Al Gore collects interactive Emmy for Current TV

"We are trying to open up the television medium so viewers can help to make television ... and reclaim democracy," Gore was quoted by Reuters as saying in accepting the award, given Sunday for the first time during the Primetime Emmys telecast.

Gore, who is chairman of the venture, was joined on stage by Current's chief executive, his business partner Joel Hyatt.

Billed by Gore as a media innovation that encourages a "two-way conversation" with its audience, the 24-hour network airs a mix of professionally produced segments and

viewer-produced videos from a few seconds to 15 minutes.