FORA.tv Named to TIME's 50 Best Websites 2009

FORA.tv, the leading destination and distributor of smart video programs, has been selected by TIME.com editors as one of the 50 Best Websites 2009 and featured in the 5 You May Not Know category.

“Whoever said television makes you stupid never saw FORA.tv,” writes TIME.com’s Adam Fisher. “Fora TV is the place to turn to after you've seen your nth viral video and realize your brain itself is in danger of becoming infected.”

FORA.tv is “one site that has really caught our eye this year,” says TIME.com’s Shea Hess in a short video program describing web sites that “are just waiting to blow-up.”

"It's an honor to be recognized for gathering the best video programming from top universities and conferences," says Blaise Zerega, president and CEO of FORA.tv. "We will continue our rapid innovation to serve an engaged, intelligent audience."

TIME.com's 50 honored websites include YouTube, Facebook, Amazon, and BoingBoing among others.

With strong content partners ranging from the Aspen Institute to Georgetown University to EG to the Chautauqua Institution, FORA.tv has assembled the Web’s largest library of smart, issues-oriented video and is reshaping the way audiences discover and engage with media. The company is helping drive the transformation of online video as it evolves from the mass appeal of user-generated clips to a broad range of highly-segmented offerings. In this new world of vast content choices, 70 percent of online viewers are watching video from the news and current events category.

FORA.tv + Boxee

If smart audiences want smart content, then our job at FORA.tv is to satisfy that need -- on any device, anywhere, anytime. And thus we're delighted to be partnering with Boxee.tv to better serve you.

If you've ever wanted to experience FORA.tv on that lovely LCD in your living room, now's your chance. "On a laptop or connected to an HDTV, boxee's free software lets you navigate all your personal movies, TV shows, music and photos, as well as streaming content from websites like MLB, Netflix, Pandora, Last.fm, and Flickr from one screen with a remote." Visit Boxee, download the free software and you'll be hooked.

FORA.tv programs will be in good company, joining those from other like-minded sites: OpenCourseWare, UK's Open University, TED, and PBS. Who said smart video can't be a lean-back experience? I'm confident you'll enjoy FORA.tv on Boxee.

Live Stream with Former NASA Head Daniel Goldin!

This morning, hundreds of FORA.tv members joined the audience inside the Chautauqua Institution's famed amphitheater for a presentation by former NASA administrator Daniel Goldin. Dozens more followed the conversation on twitter using #chqlive.

This was the first of four live events we'll host this week. Tomorrow, we'll feature Microsoft's Andrea Taylor on philanthropy. On Friday, we'll have George Kembel, head of the Stanford Institute of Design, exploring human creativity, followed by Karen Armstrong, renowned lecturer and author, on religious faith and compassion. If you haven't yet done so, please sign-up to participate in these interactive discussions.

Echoing Plutarch's comments about the human mind, Mr. Goldin's talk was titled, A Fire to be Ignited. He provided colorful examples of creativity overcoming bureaucratic and scientific challenges from his experiences with the Space Shuttle, Mars Pathfinder, and Hubble Telescope. He also had the audience laughing with his description of meeting Pope John Paul II. "What's NASA?" the Pope asked. Goldin's jaw dropped and he began to sweat. Then the Pope cracked a smile and tittered with glee, delighted to have pulled a fast one on Goldin. The two proceeded to have a thoughtful discussion about space exploration.

We posted the full-length program, A Fire to Be Ignited shortly after it concluded. We will have the entire program complete with chapters, highlights, and share features ready in a few days.

Hope you'll join us tomorrow at 10:45 am EDT for Andrea Taylor!

Sign-up for Chautauqua 2009 Digital Sessions!

We're delighted to be working with the Chautauqua Institution to bring you, the FORA.tv community, the Chautauqua 2009 Digital Sessions. Next week, we'll produce a series of live stream events featuring Daniel Goldin on the future of space, Andrea Taylor on Microsoft and America, Karen Armstrong on compassion, and George Kembel on life, design, and ideas. Even if you can't be there in person, we invite you to join the conversation.

Founded in 1874, the Chautauqua Institution is famous for presenting the world's top thinkers from the fields of art, education, religion, and recreation. On Chautauqua's Amphitheatre stage, Susan B. Anthony argued for women’s suffrage in 1892 and Franklin D. Roosevelt gave his "I Hate War" speech in 1936. Margaret Mead, Amelia Earhart, Thurgood Marshall, Freeman Dyson, Jane Goodall, Sandra Day O’Connor and Kurt Vonnegut have all spoken here.

Participate in the twitter discussion getting underway at #chqlive and be sure to sign-up now to receive event reminders!



Additional resources:
FORA.tv Chautauqua Channel
FORA.tv Series: Best of Chautauqua 2008
Chautauqua Web Site
Follow on Twitter: #chqlive