Haven’t you always wanted to watch TV and surf the ‘Net at the same time on the same headache-inducing screen? Well now you can with ManiaTV! ManiaTV! Is the first Internet TV network and it is live all the time.
“ManiaTV! is watched picture-in-picture on your computer. Viewers can keep surfing the Web, Instant Messaging, downloading, e-mailing and pretending to study/work while they watch. And for those who really need a fix, ManiaTV! can be viewed via wifi,” says a ManiaTV! press release.
On ManiaTV! the cyber jockeys, or CJs, talk about many different subjects including news, music, gossip and online dating profiles. There is also a chat room on the Web site and the CJs talk about whatever is going on in there and also promotions that the Web site is having.
“ManiaTV! went live Labor Day weekend 2004,” said Christy Kruzick, public relations. Drew Massey, CEO and founder, came up with the idea to fuse Internet and TV.
There are 13 CJs who sometimes interview different guests including bands, athletes, celebrities and comedians.
ManiaTV! is geared toward 12 to 34-year-olds, the Internet generations, said Kruzick.
“The Internet becomes essential- it’s the same as having a phone; people can’t imagine life without it,” said Kruzick. “The actual TV box is a thing of the past, and the fact remains that people are starting to spend more and more time online than in front of the TV.”
A few people who work at ManiaTV! are connected with DU. CJ Megan is a current DU student, CJ Tre and Art Director Marc Wren are both alumni.
To access ManiaTV!, you just have to go to www.ManiaTV.com on any computer worldwide with broadband Internet access.
ManiaTV! has engrossed 85 nations. Over 15 million visitors logged on in the first ten weeks.
The reason why ManiaTV! is so popular is because it plays music videos and has about 5,000 videos in its digital library.Also, the viewers are not just viewing, but interacting through the live chat room, Web cam and e-mail so people can share their opinions and have them heard. Viewers have a lot of influence as to what is put on the air.
And one of the best things about ManiaTV! is that there are only a few commercials as opposed to regular TV.
