CBS Launches Ad-Supported Broadband TV Channel, innertube

--Moonves: "We've Essentially Bypassed Cable"

CBS Corp. has launched a free, advertising-supported broadband TV channel, called "innertube." The channel, which is located on CBS's CBS.com Web site, currently features a line-up of original series, produced expressly for the Internet, in a variety of genres, including reality TV, entertainment magazines, talk shows, comedy sketch shows, and animation. It also features shows that are designed as companions to existing CBS shows. The content has been produced by a range of CBS programming divisions, including CBS Entertainment, King World, CBS Paramount Network Television, CBS Paramount Domestic Television and Showtime. Once an arrangement has been worked out with CBS affiliate stations, the broadcaster says, innertube will also become a distribution outlet for streaming encore episodes from CBS's primetime line-up and for Webcasts of titles from its programming library, which contains around 2,600 titles and 100,000 hours of programming (note: under the auspices of a two-month trial that began this month, rival broadcast network, ABC, is currently offering episodes of four of its primetime series free of charge on its Web site; In addition, the Fox broadcast network recently signed a six-year revenue-sharing deal with its affiliate stations that allows it to offer as much as 60% of its primetime programming on its Web site the day after that programming airs). In addition, innertube will serve as an outlet for shows, such as "Love Monkey," that failed to secure a mass audience on the CBS broadcast network, but that "have a loyal, passionate following that lends itself to Internet appeal," CBS says. "Our company possesses some of the world's finest entertainment programming assets and brands, and we will continue on a strategic course to find as many distribution channels and new revenue streams for them as possible," CBS's president and CEO, Leslie Moonves, said in a prepared statement. "With this broadband channel, we've essentially bypassed cable and created a general entertainment outlet utilizing existing creative and content resources."

innertube initially showcases three programs a day: one new program is posted on the channel each weekday. Older programs will be archived, and will be accessible through the channel's browse function. CBS has secured a number of high-profile advertisers for the channel, including Brinkmann Corporation, Cadbury Schweppes, Chili's, Pier 1 Imports and Verizon SuperPages.com. Some of the original content on the channel features product placements.

Programming that will be offered on innertube this month includes:

• "Greek to Chic," a college-based makeover reality series.
• "BBQ Bill," a sketch-comedy series, starring Nick Najera (who previously appeared on "In Living Color" and "Mad TV").
• "Animate This," a show in which celebrities narrate humorous events from their personal lives that are portrayed through animation.
• A performance by the band, Pearl Jam, from the "Late Show with David Letterman."
• "Beyond Survivor," a behind-the-scenes look at the famous reality show.
• A rebroadcast of "Survivor Live," which streams live on CBS.com.

CBS has also provided some information on several series that will debut on innertube this summer. They include:

• "InTurn," in which a group of contestants live together while going through a "soap opera boot camp," with the goal of being cast on the soap opera, "As the World Turns."
• "The Green Room," an entertainment magazine that CBS promises will take a "somewhat irreverent look" at CBS programming.
• "Hook Me Up," a dating show.
• "Showtime Shorts," a selection of independent short films that previously aired on the Showtime premium programming service.
• Repurposed episodes of "Fire Me, Please," a hidden-camera show that first aired on the CBS broadcast network.
• New episodes of the "Big Brother" companion show, "House Calls." (Note: the episodes will be broadcast live on CBS.com, and then re- streamed on innertube the next day.)

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