CBS Extends ‘Always On’ to Wireless Devices

The CBS Television Stations Digital Media Group has partnered with two wireless application providers to extend local news, video, traffic and weather information to wireless devices. Services will be available in sixteen CBS Television Station markets.

It's part of CBS Television Station's “Always On” digital media initiative, a nationwide, ambitious project focused on expanding the CBS-owned television stations' local, relevant text, graphical and video content to the at-work, at-home, on-demand and on-the-move consumer, 24 hours a day. "Our station's commitment to being always-on has now expanded to reach the local wireless audiences in each of our markets," said Jonathan Leess, president at CBS Television Stations Digital Media Group. "While our CBS stations have been providing up-to-the-minute news, traffic and weather information to users at home, at work and online, they now have access to this information from virtually anywhere."

A soft launch of the wireless services began in early spring. Initial reports indicate that subscriber levels have grown significantly month to month. Stations will actively begin on-air promotion of the wireless product suite in the coming weeks.

CBS is working with CBC New Media Group's News Over Wireless to develop station-branded video and nonvideo mobile applications. Consumers can purchase services directly from their cell phones, at each local station's Web site or via text message for $2.99 to $4.99 per month, depending on the carrier and type of phone, for unlimited access to the application and content.

The video-based products now are offered through Sprint Nextel Corp., and the nonvideo applications have launched on Verizon Wireless, with additional carrier rollouts planned for late this year.

Meanwhile, Weathernews Inc. will support three different wireless products for CBS television stations through its premium video product, LiveLocal, plus the Weathernews application and Weathernews Direct text messaging platform. Consumers can purchase weather and news video directly from their cell phone or at each local station's Web site for $1.99 to $4.99 per month, depending on the carrier and type of phone, for unlimited access to the application and content.

CBS video products using the Weathernews Inc. platforms launched in June on Sprint; basic versions of the application, which do not include local news video content, launched in June on all other major wireless carriers.

CBS Television Stations, a division of CBS Corp., consists of 39 stations, including 21 CBS, 11 The CW, three MyNetworkTV and four independent stations not affiliated with major networks.

CBS Television Stations Digital Media Group www.cbscorporation.com

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