with art embedded in a context of political and media niches. Focusing on the media as a tool, they refine and explore this
tool from a background of social and art-criticism. Helen Thoringtons' text is the most art and software centred, and shows
us a tiny fragment of the world of streaming media outside of RealMedia and MP3. Older or less used software like CUSeeme
or VRML are used for interesting projects, that can serve as experimental examples, of which Adrift is one. Another beauti-
ful example of streaming text is from Convex TV, who sent us a description of their first text only real-time broadcasts on the
internet, simultaneous to their local ether broadcasts. In Nina Meilofs text we then can read some important points on what
it actually might take to preserve the possibility for alternative streaming media content in the networks.

As Micz Flor wrote: Stop pushing or I'll stream... We hope the reasons for research and exchange in the field of alternative
streaming media will somehow crystallise and reveal themselves, in between the lines maybe, like with Tetsuo Kogawa's
text, which can be read in many different ways or edits. The ever-growing presence of broadcasting media which serve
only one interest, which is making money (commercial radio and television), might ask for a statement from us. In the
Netherlands the broadcasting company VPRO had to find a solution to the problem of ‘horizontal programming’ inside the
public media, which left no room for alternative music programming. For the moment this solution is the internet. Do we
simply use the escape route while it is still there or do we get involved in its preservation? There are many different an-
swers. There are many different solutions, temporary and definite. Any which way, our immersion into the 'megamedium’
(a combination of all media with computer networks, Robert Adrian) is nearly completed.

EVERYBODY
WILL BE TV | tesy

TRANSNATIONAL TV NETWORK VERSUS WEB PORTAL

Programming produced by any big transnational TV network (CNN, BBC, etc.) is, from the standpoint of an Internet user,
similar to an AGGREGATOR SITE distributing video material. It may also function as a portal providing a variety of material
of interest to the viewer. Similarities abound - sections of a transnational TV network correspond to parts of an aggregate
site: a program schedule is analogous to a web site index, news programs function as general information about the por-
tal's community, shows represent particular web pages or sections on the portal. Most importantly, both TV network and a
Web portal try to fulfil the basic media mission: to define its own reality and broadcast it that reality to potential followers
- TV viewers or Internet users.

anueg uazeig

That is what is similar, strikingly similar, What is dissimilar is the nature of the different media. Classical TV and radio are
linear and give an observer just two choices: to participate passively in a broadcast as is, or switch it off. Internet is more
flexible and offers more choices, at least in the basic premises of the media. It is also interactive allowing the viewer to
actively participate.

TV and radio networks are also much more expensive in terms of distribution and production, and by there nature as one
way media, closed systems. A single corporation abdicate production costs of world-wide video or radio coverage. This
immediately implies that discourse, basic ideological standpoint and focus of coverage are fixed and at the discretion of
the producer. Every transnational, national and local radio or TV station covers the drama in Kosovo. This certainly propels
some more or less peaceful solution. On the other side, wars, genocide and turmoil in Africa (Rwanda for example) is al-
most not focused upon, allowing events to take their course far from the eye or interest of the public. The New York Times