TED Offers ‘virtual seats’ with launch of live membership

The nonprofit innovation conference organization TED is set to launch TED Live – an annual membership that offers individuals, schools and small businesses “virtual seats” at both of TED’s Long Beach and TED Global conferences, plus 24 TED eBooks and an Amazon Kindle Fire. Tom Rielly, TED’s community director, said: “TEDsters have asked us for a convenient and affordable way to enjoy TED all year long. By watching both conferences at their home, work or office; receiving a TED Book twice a month for a year, delivered automatically to one of this season’s hottest items, the Kindle Fire; and getting private access to the TED Live community, members will enjoy exclusive access to TED all year round.” Primary and secondary schools can sign up for $995 a year, while colleges, universities and small businesses for $2,500 a year. As part of the membership, institutions receive live a webcast from TED and TEDGlobal Conferences Virtual seats at TED’s flagship conferences from anywhere in the world. As well as the conference streaming, members have access to TED Live Online Community Dedicated TED Live chat rooms, where they can receive exclusive content, inside access and live reporting from on-site TED Live liaison, bringing TED Live voices into the physical conferences. Members are given a new Amazon’s New Kindle Fire 7″ color tablet plus a one-year subscription to TED Books,  which will be automatically delivered to the member’s device twice a month. These eBooks by TED speakers and Fellows will elaborate on the ideas and debates raised in their TEDTalks. For the first time, virtual membership to TED Live can be purchased at any day of the year and in time for the next TED and TED Global.