|
|
R.S. Regular user CT one day I'll have 184 Posts |
Don't know if there has been discussion on this, but I'll throw it out there. We have all-music channels on TV, all-weather channels, all-sports, etc., but no all-magic channels (as far as I know). Would such a channel be desirable?
I, for one, would love to see a well produced, 24 hour, dedicated magic channel on TV. Content could include interviews, biographies, historical perspectives, classic clips, product/media reviews, and of course, plenty of performances by current and future stars (of course, without the explanations of the effects). Ideally, it would appeal to a lay audience as much as hobbyist/performers. Any chance of this ever coming to fruition? If the viewing public can't get enough Poker on TV (as appears to be the case), I don't see why a magic channel wouldn't fly. Your thoughts?? Ron
"It is error only, and not truth, that shrinks from inquiry." Thomas Paine
|
mysticalmike Special user Saratoga Springs, NY 509 Posts |
I would think it would be a great idea. I mean they just came out with all outdoor channel to. I would watch all magic channel.
|
DerekMerdinyan Inner circle 1030 Posts |
I hope they wouldn't have a magic channel
I don't care about the mass exposure it might insue (or the subsiquent riots on the internet forums) I just wouldn't get anything done anymore! TiVo might not even be able to help me. Derek Merdinyan |
R.S. Regular user CT one day I'll have 184 Posts |
I don't know if there's such a thing as 'mass exposure' anymore. Look at ESPN, ESPN2, the NFL channel, etc. in regards to sports. And the assortment of HBO's, Showtimes, and Movie channels - are people burning out over those channels? If anything, they want more!
Right now there are NO dedicated magic channels. Not one. If there were one, it would fill it's own niche. It would attract it's own viewership - no doubt the same people that already frequent the magic websites. And of course, it would potentially gain a larger audience over time. Is that such a bad thing? Remember, over the years magic has made the leap from just printed media, to video, to DVD, and then to the Internet. Did any of those leaps overexpose it? As long as it doesn't indiscriminately reveal a wealth of 'secrets', I don't see too much of a down side. It may even spur more creativity, maybe even a competitor Magic channel! And for us magiholics, that's a good thing. But this is exactly the type of discussion we need. Keep the thoughts coming! Ron
"It is error only, and not truth, that shrinks from inquiry." Thomas Paine
|
Payne Inner circle Seattle 4571 Posts |
Doubtful that there will ever be an all magic channel as the number of viewers it would attract are just too small to attract any advertising revenue. Then what advertisers would want to target magic fans anyway as they are notoriously cheap. There isn't enough programming available to fill the time slots. If you aired every magic special ever made you'd barely fill a month or two of air time and most of the magic specials that are out there are unwatchable by todays standards. Very few except for the most ardent of magic fans are going to sit through watching fuzzy black and white kinetoscope recordings of ancient magic shows from the fifties.
The biography channel can't even maintain thematic programming and has to fill timeslots with old A&E mystery series. While I'd love to see a 24 hour all magic all the time channel myself it really isn't feasible and I'd probably never watch it. I'm a big Science Fiction Fan but I rarely watch the Sci-Fi channel as the bulk of its programming is so bad. A magic channel I fear would suffer the same fate. How many time can one watcha Zig-zarg or interlude being performed anyway?
"America's Foremost Satirical Magician" -- Jeff McBride.
|
fallingblood New user North Dakota 98 Posts |
I agree with Payne. I would like to see an all magic channel, but I don't think it would work, unless more magicians started filming their performances. But even then, there wouldn't be much to watch. It would be nice the first couple of months, but then, there just wouldn't be much more that could be seen. They would just run out of material.
|
thecardtrick New user Northern NJ 72 Posts |
Quote:
On 2006-10-17 20:30, DerekMerdinyan wrote: So true. I never watch TV. I keep busy with magic. If there was all magic tv, life as I know it would cease. I have trouble with taking things in moderation. |
Christopher Starr Inner circle Heart of America 1850 Posts |
Sorry guys, but magic is a variety form of entertainment. The fact that people DO NOT see it performed everyday is what continues to make it special when YOU perform it for people! Therefore, most of us would NOT want it to be available 24/7 on some cable channel. Makes as much sense as an all mime channel, or all ventriloquist, etc.
Just my 2¢ |
alekei Loyal user Dubai/Lisboa 245 Posts |
It would be interesting to watch a Music Channel with only 20 songs performed by 250 artists, each own with their own style (or not).
.....I am sorry. |
ed rhodes Inner circle Rhode Island 2885 Posts |
How about an all variety channel? (Sorta like vaudeville or music hall sort of stuff.)
OTOH, how long before it got ruined? Remember when Bravo used to be about theatre performances?
"...and if you're too afraid of goin' astray, you won't go anywhere." - Granny Weatherwax
|
pepka Inner circle Uh, I'm the one on the right. 5041 Posts |
An all variety channel would really be great. Sort of like America's Got Talent, but with all professional acts, instead of only 1 or 2 ringers thrown in to boost ratings. (Go ahead, yell at me.) Could also show reruns of the Gong Show.
