Urban Lifestyle Roundup

By Jamison Tilsner • 10/26/2007 •

Are you a well-to-do yuppy looking for some fun in the city? Look no further.

It’s no surprise that urban lifestyle has become a major internet-TV sensation. What better application of interactive video than the exploration of fun and fashion from the comfort of your desk-chair? So, where to turn?

LX-TV (Tilzy.TV Page) is the sleekest and swankiest of the bunch. Launched in June of 2006 by former MTV execs Joseph Varet and Morgan Hertzan who set out to make “the first television network for affluent urbanites,” LX is professionally produced with a roster of likable hosts livin’ it up in all the urban hot-spots.

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Chic.tv (Tilzy.TV Page) is a slightly less polished product appealing to the same demographic.

Rami Rinot, the former chief operating officer of the software company GigaSpaces Technologies, is Chic TV’s CEO, publisher and editor. Rinot also has experience in the restaurant guide industry, co-authoring “The Spirits of Cocktail,” and “The Spirits of New York, but his lack of professional television production experience sometimes shows. The attractive and likeable hosts are often caught in conversations that are awkward, forced and lingering without direction.

Timeout New York (Tilzy.TV Page) built its brand on personable urban guiding, so its no wonder they’d dive into video on-demand. In November 2005, Time Out magazine partnered with City On Demand (founded by former HBO executives Eric Levin and John Ovrutsky) to create video reviews of destinations and happenings in New York City. It’s text reviews can’t be beat, but these videos are a snore! TimeOut needs to invest in some on-air talent.

NYC-TV, which we recently covered, is the newest entrant to the market and my personal favorite of the bunch. It’s functional interface is matched by unpretentious and comprehensive coverage of all things NYC from Nightlife to Food to Gigs to Green. This professionally produced and hosted interactive video guide oozes with utility…and, for all its professionalism, its less commercially driven than the others. Looks like government can do some things right — NYC-TV is a service of the New York City municipal government.