are using superior data and tools and the Silicon Valley ethos of lean startup to build a nimble news organization that will learn quickly from user behavior.
BitTorrent News is promising a lot
The team at the RNC include a comedian, political science professor, documentary filmmaker and three people from the now-defunct Al Jazeera news network: one producer, a correspondent and a journalist.
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BitTorrrent says the format will be “play-by-play commentary on all developments and speeches” which will be “interspersed with guest commentary in real-time; both on issues raised and issues omitted.” It’s planning to run 10-12 hours of coverage each day of the convention.
The company is also promising a ‘no spin’ take on the events — but we’ve heard all of that before. We also hear the ‘news is broken’ trope each time a new network or show is launched, so it rings hollow.
But this is BitTorrent, which has a history of not giving a damn anyway. Though the announcement may feel a bit dull, we’re still excited to see the content it churns. If any one entity can make good on the ‘news sucks’ narrative, it’s likely BitTorrent.
And if there’s any good place to launch such a network, the RNC is low-hanging fruit. With Trump in attendance, there’s no telling what shenanigans may erupt.
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