CNET Announces CNET TV; Cox Communications, TiVo Inc., and TVN Entertainment Sign on to Launch CNET TV On-Demand; CNET to Bring On-Demand Experience to Its Web site - Apr 17, 2006 08:30 AM (BusinessWire)
SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 17, 2006--CNET, a source of information and inspiration for a world gone digital, and a property of CNET Networks, Inc. (Nasdaq:CNET), today announced "CNET TV," a new video-on-demand (VOD) service that packages a selection of CNET's popular video content for distribution on television and online. CNET TV will launch initially with partners Cox Communications Inc., TiVo Inc., and TVN Entertainment, as well as on CNET in the second half of the year.
As consumers are increasingly interested in taking advantage of a world that has gone digital, CNET's videos have grown dramatically in popularity, with over 100 percent increase in video streams in the last year(1). Videos range from instructional to informative to entertaining, and are integrated throughout CNET's family of sites, which include CNET.com, News.com, and Download.com, to enhance the user experience.
CNET TV will provide online users and TV viewers a single destination where they can access all of CNET's original video content. Video content includes CNET's popular video franchises such as Insider Secrets, Weekend Project, and First Look from the Labs. For online users, the content will be programmable based on topics of interest, or by selecting a favorite "channel," made up of the CNET franchises. CNET TV will also feature special news reports, coverage of special events such as the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, user-generated videos, and regularly scheduled programming to keep consumers updated on the day's news and trends. Interactive tools will let users engage with CNET's editorial personalities, build custom play lists they can share with friends, and click to buy products or read full reviews.
The VOD partnerships follow a successful trial run with TiVo in which CNET's videos, offered to TiVo Series2(R) broadband connected subscribers, were found to be very popular(2). Cox Communications, the third largest cable operator in the nation; TiVo, a pioneer in on-demand viewing; and TVN Entertainment, which provides leading MSOs (multiple service operators) and telecommunications companies more than 2500 hours of VOD programming from over 100 content providers, will package CNET TV to fit their own platforms and customers.
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