Right, I've done it. I've made my own television channel. In fact Material Television is comprised of not one but SIX channels. Okay so it's hosted on youtube and yeah, I guess, I haven't bought TV studios and done business with advertisers or set up a subscription programme. But I've curated the clips. Over six 'playlists' and channels you will find extracts, clips, shows and all manner of curios and more as I add them.
I am, I suppose, a frustrated producer/controller of television. At the same time I wanted a place to gather some of my favourite pop videos, film clips, short films, interviews and performances. At the same time I didn't want it to be a nostalgia fest. I was motivated in part about the erosion of music television as much as the frustration of Sky buying everything up when it appears it's successful as well as the dipping standards of the BBC. MTV these days is no more than reality television channel, BBC 3, less a birthing pool for talent but a questionable, aspirational breeding ground for idiots and middle class yoof. Don't get me wrong the BBC has, does and can do better. Sky on the other hand wants to hold all the cards and unless you have money you don't get to see some interesting programmes. This wouldn't be a problem if the license fee included Sky. For many boring and greedy reasons, it doesn't. The best thing is to buy DVD box sets and films for as cheap as possible and curate your own entertainment. It would work out better than any subscription and would generally be of a higher quality. Actually so I don't sound bitter and negative I would advise you all to watch and catch up with The Killing on BBC 4/iplayer. Riveting.
Material Television can't compete, can't change any of these things. It's just my own take, a fantasy TV station you might say. But it's rather good and I think you'll like it too. Here are the highlights, guide to my channels:
ON TELEVISION
Here you'll find clips, scenes and curios from Mad Men, The Prisoner, Columbo, Life on Mars, Twilight Zone and Sherlock Holmes and many more.
CINEMA CINEMA
Classic trailers and clips from the BEST films out there. Includes bits and pieces from directors such as Alfred Hitchcock, David Lynch, Woody Allen and Ingmar Bergman and films such as Timecrimes, Seconds, The President's Analyst, Three Colours and Blade Runner. Over time I'll include rare clips, deleted scenes and other curios.
MUSIC NON STEP
This is how MTV used to be and how it should be. Wall to wall of pop videos in different genres. No aspirational/reality bullshit, stupid cliched rap videos. In fact after you've watched 'Windowlicker' by Aphex Twin you'll never want or need to see a rap video again. Many highlights here: Kraftwerk, Hot Chip, Kate Bush, Bjork, Radiohead, Yeah Yeah Yeahs and some more of the music videos from Europe you wouldn't find on UK/US TV.
CULTURESHOCK
This 'channel' is still in some development but I've added interviews with Orson Welles, David Lynch and put little features on Many Ray, Philip Glass and Dirk Bogarde. I'll be scouring old South Bank Show/Culture show features too and gathering features from the world of art and theatre.
PICNMIX
This channel will showcase opening credits, extracts and clips from children's TV shows.
COMEDY NEUTRAL
Classic/modern alternative comedy.
I am, I suppose, a frustrated producer/controller of television. At the same time I wanted a place to gather some of my favourite pop videos, film clips, short films, interviews and performances. At the same time I didn't want it to be a nostalgia fest. I was motivated in part about the erosion of music television as much as the frustration of Sky buying everything up when it appears it's successful as well as the dipping standards of the BBC. MTV these days is no more than reality television channel, BBC 3, less a birthing pool for talent but a questionable, aspirational breeding ground for idiots and middle class yoof. Don't get me wrong the BBC has, does and can do better. Sky on the other hand wants to hold all the cards and unless you have money you don't get to see some interesting programmes. This wouldn't be a problem if the license fee included Sky. For many boring and greedy reasons, it doesn't. The best thing is to buy DVD box sets and films for as cheap as possible and curate your own entertainment. It would work out better than any subscription and would generally be of a higher quality. Actually so I don't sound bitter and negative I would advise you all to watch and catch up with The Killing on BBC 4/iplayer. Riveting.
Material Television can't compete, can't change any of these things. It's just my own take, a fantasy TV station you might say. But it's rather good and I think you'll like it too. Here are the highlights, guide to my channels:
ON TELEVISION
Here you'll find clips, scenes and curios from Mad Men, The Prisoner, Columbo, Life on Mars, Twilight Zone and Sherlock Holmes and many more.
CINEMA CINEMA
Classic trailers and clips from the BEST films out there. Includes bits and pieces from directors such as Alfred Hitchcock, David Lynch, Woody Allen and Ingmar Bergman and films such as Timecrimes, Seconds, The President's Analyst, Three Colours and Blade Runner. Over time I'll include rare clips, deleted scenes and other curios.
MUSIC NON STEP
This is how MTV used to be and how it should be. Wall to wall of pop videos in different genres. No aspirational/reality bullshit, stupid cliched rap videos. In fact after you've watched 'Windowlicker' by Aphex Twin you'll never want or need to see a rap video again. Many highlights here: Kraftwerk, Hot Chip, Kate Bush, Bjork, Radiohead, Yeah Yeah Yeahs and some more of the music videos from Europe you wouldn't find on UK/US TV.
CULTURESHOCK
This 'channel' is still in some development but I've added interviews with Orson Welles, David Lynch and put little features on Many Ray, Philip Glass and Dirk Bogarde. I'll be scouring old South Bank Show/Culture show features too and gathering features from the world of art and theatre.
PICNMIX
This channel will showcase opening credits, extracts and clips from children's TV shows.
COMEDY NEUTRAL
Classic/modern alternative comedy.
