The following announcement was written by Roots Television™:
When Roots Television™ debuted on September 29, 2006, it was a quiet launch in beta mode intended to draw enough traffic to test the site and work through the inevitable technical bugs that accompany new ventures into cyberspace. That “quiet” launch quickly became an international roar, as word spread lightening-fast and Roots Television™ drew viewers from five continents in the first 24 hours! Not surprising really, since family history commands one of the largest and fast-growing markets in the world.
Perhaps what is surprising is that no one thought of launching a family history channel sooner. After all, there’s a golf channel, a wine channel, a sailing channel, a horse channel, and poker channel, and even a shipwreck channel. Why not a channel for what’s said to be the second most popular hobby?
Today, roots fever is hotter than ever, with over 113 million Americans interested in their family history, and roots-sleuthing running at near-epidemic proportions in other countries, such as the U.K. Yet this audience has been largely neglected by television. Roots Television™ is uniquely positioned to be one of the first media outlets to take advantage of the inevitable merge between television and the Internet – and in so doing, serve this global and long-ignored audience.
What People Are Saying about Roots Television™
According to Family Tree Magazine, Roots Television™ is “TV That Won’t Rot Your Brain.” Their review noted, “We give it two thumbs up, but the addiction potential is high, so get hooked at your own risk.” And here’s a sampling of viewer reactions so far:
- I just discovered Roots Television today. . . How am I supposed to work on my family roots while watching yours? I enjoyed it tremendously and it is now 2 a.m., so I have to go to bed . . . It has been just great watching and I will be back.
- It’s about time someone came up with this idea . . . I am notifying all of my cousins to come on board.
- Thank you so much for coming up with this idea. So many people will love it. CONGRATULATIONS on a job just started but well done so far!!
- Thank you for providing this wonderful product . . . I am so excited to see that my profession now has a venue for producing quality programs.
About Roots Television, LLC
Headquartered in Utah, Roots Television, LLC is an independent media company that is the brainchild of national media producer Marcy Brown and professional genealogist Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak (yes, her real name).
Largely a virtual operation with partners scattered around the globe, Roots Television™ takes a broad view of family history and is committed to providing programming – both original and from talented producers and independent filmmakers around the world – that appeals to avid genealogists and family history lovers of all stripes.
Whether you’re an archives hound, scrapbooker, cousin collector, roots-travel enthusiast, Civil War re-enactor, DNA fan, reunion instigator, sepia-toned photos zealot, Internet-junkie, history buff, old country traditions follower, cemetery devotee, story-teller, multicultural food aficionado, flea market and antiques fanatic, family documentarian, nostalgia nut, or mystery-solver, Roots Television™ has something for you -- and that “something” is quality programming.
Do you know where the Roots Tv is being shown. How can I get my cable station to carry it if they don't now?
Ed
Posted by: Edmund Maul | October 23, 2006 at 09:25 AM
Roots Television is on the Internet at http://www.rootstelevision.com/. It is a wonderful site!
Carol
http://illuminatedancestries.com
Posted by: Carol | October 23, 2006 at 09:42 AM
IN TWO MONTHS I WILL BE 88 YEARS YOUNG, BROUGHT UP IN A FARMING COMMUNITY IN MICHIGAN.
NOW YOU KNOW WHY I'M SO INTERESTED IN THIS SHOW.
Posted by: LEE LOOMIS | October 23, 2006 at 11:35 AM
Well, that's good news about a television station entirely devoted to genealogy and family history research.
I was just wondering, if ancestry is "the second most popular hobby" then what is the first most popular hobby?
Posted by: Cary W. Tucker | October 23, 2006 at 03:06 PM
Stamp collecting is the most popular hobby.
Posted by: Ron Colby | October 23, 2006 at 10:13 PM
---> Do you know where the Roots TV is being shown. How can I get my cable station to carry it if they don't now?
Despite it's name, Roots TV is not a television program. It is a web site with online video. You can watch the genealogy videos on your computer at any time you wish; you do not need to wait for "broadcast time." You also do not need to wait for a local or cable television cable channel to carry it, you can watch it right now from anyplace in the world that has an Internet connection.
You can read more about Roots Television at http://blog.eogn.com/eastmans_online_genealogy/2006/10/roots_televisio.html
- Dick Eastman
Posted by: Dick Eastman | October 23, 2006 at 11:10 PM