One of the things I'd REALLY love to see is a special on REAL street magicians. Gazzo, Cellini, Jeff Sheridan etc. The guys that make there living in this art without using stooges, setups, special camera angles, or multiple takes. |
ed rhodes Inner circle Rhode Island 2885 Posts |
Multiple hidden cameras would be necessary to get the proper ambiance! I thought the same ting after Blaine's first special; "OK, that was fun. Now let's see some REAL street magicians!"
"...and if you're too afraid of goin' astray, you won't go anywhere." - Granny Weatherwax
|
Lusion Special user 590 Posts |
Christopher Starr I agree with you 100%!!!
|
Rocketeer Special user Westchester, NY 965 Posts |
There already is an all magic/variety TV channel but it isn't on cable; it's on the Web. It's called Youtube.
Type "magic" into Youtube's search box and you'll come up with 58,916 clips. Let's say about 20% of them aren't really about conjuring but about Magic Johnson, Magic Markers, that dumb card game--whatever. If the average clip is 90 seconds that's still more than 1,100 hours of magic video. Sure, it would be nice if someone pulled out the good stuff, packaged it nicely in 15, 30 or 50 minute pieces and provided some context. But stay tuned. It's inevitable.
I'm selling my hardcover autographed limited edition copy of Jerome Finley's "Thought Veil"
PM me for info. |
ScottRSullivan Special user 874 Posts |
Rocketeer, you don't know how much you hit the nail on the head. YouTube and iTunes are already re-shaping the way people watch television. Today, I can log onto iTunes and purchase a season of "24" to be downloaded to my computer each week, then either downloaded to an iPod or watched on TV.
There are numerous sites online, not just YouTube, that are positioning themselves for the next big media revolution. Did you know that for the past year or so, the NFL has been TRYING to get it's own cable channel. Now, I'm pretty sure that the NFL has just a few more resources AND larger audience than a magic channel. However, they have been unable to seal a deal with typical cable / sat. providers. The solution? The web. There are already items on sale (the Windows media box thing is one example, poorely executed, but there, nonetheless), that can play movies from your home computer on your big screen tv. When Apple releases their "iTV" or whatever it's going to be called early '07, it will make watching movies purcased online much easier. So we will soon have "channels" with so many independant producers. All available to us with the click of the remote. You and I will be able to sell documentaries, magic shows, short films or even instructional videos that will all download and watch on our Plasma HDTV with the click of a remote (we've already got most of this in Apple's Front Row). So Rocketeer, you are dead on. And everyone else, hang on. It's going to be a FUN ride that in the end will give the power of media to everyone. Warm regards, Scott Sullivan |
JaBMagic New user 1 Post |
I came across a channel on the web called answerstv.com - really high quality magic videos.
|
jaynet Regular user 102 Posts |
It would be nice to be able to pick videos to watch at
your convience with better quality than youtube and for some rental or download fee to restrict the audience. reducing magic to a common expience might reduce the general public's interest. A long post compared to my usual . |
gfdiamond Regular user sweden 198 Posts |
Dear fellow magician/magic dealer,
just to let you know that TVMAGICIANS.COM will be on the air soon on the UK IPTV network PLAYTV (www.playtvuk.com - click on the front page to enter and get info) and on the internet, 24/7. the channel will feature showreels from professional and amateur magicians worldwide and other magic related material. Play TV has over 120,000 set top boxes in UK homes and is growing fast, with 35,000 boxes being rolled out per month. you can see a template of how the channel will look here: http://admin.gdbtv.com/tvmagicians/player.php and the front page here: http://admin.gdbtv.com/tvmagicians/ a submission page is now being put together also. on the submission page, there will be a legal copyright release which will allow us to run your material. we will be inviting showreels and magic related video from magicians and dealers next week onwards with a launch date on the internet and on the tv network early to mid march 08. you can submit your well produced showreel for free inclusion on the main channel. we already have over two hours of such material, but obviously need a lot more. there are no restrictions on commercial content, however as we are broadcasting to homes in the uk, tasteful, family friendly material is encouraged. we will not accept reveal videos on the main channel, a dedicated secret sub channel is being built for that purpose. magicians/dealers already contributing material includes doug tilford (www.tilfordillusions.com) and marvins magic uk (www.marvinsmagic.co.uk) let me know if you have material to contribute - we will have a dedicated ftp transfer site up within two weeks. please note: this is not a way to raise advertising monies from you. we sell our own advertising around the service that does not involve contributing magicians/dealers, unless you specifically request to do so. please also note, the domain name host site is not up yet, that will also be activated next week. in the meantime, if you wish to send a promotional dvd with a note giving us permission to run your material on TVMAGICIANS.COM, you can send it via post to: Geoff Harrison, Programme Director, TVMAGICIANS.COM, Global Digital Broadcast PLAY TV UK |VEHDA 2nd Floor Ridgeland House 165 Dyke Road Brighton BN3 1TL United Kingdom
Check me out on Google. Geoff Diamond Magician.
|
gfdiamond Regular user sweden 198 Posts |
Check me out on Google. Geoff Diamond Magician.
|
The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » Lights...camera...action! » » Dedicated TV Magic Channel? (0 Likes) |
[ Top of Page ] |
All content & postings Copyright © 2001-2024 Steve Brooks. All Rights Reserved. This page was created in 0.03 seconds requiring 5 database queries. |
The views and comments expressed on The Magic Café are not necessarily those of The Magic Café, Steve Brooks, or Steve Brooks Magic. > Privacy Statement < |