Daily Marauder

ONLINE SERVICES/INTERACTIVE MEDIA

Belo plans to designate 13 of its television stations as the exclusive provider of local news video to Yahoo. With the deal, Yahoo will host dozens of local news video clips each day in the local section of Yahoo News. The companies will share the advertising revenue. (http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssTechMediaTelecomNews/idUSWNAS601320080109  1/9)

Time Warner is said to be investing an undisclosed amount in GaiaOnline.com, a virtual world for teens. Time Warner movie studio Warner Bros. has shown movies in the San Jose, Calif.-based Gaia, in a virtual theater that Gaia virtual world characters can attend. (http://venturebeat.com/2008/01/08/time-warner-invests-in-teen-virtual-world-gaia-online  1/8)

NBC.com is announcing a new slate of content for mid-season. Among the offerings: “Lipstick Jungle’s” Bonfire Magazine, in partnership with iVillage, will come to life online as a fully editorialized publication. NBC is also launching new sites for shows such as “American Gladiators.” (http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Entertainment/2008/01/09/nbc_unveils_slate_of_online_programming/6233  1/9)

CBSNews.com is entering a partnership with social news site Digg for online coverage of the 2008 election. The recognizable “Digg buttons” will be featured on CBSNews.com election articles and videos. In return, Digg’s election headlines will be displayed on CBSNews.com. (http://www.news.com/8301-13577_3-9845364-36.html  1/8)

 
Comcast, the largest U.S. cable provider, says it will work with the U.S. Federal Communications Commission to address concerns that it blocks customers from using file-sharing services. The company manages its Internet service in accordance with FCC policies, it insists. (http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601204&sid=aF9r.2GrrjaM  1/9)

BET Networks is launching a vertical advertising network in an effort to give advertisers more exposure to African-American Internet users. The ad network features 30 Web sites focusing on music, entertainment and lifestyle content aimed at the urban and African-American communities. (http://www.webpronews.com/topnews/2008/01/08/bet-launches-online-ad-network  1/8) 

Panel participants from Google’s YouTube, Charter Communications and Vuze discussed the challenge of coming up with a viable economic model for online video, in a discussion Tuesday at the International CES in Las Vegas. (Multichannel News 1/8)

National Lampoon is acquiring CollegeHangover.com, a user-submitted photo/movie and gallery Web site, for an undisclosed amount. CollegeHangover, which launched in 2005, is moderated by its college student editors, who also post their own original photos and videos. (http://www.streetinsider.com/Mergers+and+Acquisitions/National+Lampoon+(NLN)+Buys+CollegeHangover.com/3252335.html  1/9)