Often people leave out their motives, true thoughts and intentions when they speak. Subtext is the meaning behind the words, the content of what people believe. The radio-television program at Texas A & M University-Commerce is in the pre-production stage of planning a show, Subtext, which would allow viewers to interact with the host in expressing their true feelings via text message.
The innovative show was first piloted in Austin in Oct. 2006 under Linear Media, Inc., a production company that aims to combine mobile phone, television and internet technology into interactive entertainment. The company was founded in 2005 by Bill Deutch, who visited A&M-Commerce last Tuesday to continue talks about starting up the show for a probable next semester premier.
Deutch, who met with professor John Mark Dempsey this past summer to assess interest in the show, spoke to students about the next steps involved in getting “Subtext” on the air as soon as possible.
The show would involve a host who interacts and comments on messages sent in by viewers. The messages are displayed on the screen, and viewers with profiles can have their picture shown as well. Texts are screened only to ensure that inappropriate or vulgar comments are not shown, but all opinions are welcomed.
“This brand of cross-media entertainment has been more and more popular due to increasing interest in text messaging and other media convergence,” Bill Deutch, Chief Executive Officer of Linear Media, Inc. said.
The viewers can steer the course of the show, which can handle such topics as dating in the community, politics, fashion and entertainment. Deutch was inspired by the changing face of television that he experienced while working with technology firms in Europe.
Deutch hopes to have several Texas universities running their own versions of the show by the beginning of next year, and eventually wants to take the idea to the national level. Linear Media, Inc., would provide all the equipment and training necessary to get Subtext started, but students would produce and host each show.
“I would like to be a host. I just think it’s going to be a really good thing for Commerce, because it’s unique. It’s the next step for the radio-television program,” Katie Harton, senior radio/TV major said.
The two hour long shows would have promotional give-aways that viewers could win by texting in answers or ideas. Viewers could also send messages directly to people with Subtext profiles.
Not all students share the same enthusiasm about the principle behind Subtext and have opted not to be involved with the show.
“I hate texting, literally. It seems like some sort of a gossip idea, and I don’t care,” Micah Nichols, senior radio/TV major said.
For other students, the show could offer a social network that is constantly evolving with the opinions of the viewers.
“It’s a way for us to incorporate a social technology into television,” Katie London, senior radio/TV major said.
To see the University of Texas at Austin’s Subtext web page, an example of what the show could become in Commerce, go to www.subtext.com.