Starting in 2002, PBS Frontline “has streamed most of its documentaries free…part of an effort to reach younger audiences.”1 The New York Times reports that as a result of a MacArthur Foundation Grant, Frontline has been able to develop a much richer video experience. I cannot argue. After stumbling on the recently released Frontline documentary, Bush’s War, I found myself engaged in the layers of content on the site. Then I branched out to see some of the other projects completed with the same comprehensive coverage (The Medicated Child, Bad Voodoo’s War, and Cheny’s Law). Bush’s War has already hit 1.5 million views online since it was aired on television March 24th and 25th.1 These numbers are impressive and represent a win for the new technology, which can take some responsibility to the ten fold increase in audience compared to a normal show.1 Part of the draw is that users can interact with content in a non-linear fashion and view it on demand at any time. While the online viewing experience is engaging, the technology solid, and the content infinitely more accessible then ever before, there is no doubt that Frontline has hit point where content, delivery method, and audience converge. Now if only they would allow users to embed their clips…
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