CBS Corporation Announces the Creation of the CBS Interactive Audience Network

New Deals Signed with AOL, Microsoft, CNET Networks, Comcast, Joost, Bebo,

Brightcove, Netvibes, Sling Media and Veoh, Solidify CBS's Position as the

Most Widely Distributed Professional Content Provider Online

Existing Deals with Amazon, Apple and Yahoo! Also Included, Among Others

Both Clips and Full-Length Content to be Available in the United States and

Internationally

    NEW YORK, April 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- CBS Corporation (
 CBS, CBS.A) announced today the creation of the CBS Interactive Audience
 Network which will initially include new content deals with a host of
 online distributors including AOL, Microsoft, CNET Networks, Comcast,
 Joost, Bebo, Brightcove, Netvibes, Sling Media and Veoh. The agreements,
 building on the Company's existing arrangements, solidify CBS's position as
 the most widely distributed professional content provider on the Web.
     All content will be advertiser supported and free to the consumer. CBS
 will begin selling the CBS Interactive Audience Network in the coming
 weeks, including the upcoming Upfront marketplace. Advertising revenue will
 be shared between CBS and its partners. All content will be available
 domestically with select clips and full-length sports programming
 distributed worldwide.
     "Today marks an important step in our strategy to distribute content
 broadly across the online interactive landscape on an open, non-exclusive
 basis," said Leslie Moonves, President and Chief Executive Officer, CBS
 Corporation. "Each of these partners offers value to our audience and our
 advertisers, who can now come to CBS not only for the most watched network
 on television, but for the most widely distributed professional content
 online."
     "CBS's ability to partner with leading next-generation interactive
 platforms is the best way for CBS to evolve from a content company to an
 audience company," said Quincy Smith, President, CBS Interactive. "It's
 really all about the user and in building the CBS Interactive Audience
 Network, we are bringing our content to each unique platform of their
 choice. In remaining open to all online distributors and community builders
 - big and small - we can learn more about our existing audience, be exposed
 to new ones, and flexibly cater to their changing consumption habits."
     A rotating list within a specified viewing timeframe of programming
 from entertainment, news and sports will be offered including CSI: CRIME
 SCENE INVESTI-GATION, LATE SHOW WITH DAVID LETTERMAN, SURVIVOR, SHOWTIME
 CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING, CSTV GAME OF THE WEEK, CBS EVENING NEWS WITH KATIE
 COURIC, among others, including classic programming from the vast library
 of CBS Television Distribution.
     CBS has previously entered into existing and ongoing content
 distribution arrangements with Yahoo!, Apple iTunes, Microsoft's Xbox,
 Amazon UnBox and many others.
     Mirroring the online strategy, CBS Mobile also employs direct
 agreements with each of the three largest US wireless carriers -
 AT&T/Cingular, Verizon Wireless and Sprint - as well as leading next
 generation platforms such as Qualcomm MediaFLO.
     "This is definitely a progressive approach to content distribution, not
 only due to its scope, but also because it allows consumers to share and
 engage with content," said Curt Hecht, chief digital officer at GM
 Planworks and a leading digital expert across Starcom MediaVest Group, one
 of the world's largest media communications organizations and a division of
 Publicis. "By pushing beyond simple cable and satellite as distribution
 outlets, CBS is finding new ways to leverage the reach and scale of the
 portals, while also giving consumers the control they increasingly demand
 to share content. This is an exciting new business model and valuable to
 SMG as we pursue new and enduring consumer connections."
     Rino Scanzoni, Chief Investment Officer with Group M, a leading global
 media investment management company under WPP, one of the world's largest
 communications services groups, added, "Our clients are looking for quality
 content to resonate their message and for maximum distribution to activate
 results. CBS will clearly achieve both these objectives, hands down."
     Online partners included in the CBS Interactive Audience Network include:
 
     -- AOL - AOL is one of the largest Web networks in the United States and
        attracts more than 108 million unique visitors a month.
        "CBS produces some of the best shows on television, and has one of the
        richest libraries of classic programs anywhere, so their decision to
        make their content available on AOL is very exciting for consumers,"
        said Kevin Conroy, Executive Vice President, AOL. "We are delighted to
        be a distribution partner for CBS. This will further increase the
        amount of high quality content available on Video.AOL.com and across
        our network of Web properties."
 
