TORONTO – CHUM Television launched CityNews.ca today. The newly redesigned site (formerly Pulse24.com) "features a bold new look, greater functionality and a more personalized, interactive user experience incorporating high quality, on-demand broadband video," says the press release.
"Our focus was clear, we wanted to create an interactive platform that would allow our audiences to fully engage with our newsroom and their news," said Stephen Hurlbut, vice-president of news programming, Citytv, and VP/GM of all news channel CP24.
"We have designed a site that invites our viewers to tell us their stories. We are giving them the opportunity to drive the news agenda. Our intent is to form a broader, deeply connected community of ‘local’ storytellers, citizen journalists."
Among the new features now available on CityNews.ca:
* News Director – A broadband video delivery system allowing the user to program their own customized newscast that streams in near-television quality. Playlists can be created based on individual areas of interest and all video can be browsed and searched online.
* It’s Your Story – A new interface that allows users to become CityNews reporters and contribute to the site’s content by submitting stories, photos and videos from their community.
* Real time feeds – Direct access to CityNews RSS newsroom feeds delivering continuous, breaking news in real time.
* Blogs – Updated and available daily, web diaries from some personalities including BreakfastTelevision’s Kevin Frankish and other CityNews reporters.
CityNews.ca will also incorporate video advertising, creating new revenue-generating marketing opportunities, in addition to skyscraper and banner advertisements.
"In creating a true broadband video experience online, we are not only serving our viewers, but creating compelling opportunities for marketers" said Dale Fallon, director, CHUM Interactive. "The branding power of TV ads can now be delivered to an audience consuming on-demand news at their desktops at any time of day."
