Floating along

Al Gore's television network Current-TV, which he bought with other investors, is not, as many assumed, a liberal version of Fox News. Nor does it have "shows" in any sense of the word.

So what is it? Think MTV without the music. Or commercials without a product to sell.

Programming on Current-TV consists of "pods," short documentary features, many of them sent in by viewers. In between are "lifestyle" features—updates on new record releases and hip art show openings—as well as graphical quizzes (what is better for you, cola or lemonade?) and "Google Current," showing the top five internet searches of the moment.

The killer concept: Nothing lasts more than seven minutes.