SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 12, 2009

TV Guide for the Internet Debuts

Clicker.com Points People to their Favorite TV Episodes and Movies on the Web

  •  (AP / CBS)

  • Section Tech News

    All about the digital world, from computers and gadgets to industry news and hot tech trends.

(AP)  Web surfing is becoming more like channel surfing as television shows, movies and music videos pour onto the Internet.

That's why pointing people to their favorite TV episodes and flicks could emerge as next big opportunity in Web navigation. Former online search executive Jim Lanzone is hoping to lead the way with Clicker.com, a free service debuting Thursday.

"We are trying to build the ultimate programming guide for the coming age of Internet TV," said Lanzone, who ran IAC/InterActiveCorp's Ask.com until last year.

After two months of invitation-only testing, Clicker is welcoming all comers to peruse an index that includes 400,000 TV episodes, 50,000 music videos and roughly 30,000 movies that are part of Netflix's streaming library or Amazon.com's video store.

Streaming from Netflix requires a subscription while Amazon.com sells or rents video downloads. Most of the other material in Clicker's database is shown for free.

The selections range from television staples such as "Seinfeld" to Web-only productions such as "The Basketball Jones."

Other services already have been trying to cut through the Internet's video clutter. Clicker will vie against at least two similar sites, Channels.com and BuddyTV.com, as well as video search options offered by Google Inc., Yahoo Inc., Microsoft Corp. and AOL.

"It's going to be a highly competitive field," predicted Gartner Inc. analyst Allen Weiner.

That's nothing new for Lanzone. As Ask.com's CEO during a two-year stint that ended in January 2008, Lanzone became accustomed to battling Internet search's big three - Google, Yahoo and Microsoft.

Although Ask.com's audience remained well behind those of the larger rivals, Lanzone oversaw a team that came up with some search innovations that were good enough to be copied by Google.

Clicker is trying to set itself apart by combining elements of a search engine, a digital video recorder and a forum that allows people to recommend shows to one another. Clicker also will evoke memories of an old-fashioned TV guide, with episode summaries that include the year the video was made.

To make money, Clicker will rely on advertising and eventually may try to collect commissions from video producers that charge to watch content.

The site is part of Clicker Media Inc., a Los Angeles startup that has raised $8 million from such investors as venture capital firms Benchmark Capital and Redpoint Ventures.



© MMIX The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Share:
  • Share
  • Yahoo! Buzz
  • Mixx
Add a Comment
by Netssa November 12, 2009 1:06 PM EST
New Search engine dedicated to Automotive Service Industry

Hey, you might be having problems with your car. There is a website called eArio.com. A new search engine that lists all the auto service centers, searching throughout service shops specialization,
and certification, to find the most relevant auto service station. www.eArio.com

This will eliminate any unwanted information and create a small list of auto repair shops closest to you.
It?s free, easy to use and extremely effective. I would truly recommend it, hope this helps with your car problem.
http://www.eario.com
Reply to this comment
by Netssa November 12, 2009 1:06 PM EST
New Search engine dedicated to Automotive Service Industry

Hey, you might be having problems with your car. There is a website called eArio.com. A new search engine that lists all the auto service centers, searching throughout service shops specialization,
and certification, to find the most relevant auto service station. www.eArio.com

This will eliminate any unwanted information and create a small list of auto repair shops closest to you.
It?s free, easy to use and extremely effective. I would truly recommend it, hope this helps with your car problem.
http://www.eario.com
Reply to this comment

Exclusive Webshow

Grammy winner Shakira on her music career, philanthropy and being sexy.. Watch Now

  • MOST POPULAR
Discussed
  1. Tempers Flare In Climate Change Flap

    (746 recent comments)

Latest News
News in Pictures
Scroll Left Scroll Right
Connect with CBS News

Stay connected with the CBS News using your favorite social networks and online news applications: