I Want a Screensaver Channel on TV
I have said this for years, but have never written publicly about it. I propose a channel, or series of channels, that are nothing more than screensavers. Considering the explosion of digital cable and satellite programming available today, I don’t see a reason against it. I don’t have the stats in front of me, but there are probably more ESPN and sports channels than I can count. Various sports even have several channels devoted to them. Nascar, for example has several “in car” channel views on digital cable now, with each one devoted to a different camera in selected cars on the track. I think that is a tad ridiculous, as is the entire Nascar sport. But if we are going to have those options at our disposal, let’s have ridiculous channels of other kinds, too.
I think we should have a series of screensaver channels. I envision a bunch of random imagery, being it flying toasters, kaleidoscopes, or anything one can think of. While we’re brainstorming, imagine an aquarium channel, or a crackling fireplace channel. I often want to put something on in the background that doesn’t have moving pictures or dialogue. This seems like a grand idea that’s just waiting to be tapped. What do you think?
I suppose ads on these channels would be inevitable. That is unless they are provided as extras from your cable/satellite provider, such as the digital music channels are today. Ads would have to be very limited as to not be a distraction. A simple bottom banner, or once-per-hour commercial breaks would be okay, I suppose. The owner of these channels wouldn’t have to pay to produce original programming necessarily, so ad revenue wouldn’t need to be that high. What a great idea! Let’s do it!
That’s a cool idea. I know it’s at least done sometimes, like your fireplace idea. There was something on the cable up here around the holidays that was a fireplace, decorated with stockings and such.