TECH YOU TV - OVERVIEW

"Today we are beginning to notice that the new media are not just mechanical gimmicks for creating worlds of illusion, but new languages with new and unique powers of expression." - Eric McLuhan & Frank Zingrone

We are experiencing a revolution. Digital media is evolving at an unprecedented rate. Content is now available on more platforms and sources than ever before. The traditional model for how we access and distribute media is rapidly changing. The audience is no longer a passive observer, but now an active participant. The advent of digital media and technologies like You Tube, iPods, HDTV, Google Video, Video Cell Phones, Joost and Flash are giving viewers, listeners and readers the tools to become their own content programmers and creators.

Tech You TV believes this media revolution is just the tip of the digital iceberg. The current trend towards digital convergence is only the beginning. The affordable cost of digital technology is allowing everyone - from the traditional broadcaster to the amateur pod-caster plus everyone in between - the ability to reach out to a massive, virtually unlimited and international audience.

As a television program, Tech You embraces this revolution. Its goal is to give the new generation of digital media producers (professional or amateur) the knowledge and insight to produce dynamic content in this evolving digital age. For those who are serious about digital media, its content and presentation, Tech You will be the destination program to learn the latest digital media trends, the techniques for creating better content as well as providing access to the tools needed for reaching and communicating to their audience.

TECH YOU TV - THE SERIES.

Tech You with Craig Bowman is a weekly, half-hour magazine program that presents the world of digital media in a way that's informative, entertaining and educational. Think of it as Entertainment Tonight meets Daily Planet.

Host Craig Bowman, (educator, software developer, programmer and digital media aficionado) along with co-host, newcomer Michelle Guillet, puts the shifting world of digital media into perspective. Using the successful and proven news magazine format, Tech You examines developing and emerging technologies, compares new and existing digital software and hardware, and reviews the latest trends in digital media. Tech You teaches viewers how to use these new digital tools in straightforward, clear and logical terms. Best of all, Craig and Michelle make it fun and engaging.

Unlike most magazine style programs, where each show may profile a number of different topics and featured story ideas, each episode of Tech You will focus on a single theme. Whether it's virtual sets, non-linear editing or flash development, Craig and Michelle will take you behind the scenes - from high tech, state-of-the art production facilities to innovative producers working from home-studios. This variety and depth will differentiate Tech You from the crowd.

Tech You is not like other computer and technology programs. Current programs such as Dotto Tech, Dave Chalk Computer Talk or Call for Help with Leo Laporte target average consumer/computer users who are, by and large, more interested in learning how to transfer their digital photos to their PC, or download their favourite music to their MP3 players. Tech You targets an audience that is not only technology savvy, but active in changing the way we perceive media content.

Utilizing interviews and features (both in-studio and from the field) Tech You travels the continent to deliver a fast paced, information packed half hour with experts and enthusiasts who are on the front lines of this media revolution. Spiced with current facts, trivia plus regular segments like Craig's Classroom, it's the world of digital media like you've never seen it before.

As an added bonus for the Broadcaster, TechYou Digital Media will produce several 2 to 5 minute micro-programs from each Tech You episode. These vignettes can run as original Canadian Content programming to fill unsold commercial inventory (or to fill time in licensed US Produced programming). These features could also be used to fill time in programs, movies or content that are not formatted to traditional programming lengths (i.e. foreign content on specialty or digital channels). The number of vignettes from each episode and precise length will be dependent on that episode's content and features.

The format of the show and the relevance of the content not only make Tech You a natural fit for the national broadcaster's programming streams, but also a custom fit for the more narrowly targeted Specialty and Digital Channels.

TECH YOU TV - THE STORY IDEAS

Topic and story ideas for Tech You are almost limitless. The Producers of Tech You estimate that based on current technology and advances in digital media, there is enough program content for at least 5 years of weekly programs.

Each week will focus on a single topic. This approach allows Craig and Michelle to discuss the topic's current use in digital media production, examine real life situations, present features from the field with experts and guest columnists and finally, present hands on, step by step lessons. The result is an energetic, chock-full half hour.

Here is a short (and no where near complete) list of proposed show topics:

Virtual Sets: Tech You examines the emerging technology of Vector Keying, which allows most anyone with a DV Camera and a computer to place talent and objects into a virtual environment from almost any location.

Flash Media: Once a technology on the fringe of digital media, Flash is now mainstream and common in web development, animation and video production. The versatility and depth of Flash will be the subject of several Tech You episodes including:
o Flash Based Web Development
o Flash Animation
o Flash Gaming
o Flash Video
o Flash Distribution

Non-Linear Editing: From basic consumer applications like Windows Movie Maker or Apple's iMovie to professional products like Avid and Final Cut Pro, NLE's are no longer the domain of professional TV Producers and Filmmakers, but are now accessible to the masses. Tech You compares various NLE's available and demonstrates editing techniques of the pros.

Gaming: Gaming is a multi-billion dollar industry and has surpassed the movie industry in sales and is the entertainment of choice for many people. From Flash based web games to fully interactive on-line 3D gaming, Tech You takes you behind the scenes and introduces you to the next generation of game developers.

Animation: The creation of animation is no longer limited to a select few. Animators can now create from home and distribute to a mass audience using the latest, affordable digital technology.

Graphics Programs: The term Photoshop has become ubiquitous with photo and graphic manipulation. Tech You creates a digital picture with the simplest consumer programs as well as the most popular and advanced programs such as Photoshop, Illustrator and Corel Draw.

Digital Video Cameras: The affordability and ease-of-use of the DV cameras allows anyone to produce and distribute video content through internet sites such as YouTube, peekvid, AOL Video and a plethora of other user based sites. Tech You compares the quality of consumer based camcorders to that of Prosumer DV Cameras and the latest generation of Professional Digital Cinema HD Cameras.

Audio Production: In any film or video production, audio is half the picture. New digital tools are allowing producers to create sound tracks, sound design and narration from any location. Tech You shows you how easy it is to sweeten any video production with dynamic, engaging audio.

Home Based Studios: New digital technology has leveled the playing field. From home offices, basements and even garages, some of the most dynamic and innovative content is being produced from small and home based studios. Tech You introduces you to these groundbreakers and examines the methods to their madness.

TECH YOU TV - PRODUCTION

TechYou Digital Media is seeking a broadcast license to produce an initial 26 episodes of Tech You with Craig Bowman.

TechYou Digital Media has developed Tech You as a regionally produced television program from Kelowna, BC. Producing the program regionally will not only help demonstrate the accessibility and portability of the technology Tech You is profiling and teaching, utilizing regional production facilities and crew will also keep production costs in line.

Kelowna (and the Okanagan Valley) is a vibrant region commonly referred to as the Silicon Vineyard - Canada's answer to the Silicon Valley. Home to a wide array of successful and leading edge technology companies, this high tech playground also boasts a growing and experienced independent film and video community, successful web and media based production companies plus a private, post-secondary institution that specializes in digital media production. All this makes the region ripe for producing a dynamic, technology based TV series such as Tech You.

Most episodes of Tech You will be produced in the traditional studio environment with permanent, physical set, but on occasion and when appropriate, the show will move into the virtual world (as profiled in the supplied video demo).

With access to two Red Digital Cinema Cameras™, TechYou Digital Media plans to shoot and produce the series in high-definition for the ultimate visual quality - not only to demonstrate the viability of HDTV - but to also meet Broadcaster and Network demands for increased HD content.

For more information contact: media@techyoumedia.com