Broadband Content Bits: Katie Couric; MRC-MommyCast; Metacafe; Comcast-Metro; Entourage-iTunes
This story was written by Amanda Natividad.
-- Katie Couric anchoring *CBS* web specials: Katie Couric will anchor live web exclusives from the 2008 Democratic and Republican National Conventions, scheduled to air right after the primetime coverage she will anchor on CBS (NYSE: CBS). The 15-to-30 minute webcasts for CBSNews.com and CNET.com will feature a behind-the-scenes look at Couric and the news team, live interviews, and a live roundtable with CBS News political experts and reporters. Coverage will be archived on CBSNews.com, CNETTV.com and CBS Mobile News, distributed to CBS Audience Network partners and fed to CBS Radio News affiliates for insertion into their own content.
-- Media Rights Capital and MommyCast team up for video series: The film and digital studio has partnered with mom podcast MommyCast to launch over 120 original videos for MommyCast.com's new video channel. The 2-3-minute videos featuring MommyCast hosts and co-founders Gretchen Vogelzang and Paige Heninger will provide insight into health and fitness, fashion, parenting, finance and more via a morning show-style format with interviews and product reviews. New episodes will be posted weekly and available to stream or download free of charge through MommyCast.com, *Google* and iTunes.
-- Metacafe launching wiki-based video platform: Metacafe is bringing Wikicafe, its wiki-based video search platform out of beta on Aug. 26, the company tells us. Wikicafe allows registered users to edit videos, translate video tags, and use other types of metadata.
-- Comcast and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer launching VOD channel: The cable operator and MGM Studio's subsidiary have teamed up to launch a VOD channel featuring action programming this week. Dubbed Impact, the channel will feature popular action films and TV shows, many of which will be in hi-def. The Impact launch is part of Comcast's (NSDQ: CMCSA) pledge, called Project Infinity, to dramatically expand its programming. It is also creating a network of library servers to provide VOD content from several nationwide locations.
-- 'Entourage' finally on iTunes: HBO announced that all seasons of its hit series Entourage will be sold through the iTunes Store; the first two seasons are available now. Season three goes online next week and season four the week after that. Season five of the show will be available on the same day as the DVD release.
By Amanda Natividad