• by David Goetzl  @dgoetzl, March 28, 2006

Al Gore's Current TV is gaining some popular support, or at least appearing on more ballots. The network, which launched last August, will become available in 7.5 million additional homes as part of a new deal with Comcast.

The deal will boost Current's distribution to 28 million homes as of June 1 (that's more than halfway toward the 51 million votes Gore received in his 2000 run for the White House). Current, which is carried on the digital tier, had been in only 500,000 Comcast homes; it also is carried by satellite operator DirecTV and Time Warner Cable.

"With the additional distribution of Current on Comcast's digital cable lineup, we look forward to continuing to empower young adults to share the stories they are passionate about, but now to a much larger audience," said Gore, Current's chairman, in a statement.

Current targets adults 18 to 34, and seeks to involve them in creating both content and, now, advertising. The network labels its viewer-created content "VC2," which makes up about a third of its programming. Now, the network has launched "V-CAM," or viewer-created ad messages, where amateur filmmakers have the chance to create an ad for Sony (Current is hoping to add other advertisers to the program).

Current is not yet rated by Nielsen, although it has signed advertisers Sony, L'Oreal, and Toyota.

Meanwhile, as Gore guides Current, he is also working on one of his favorite issues: global warming. The former vice president plans a major ad campaign to launch next month aimed at combating the problem--an effort funded by environmental and faith-based organizations. At the recent American Association of Advertising Agencies Media Conference and Trade Show, Gore implored agency executives to match the money raised for the cause "dollar for dollar" via pro bono contributions.

"It is the most serious challenge that our civilization will experience," Gore said at the event.