'Nightline' developing Twitter show

One of the nation's oldest long-form TV news programs is developing a show centered around the shortest new form of communication.

ABC News’ Nightline is developing NightTline, a new half-hour online program hosted by the show’s anchors that provides "a forum for viewers to simultaneously discuss and debate the news of the day through the prism of Twitter."

The show will feature the program's “Face-Off” model, a live debate on issues such as, “Is torture ever acceptable?” and will be available for viewing on the Nightline site.

There's something the stoic veteran news programming embracing Twitter that's a bit like having your grandfather enthuse about getting dates using LavaLife, and one suspects its inclusion is bit of an attention-getting gimmick. But Nightline does have a million Twitter followers, so why not? Program will include "unique visualization of Twitter using Pixel touch screen technology," so keep an eye out for that.