Farmers Almanac TV just returned from the National Association of Television Programming Executives conference (NATPE) in Las Vegas last week where we learned that the strategy of launching a series on public television and a broadband network on the internet is the perfect approach to building a media brand in this day and age of convergence.

Launching a television channel in any traditional sense, like the linear channels we know so dear and well, is fast becoming a thing of the past. Nowadays people are more likely to know the shows they like, but less likely to know the channels they play on. With Tivo and other programmable devices, people are programming their own channels if you will. Rather than sit down in front of the TV at a certain time every week or every night, they just program their DVRS to record their favorite shows and then those favorite shows are ready for them to watch whenever they want.

Pretty soon — it’s happening already really —televisions and computers will merge more and more into being the same device. You’ll be watching TV — the same quality if not better — and it’ll be coming into your house via the internet. This is what people mean when they say “broadband channel.” You could be watching the channel as it has been programmed or you could watch the channel or any number of channels in any way you prefer, capturing the shows and content that you decide is worthy of your time.

Big companies are still trying to figure out what this all means. You have shows like “Lost” and “Desperate Housewives” now available as downloads on iTunes. You have Comedy Central with every one of their shows, plus more that never air on the cable channel, making up their broadband channel called the Motherlode. You have sports and news available on the web in massive amounts. What it means for Farmers Almanac TV is that you will be able to watch us wherever you are, and whenever you want. As our series rolls out on Public Television — and we’ll soon be able to list all the markets and airdates (most of the country has picked us up) — we will simultaneously be programming 12 lineups on the internet, ranging from channels like “Gardener’s Row” to “Classic and New Ruralism” to “Weather Central” and “Artisans.”

As these lineups take shape we’ll want your contributions. Your contributions will be viewable side by side with the shows and segments that our producers create. The best of your submissions will migrate over to the PBS series. It’s all about our relationship with you — that’s the important thing. Just as almanacs were filled with contributions from all over the country, with recipes and hints and tips that were then printed and shared with the entire readership, Farmers’ Almanac TV is about sharing what comes our way. Continue to watch the site for the lineups as they materialize over the next six weeks or so and keep your eye out for the series on Public TV. If you already know that you have a video or segment for us to look at for one of the lineups or series, please submit it. Right now the process begins with you emailing us at Newsletter@FarmersAlmanacTV.com. Soon we’ll have it so you can upload your video to us online.

Keep on Making Hay!

R Joseph.