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Want to be part of Vincent Browne’s “new experiment”? It begins in three weeks
The TV3 host has a new format, and he’s not afraid to use it. But don’t worry, there’ll still be plenty of time for “the tweet machine”.
Updated at 12.43pm
[Image: TV3]
TV3 HAS CONFIRMED Wednesday 5 March for the debut of Vincent Browne’s new show, which will take the format of a studio debate “where audience members are participants”.
The veteran journalist will host the two hour live programme once a month from the broadcaster’s new HD studio.
Entitled “The People’s Debate”, the new format show will take place in front of a studio audience of between 150 and 200 people. Browne will also continue to host his usual programme on other weeknights.
The ethos of the show, according to the presenter, is that it will be “democracy television” and that:
“There will be no panel of the usual important suspects – if the usual important suspects want to participate they will do so on the same basis as everyone else.”
However, it’s planned representatives of political parties and lobby groups will be invited by producers in order to kick-off debate. After that, any other member of the audience who wants to join in will also be invited to do so.
Browne helmed a non-broadcast pilot version of what TV3 is calling his “new experiment” at Ballymount last week, moderating the contributions of various Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and Labour local election candidates, before opening the conversation up to others.
The interactions became heated at times, as the 150 or so audience members debated the motion “the Fine Gael-Labour Government deserves the support of the Irish people”.
The studio audience also included a parent’s group from a Dublin school, third-level students and a representative of firefighters’ staff body IFESA.
The same topic will also be debated in the first live show at 10pm on 5 March, and a number of participants from the pilot will be invited back.
[Image: TV3]
TV3 is inviting anyone who wants to take part to get in touch. Viewers can apply for the first live show by applying via www.tv3.ie/thepeoplesdebate or by calling 01 419 3525.
Speaking to Pat Kenny on Newstalk, Browne said the production team would be using “the tweet machine, as I call it” to include viewers’ reactions and contributions in the programme.
First posted at 12.20pm
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