Hatch Creating New Network To Cultivate User Generated Content

If Richard Hatch (Battlestar Galactica) has his way, the future of great science fiction programming will be user generated, not studio produced.

In an interview with Geeks of Doom, the actor/writer/director says he plans to launch an online network (first reported last year) comprised of original web based series that would not only unleash the creativity and talent in the sci-fi/fantasy community, but also cultivate it.

“So often sci-fi shows are run by people who, I don’t really think, understand Science Fiction. Too many great shows go down way too soon,” says Hatch, who listed Firefly, Babylon 5, and others involving spaceships as just some of the casualties. “They’ve all gone off the air because those networks aren’t set up to serve the sci-fi community.”

This new network would do precisely that, serve the community, he says, adding, “[it would]…begin to open up a doorway to so much more exciting programming than what’s being offered now.”

It would also allow talented people to expose their ideas to the masses, much in the same way user generated videos get their start on YouTube. The shows that generate excitement and gain an audience would then start getting developed, gain a real budget and begin getting produced, according to Hatch.

While the project is still in development, it will be partnering with the SoulGeek dating site, which Hatch currently doing exclusive programming for, including Who the Frak is Richard Hatch, a new reality show that will document a group of people’s journey through the industry’s up’s and down’s.