Current TV was set up in a attempt to redefine broadcast television and estimates that about 30 per cent of its output comes from the videos submitted by viewers to its website.

The station will open a London office and is promising to give its programming a British flavour when it is launched in Europe some time in the “next few months”.

Mr Gore, Current TV’s chairman, said that the launch would be “a big step in fulfilling Current’s mission of sparking a global conversation among young adults”.

Sky will make Current TV available as part of one of its basic tiers of packages — which cost between £15 and £21 a month. The satellite broadcaster is 39 per cent owned by News Corporation, parent company of The Times.

Mr Gore believes that Current TV’s approach will help to break down the dominant broadcast model, which he believes makes viewers passive and stifles democratic debate.

Unlike a traditional network, Current TV specialises in showing short-form programming, lasting anywhere from 15 seconds to 5 minutes, and in a typical hour aims to mix news, information, entertainment and social content.

Viewers who want to get on air submit film and video to the channel’s website, and the best content is voted on by viewers to be broadcast. The harnessing of viewer-generated video is one of the hottest topics in television as broadcasters try to replicate the explosive success of YouTube, the social networking website.

MTV has launched its own channel — MTV Flux — which broadcasts television created at home, and other broadcasters are looking hard at following up the newly fashionable genre. James Murdoch, Sky’s chief executive, hinted at further development as he described the Current TV agreement as “a first step towards Sky’s own moves in this fascinating field”.

Mr Gore has been close to the satellite broadcaster for several months. Mr Murdoch introduced and shared a platform with the former presidential candidate in August at a company conference organised by News Corp in Pebble Beach, California.

Current TV is privately held. Mr Gore’s principal business partner is Joel Hyatt, the chief executive officer, who made his fortune offering legal services to the less well-off.

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