TasteTV.com - Indie Food Channel - All Food, All Day

If you're over The Food Network, you might be refreshed by TasteTV.com's Indie Food Channel; a "multi-platform vehicle" which broadcasts culinary programming from around the world. Based on the idea that, at the time of foundation, there would be an abundance of digital bandwidth on both broadband internet and major cable sytems, the Indie Food Channel aims to deliver food and lifestyle-related shows over the net, video on-demand, TiVO, and mobile devices. In this way, the company gives publicity to chefs and producers who might otherwise be lesser-known, as the programming reaches its target audience in and outside the home. The company not only offers a multitude of shows, it also provides links to food-related blogs, vlogs, and podcasts. TasteTV has also partnered with a number of food, appliance and beverage companies, and even has its own line of books. Site registration is free, but naturally there is a fee for subscribing to the programming.

"TCB CAFE Publishing & Media brings to audiences TasteTV. TasteTV is the multi-platform vehicle that delivers to food, wine, fashion, travel and lifestyle lovers exciting and delicious programming from around the U.S., Canada, and the World. Taste It!

TasteTV can be viewed
• online
• on video on demand
• each week on over 80 television stations nationwide,
• on TiVO
• on mobile phones and
• via video podcasts
TasteTV has partnered with several of the largest players in New Media and culture: blogs, video networks, social networks, design, food, fashion and more".

TasteTV did well to base itself in San Franscisco, arguably the culinary capital of the United States. Because the site reached the Bay Area's enormous cable audience first, they seem to have enjoyed relative success and publicity and have been able to finalize partnerships with several other food industry companies. The Indie Food Channel is rapidly expanding, adding new content and buying the distribution rights to shows that were otherwise only available on regular cable television. In comparison to The Food Network, The Indie Food Channel delegates air time to lesser-known chefs, which could appeal to those who have grown tired of Emeril.

It's unclear whether TasteTV's services are available all over the world, just in the US, or just in the bay area; how much have they expanded and how much will they expand? The site itself is a little overwhelming and confusing, could they re-organize it for the sake of a more user-friendly interface?