Comments on: Series about reading on Canadian television

By: Don Smith

Don Smith — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 07:41:59 +0000

Yes, TV Ontario have blocked internet access to USA internet, so that the Video series is not viewable, but what they didn’t anticipate is a person using old technology. If you live within Terrestrial Television Transmitter distance in the USA as I do, The TVO transmitter in Toronto sends a very good analog signal right across Lake Ontario 60 miles right to my TV antenna. I am in the USA and watching the Series just fine. If they don’t want me to see the series, then I suggest to TV Ontario to turn their transmitters down. Its a very good program.

By: EC

EC — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 22:35:46 +0000

TVO’s twitter feed indicates that video on demand streaming of Empire of the Word will be available on their website on November 25. I’ve never tried to watch any of their programs before, but I have watched other shows online from other stations outside the US without any problem. I guess it’s possible that it could be blocked to viewers outside Canada, but not necessarily.

http://twitter.com/TVOweb

By: Ian Harper

Ian Harper — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 20:09:58 +0000

I am producing the digital fiction ‘Inanimate Alice’ which appears together with an interview with the series writer, novelist Kate Pullinger, in the final episode of ‘Empire of the Word.’

I have seen the episode which is surely a richly endowed production. Almost 8 years in the making and involving travel to 15 countries it is a considerable achievement. TV Ontario considers they have something special on their hands. The series has already been sold to several territories and so you might expect a US release in due course.

In the meantime, if you want to take a peek at the future of ‘digital fiction’ check out http://www.inanimatealice.com an interactive multimedia reading-from-the-screen experience for the videogame generation. Teachers love it because it connects them with the digital natives.

By: Michael Pastore

Michael Pastore — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 15:53:16 +0000

It would be nice to see the TV series: let’s hope that the producers will one day make it available to the world.

Alternatively, there is a book — A History of Reading by Alberto Manguel — that may be either the next best thing, or better than the film.

Michael Pastore
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