     -- Microsoft - CBS content will be available on MSN Video, one of the
        leading licensed content sites on the internet.  MSN Video consumers
        will be able to search for, browse and play content from CBS as well as
        other MSN Video content partners in the MSN Video player, a seamless
        and easy-to-use experience. MSN Video streams hundreds of millions of
        videos every month, to an MSN worldwide audience that is over 460
        million unique users monthly.
 
        "With one of the most popular programmed video services on the web, MSN
        video is the best place to go for access to all the best high quality,
        licensed video content in one place," said Kevin Johnson, President,
        Platforms and Services Division, Microsoft.  "Our alliance with CBS
        will allow us to provide consumers an amazing array of video content in
        a safe and legal manner. The addition of CBS's most popular content is
        another great win for MSN customers, for our content partners at CBS,
        and for our advertising customers."
 
     -- CNET Networks, Inc. - TV.com, a popular brand in the CNET Networks
        ( CNET) portfolio and a leading content and community site for
        TV fans will create an interactive environment for the hit television
        franchise CSI where TV.com's audience can discuss the latest buzz
        around the show.
 
        "TV.com attracts today's most passionate and engaged TV fans by
        creating a community that enables viewers to deepen their bonds with
        their favorite shows and connect with other fans," said  Neil Ashe,
        CEO, CNET Networks. "We have millions of people coming to the site each
        week to discuss CSI and create buzz about a show that they love. We're
        excited to work with CBS to feed our audience's desire for more content
        and interactivity for one of today's hottest television franchises."
 
     -- Comcast - CBS content will appear on Comcast's entertainment sites,
        including Comcast.net, the company's video-rich portal and Fancast, a
        new national entertainment site scheduled to launch this summer, where
        people will be able to search and discover television and movie
        content, while managing their viewing experience across multiple
        devices.  Comcast is the nation's leading provider of cable,
        entertainment and communications products and services.
 
     -- Joost - Through Joost, the world's first broadcast-quality Internet
        television service, viewers can watch CBS programs through a
        customizable platform with advanced television viewing features such as
        links that lead to more information or related websites based on the
        content; and a variety of plug-in applications, such as instant
        messaging, message boards and news tickers.
 
        "Joost is a long-term solution for content owners seeking to expand
        their audiences in the online world. A state-of-the-art global
        distribution platform, Joost is the perfect place for CBS to offer its
        channels, brands and premium programming to online audiences," said
        Yvette Alberdingkthijm, executive vice president of content strategy
        and acquisition for Joost. "By working with Joost, CBS can get closer
        to its audiences while retaining maximum programming flexibility and
        control over its channels."
 
     -- Bebo - Bebo is a global social networking website which aims to bring
        together like-minded individuals who are creative, expressive and
        socially aware. Bebo has over 31 million members worldwide and is the
        largest social network in the U.K., Ireland and New Zealand and one of
        the top 3 social networks in the U.S., Canada and Australia.
 
        "Bebo is committed to providing the best environment for people to
        express themselves, discover their passions and communicate and
        collaborate with others", said Michael Birch, Co-founder and CEO, Bebo.
        "Bebo users spend more time on Bebo than on any other website and our
        partnership with CBS ensures that its favorite CBS content reaches this
        highly engaged audience."
 
     -- Brightcove - Brightcove will feature ad-supported CBS video channels on
        its popular consumer destination, Brightcove.com. Fans of hit CBS
        programs will be able to post comments and interact with other viewers,
        remix content through interactive editing tools, and share videos
        through personal channels on Brightcove.com. For long-form CBS content,
        Brightcove will also provide a full-screen theatre-mode viewing
        experience.
 
        "The CBS commitment to open and broad distribution across the Web marks
        another major milestone in the evolution of Internet TV," said Jeremy
        Allaire, chairman and chief executive officer, Brightcove. "We are
        thrilled CBS has chosen Brightcove.com to expand the distribution of
        award-winning news and entertainment programming. The partnership will
        bring our community exciting new opportunities to engage deeply with
        some of the most compelling shows on television today."
 
