CBS TO OFFER FIRST OF ITS KIND WIRELESS VIDEO AND PICTURE ALERTS
Robust "CBS Alerts" To Include Content from CBS News and "Entertainment Tonight" for Monthly Fees
Both Services To Debut Next Week
CBS Corporation today became the first U.S.-based company to announce a wireless initiative enabling consumers to obtain breaking news and entertainment alerts that include video and pictures for a monthly subscription fee.
"As a leading content creator we are committed to deepening our consumer's relationship with CBS brands and programming," said Leslie Moonves, President and CEO, CBS Corporation. "This move underscores our strategy of offering best-in-class content on as many platforms as possible while seeking out new revenue streams."
The "CBS Alerts" which will be called "CBS News TO GO" and "ET TO GO," will be available beginning next week. The service will include content from CBS News and "Entertainment Tonight" for monthly fees of 99 cents and $3.99, respectively. Subscribers will receive up to five alerts daily and have the option to read text and, if their mobile phone allows, see matching pictures and video. "CBS Alerts" will be available for all mobile phone models and wireless carriers.
"Consumers want to see news and be a part of celebrity happenings as soon as video is available," said Cyriac Roeding, Vice President of Wireless, CBS Digital Media. "'CBS Alerts' represent the next generation in wireless news and entertainment content by packaging text with a more rich visual experience in near real time."
CBS will run promos during selected programming instructing consumers on how to sign up for "CBS Alerts" via their mobile phones. Fans can also sign up at CBS.com, CBSNews.com and ETonline.com.
The technology partner for "CBS Alerts" is m-Qube, a leading mobile channel enabler that helps companies develop, deliver and bill for mobile content, messaging and applications. The Boston-based company's technology will enable CBS to publish original content to hundreds of thousands of wireless subscribers in a matter of minutes; to provide each of those subscribers with the appropriate content type for his specific carrier, handset make and model; and to let participating wireless carriers bill those subscribers directly on their monthly statements.
Previously, CBS announced a partnership with Amp'd Mobile to view CBS and UPN clips on demand. The company plans to announce additional wireless initiatives in the coming weeks and months.
CBS Corporation is a mass media company with constituent parts that reach back to the beginnings of the broadcast industry, as well as newer businesses that operate on the leading edge of the media industry. The Company, through its many and varied operations, combines broad reach with well-positioned local businesses, all of which provide it with an extensive distribution network by which it serves audiences and advertisers in all 50 states and key international markets. It has operations in virtually every field of media and entertainment, including broadcast television (CBS and UPN), cable television (Showtime), local television (CBS Television Stations), television production and syndication (CBS Paramount Television and King World), radio (CBS Radio), advertising on out-of-home media (CBS Outdoor), publishing (Simon & Schuster), theme parks (Paramount Parks), digital media (CBS Digital Media Group and CSTV Networks and consumer products (CBS Consumer Products). For more information, log on to www.cbscorporation.com.
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