CBS launches ad-supported broadband channel
May 8, 2006 12:31 PM, Beyond The Headlines e-newsletter
 Innertube is part of CBS' strategy to find as many distribution channels and new revenue streams for its programming as possible. |
CBS last week launched innertube, a new broadband channel, to be supported by advertising that offers a variety of free entertainment programming to Internet users.
The new channel features a lineup of original series produced expressly for the Internet, as well as new shows that are companions to popular CBS brands. The genres for the original Internet programs include reality, musical performance, entertainment magazine, talk, sketch comedy and animation.
The formation of innertube creates a new distribution channel for original material and CBS content on the Internet with programming drawn from the resources at the company's entertainment programming divisions, including CBS Entertainment, King World, CBS Paramount Network Television, CBS Paramount Domestic Television and Showtime.
In the coming months, innertube will also become a distribution outlet for streaming repeat episodes from CBS's primetime lineup and for Webcasts of content from the CBS library of 2600 titles and 100,000 hours of television programming. It will also become an alternative programming option for series broadcast on the network that didn't reach a mass audience, but has a following that lends itself to Internet appeal.
Leslie Moonves, CBS president and CEO, said the network is continuing on a strategic course to find as many distribution channels and new revenue streams for its programming as possible. With this new broadband channel, CBS has bypassed cable and created a general entertainment outlet utilizing existing creative and content resources, he said.
NBC Universal also offers television content on its networks' Web sites now, including news programs such as "Today" and "Meet the Press", and is planning to soon offer some original content. ABC News has a broadband channel that airs a preview edition of "World News Tonight" each afternoon.
To access innertube, visit www.cbs.com/innertube.
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