The revolution will not be streamed
Web site ManiaTV! can't do it like MTV
By SHAY DAVIS
It’s not channel surfing. It’s not web surfing. It’s
a combination of both.
The Web site ManiaTV! is trying to achieve the impossible — Internet
television.
ManiaTV.com uses recycled material, such as music videoes and
cyberjockeys. Image courtesy of www.maniatv.com |
Although it’s a fresh idea, ManiaTV! is not the next MTV. Its goal
of leading the Internet television revolution is unrealistic when the
site has amateur “cyberjockeys” and reoccurring music videos.
ManiaTV! features cartoons and short films shown between music videos
and live broadcasts. But the cartoons appear to be spin-offs of The Simpsons’
“Itchy and Scratchy Show” or a similar knock-off version of
“South Park.” Fuzzy bunnies, profanity, and no storyline.
Not exactly innovative.
On its “All Shows” link, there is a listing of programs such
as “Wake the Hell Up” at 7 a.m., followed by “Shiny
and New” and “U Pick Em” at 3 p.m. All of these parallel
MTV’s “Spankin’ New Music” and “TRL.”
In hopes of being the next MTV, the copycat ideas are understandable.
But if ManiaTV! is striving to eliminate television, why does it feel
the need to use recycled material, like a contest of “Battle of
the Bands”? How often has that been done before? Too often.
As a new site, ManiaTV! is encouraging young students to try out for cyberjockey
positions to host live shows. Requesting a five-minute video from interested
viewers, ManiaTV! hopes the contestants can show their “talent,
charm, and charisma.” Not to mention that it wants you to answer
questions like, “What will you bring to ManiaTV! that makes you
special, and How will ManiaTV! be...errr....special-er?” Again,
the immaturity is astounding.
The site is not only lacking in development, but also in originality.
ManiaTV! uses stale ideas like having an almost naked Britney Spears
as the ManiaTV! launch link. The commentary throughout the site is poorly
written and filled with obscenities. It appears to be more like a personalized
Web page rather than a professional site “leading the Internet television
revolution.” If ManiaTV! wants us to take it seriously, it needs
to take its own advice.
The aspired demographic includes college students such as ourselves. You
can even sign up to be a Campus Maniac on the “Register to Join
the Cult” page.
But it’s just poor judgment to assume that students will throw out
common music television. If ManiaTV!
has aspirations for us to do so, it needs to get more serious.
Otherwise, we’ll continue channel surfing between MTV and VH1.
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