     -- Netvibes - Four CBS Universes will debut on the new Netvibes Universe
        Network, leveraging the power of Netvibes to distribute and provide
        personalized content to users.  All CBS content will also be published
        across the Netvibes Ecosystem, the web's leading collection of user-
        generated feeds, modules, and personalized homepages.  Starting Monday,
        CBS Universes will be available for:
         CBS News ( http://www.netvibes.com/cbsnews ),
         ShowBuzz ( http://www.netvibes.com/showbuzz ),
         CSTV ( http://www.netvibes.com/cstv ),
         and SportsLine ( http://www.netvibes.com/sportsline ).
 
        "Netvibes Universe makes it easy for everyone to collect, customize and
        share rich media content online, throughout over 150 countries and 80
        languages. Anyone who visits the new CBS Universes can instantly access
        their favorite CBS shows, sports, and news feeds, and personalize it
        exactly the way they want it," said Netvibes Founder and CEO, Tariq
        Krim.
 
     -- Sling Media -  Sling Media will distribute free, ad supported, full
        length as well as clip-based video content from CBS via Sling's
        forthcoming video destination and its enhanced SlingPlayer software,
        which will be launched for both Slingbox and non-Slingbox customers
        this summer. In addition, Sling Media plans to integrate the same CBS
        content into additional platforms including its forthcoming
        SlingCatcher.
 
        "We are excited to extend our business relationship with CBS by
        offering our current and future audiences access to great long form
        programming from CBS that covers the spectrum from drama and comedy to
        sports and news," said Jason Hirschhorn, president of the Sling Media
        Entertainment Group. "CBS is proving they are a leader in the digital
        media space by embracing new platforms for content distribution. The
        announcement is an example of true ubiquity as evidenced by the cast of
        both new and established partners. We are proud to be working with them
        on this endeavor."
 
     -- Veoh - CBS content will be made available to viewers on the Veoh
        Network through branded, customized channels on Veoh.com and the Veoh
        Player application.  Utilizing Veoh's state-of-the-art peer-to-peer
        technology, CBS fans will be able to watch their favorite shows in a
        full-screen, DVD-quality format for a truly unique viewing experience
        that makes Veoh a leader in Internet Television.
 
        "We welcome CBS to our growing stable of media partners. CBS is one of
        the most respected entertainment brands in the business and we are
        excited to offer its vast and impressive catalog of high quality,
        entertaining and original programming to our viewers as part of the CBS
        Interactive Audience Network," said Dmitry Shapiro, CEO of Veoh
        Networks. "Veoh's large and growing audience and unique technology
        enable traditional media to expand their brands through increased
        audience distribution by enabling viewers to watch when and where they
        want."
     CBS also announced that Akamai Technologies, Inc. will serve as the
 content delivery network to power the CBS Interactive Audience Network.
     "Akamai is excited to extend its long-standing relationship with CBS by
 providing comprehensive media delivery and syndication technologies that
 will support CBS's new offerings for online viewers," said Robert Hughes,
 Executive Vice President of Global Sales, Services and Marketing, Akamai
 Technologies, Inc. "Syndicating thousands of digital assets online requires
 a solution that ensures business policies and rights associated with the
 content stay intact. By leveraging Akamai's advanced media delivery
 solutions, CBS is able to maintain control of their high-value media, while
 providing online consumers around the world with a consistently
 high-quality experience."
     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
 The CW - a joint venture between CBS Corporation and Warner Bros.
 Entertainment), cable television (Showtime and CSTV Networks), local
 television (CBS Television Stations), television production and syndication
 (CBS Paramount Network Television and CBS Television Distribution), radio
 (CBS Radio), advertising on out-of-home media (CBS Outdoor), publishing
 (Simon & Schuster), interactive media (CBS Interactive), music (CBS
 Records), licensing and merchandising (CBS Consumer Products), video/ DVD
 (CBS Home Entertainment) and motion pictures (CBS Feature Films). For more
 information, log on to http://www.cbscorporation.com .
 
 

SOURCE CBS Corporation