Turner Classic Movies has launched a social networking site for fans of… what else? Classic movies.  TCM Classic Film Union is a brand new community, but according the TCM press release fans have already ” posted rare photos and video clips.  Others have created blogs or developed groups to discuss celebrities, genres and favorite classic film subjects.”

It’s very interesting to see a traditional broadcaster add this kind of web presence to their holdings.  At this point, there don’t seem to be any ads on the site, so I’m not sure what their revenue model will eventually be.  I also wonder how much Turner will attempt to control the site and its users.  Will they moderate discussions?  Censor the blogs?  Or will they allow the community to self-rule?

These are questions that broadcasters moving into the web environment are going to have to start asking… and answering.  And they’re the kind of questions that usually scare the pants off TV execs.  How do you control what people do on a property that represents your brand?

Anyone who’s hung out on the web for more than an hour or two knows that there is no control.  So opening up a social networking site and allowing a big crowd to play is a pretty bold and courageous move on TCM’s part.

It’s also very smart.  The site is a massive resource, full of all photos, trivia and information that film lovers crave.  By making it available to people who want this kind of information and by giving them a space to connect with each other and express themselves TCM doesn’t lose their content.  Instead, they own the fans.

It’ll be interesting to see how the site plays out in the long term. In the short term, movie buffs have a new destination.