MBC Teams with Cleversafe For TV Classics On The Web

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: Clever revival of broadcasting : Broadcast Museum teams with Cleversafe to serve TV classics on Web : February 16, 2009 : BRAD SPIRRISON | Chicago Sun-Times : ----------------------------------------- : While over-the-air broadcasters take at least a few more months to complete their transition to digital television, the future of small-screen entertainment will clearly be seen on the Web. Apparently, so will its past. : The Museum of Broadcast Communications, which since 2006 has existed only virtually, last month unveiled a second season of sorts to its online archives found at www.museum.tv. : The MBC previously had to pull the plug on its pilot online effort, says founder and president Bruce DuMont, because of technical difficulties. Co-starring in this new and improved Web site -- which showcases classic television programs and commercials -- is Chicago-based digital storage company Cleversafe. : "We were getting complaints that, because we had too many users, content was coming in from the wrong pipe," said DuMont, who engineered a one-year hiatus before his site was again ready for prime time. "[Cleversafe] brings us the complexity to publish all of our content across multiple users." : The Web site snafu and recovery is just the latest act in the civic soap opera that is the MBC. Since leaving its physical location at the Chicago Cultural Center in 2003, the MBC has not been able to raise the additional millions required to complete the construction of a 62,000-square-foot facility at State and Kinzie. : Through the Web site, the National Radio Hall of Fame and periodic events with fan favorites, DuMont has kept the spirit of the MBC alive with hopes of better days to come. MBC board member Michael Davies and his company AlphaZeta continue to help DuMont navigate the interactive terrain. : The potentially tragic Web site episode may in fact contribute to a happy ending. When DuMont e-mailed the 20,000-plus registered users of museum.tv about the site's delivery problems, he received a welcome reply from Cleversafe founder and CEO Chris Gladwin. : Cleversafe is in the business of storing and slicing online data and has raised millions from prominent individual and institutional investors to market this service to large enterprises. Among the company's backers is Motorola's Galvin family, a notable player in the history of radio and television. One of Motorola's pioneering car radios for years was on display at the old museum. : "Being a television historian, I am aware of the tremendous contribution to American communications that [the Galvin family] represents," DuMont said. : "As the museum grows, we hope to expand the relationship with the family and Motorola." : A political pundit and longtime host of the "Beyond the Beltway" radio program, DuMont hopes change in Springfield and Washington, D.C., will help him raise the remaining millions required to complete construction of the new museum. : "In my view, we have the most shovel-ready project in Chicago and the nation," he said. "Maybe out of the ashes of a very disturbing economic climate might come support for this worthy project." : As for the need of a multimillion-dollar salute to broadcasting in the age of YouTube, DuMont argues that the museum is a necessary place to push the pause button amidst a flurry of technological change. : "With everything moving so fast, we need someplace where the impact of the changes could be analyzed and preserved by scholars," he said. : Stay tuned.

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