CBS has once again shown its willigness to break with tradition and get in on the cutting edge of online television.
The network has officially become the first to sign on with Joost, an online site from the creators of Skype. Joost bills itself as “the world’s first broadcast-quality Internet television service.” CBS shows will be online on Joost when the service launches later this spring.
Shows that will be available include new and previously aired full epoisodes of such shows as the full “CSI” franchise, “Survior,” “Jericho” and even Showtime original movies.
“Joost combines best-in-class technology with superb video quality and a management team with a proven track record,” said Quincy Smith, President, CBS Interactive, in a media release. “Partnering with Joost for the CBS Interactive Audience Network showcases our content and community on a service that allows for unique advertising opportunities and a delivery framework that maximizes cost efficiency.”
Joost is in beta right now. There’s no official date for the big launch, but it looks like it’s coming soon.
As an online TV fan, I must say I remain impressed by the drive CBS is showing in making sure its content is available to fans as the click of a mouse.
Fans of “The King of Queens” will soon be able to vote on their favorite episodes from the past eight seasons of the comedy when Sony Pictures Television and Yahoo! TV roll out a contest that will lead up to the series finale May 14.
Starting April 16 and running through April 27, Yahoo! TV will have 12 of the most popular episodes from the series’ first eight years online along with show descriptions and clips. Fans will be able to pick their favorites. Voting will also be available via local network station's own web sites. On April 30, the votes will be revealed with the Top 5 episodes being named.
To sweeten the deal for fans, a random drawing of all online voters will offer a grand prize package of electronics from Newegg.com that offers a $4,500 shopping spree. Other prizes include fan packs that include a hat, T-shirt and mug.
SPT president John Weiser said in a press release, “‘The King of Queens’ has been enormously successful for us and our station partners since its syndication debut in September 2003. We wanted to create a powerful and unique May sweep promotion that supports the highly successful syndication run of “The King of Queens” as well as the network series finale on May 14 on CBS. Airing the pilot on the same day as the network finale will also remind audiences that, beginning in September, the only place you can see ‘The King of Queens’ will be in syndication.”
As the series ends May 14, CBS stations around the country will air the pilot episode to remind viewers how everything started.
CBS has rolled out a new bonus for “Ghost Whisperer” fans with the release of special webisodes on Innertube. “Ghost Whisperer: The Other Side,” takes a look at the world through the eyes of an earthbound spirit, Zach.
The companion show centers on Zach’s search for answers about his recent death and shows him learning how to navigate the spirit world. Along the way, Zach “meets an array of ghosts who teach him how to intersect with the land of the living.”
New episodes are set to be released on Fridays on Innertube. Zach will make a guest appearance in the second season finale of CBS’ “Ghost Whisperer.”
The companion show idea is one I’ve become very fond of. They are great ideas for adding original content to the web, while also enhancing major network shows with added background and storylines time constraints might not allow.
It’s not been a question of if YouTube would get sued. The real question has been when. The answer, courtesy of Viacom, is now.
The media company filed a $1 billion copyright infringement lawsuit against YouTube and its owner, Google Inc., in the U.S. District Court in New York. The suit claims YouTube “harnessed technology to willfully infringe copyrights on a huge scale" and had "brazen disregard" of intellectual property laws.
A showdown between YouTube and Viacom has been coming for a while. The company owns the rights to some of the biggest YouTube favorites, such as programming from MTV, VH1 and Comedy Central.
Viacom claims the video-sharing site is profiting off clips it has no right to profit from. Earlier this year, Viacom demanded the removal of more than 100,000 clips from its site. Despite this, many clips have remained.
YouTube has had run ins with big media in the past, including CBS and NBC. Both of those networks struck deals with the site and have allowed their presence to remain. In fact, Leslie Moonves, CBS’ CEO, told investors that its relationship with YouTube boosted shows rather than hurt them.
While it will be up to the courts to decide the copyright infringement issue the CBS stand does make one wonder if Viacom is biting off its nose to spite its face?
I’m not saying piracy is acceptable, but it might just be Viacom is throwing out the baby with the bathwater on this one. Since full shows don't normally show up on YouTube, why not take the free advertisements and run with them?
David Spade fans who haven’t had a chance to check out his latest entry in the comedy world don’t have to wait for the show's regular airtime on CBS.
“Rules of Engagement” episodes can be found on CBS.com via Innertube. The comedy also stars Oliver Hudson, Bianca Kajilich, Megan Price and Patrick Warburton. Spade plays the odd man out in a group of couples who are struggling with the daily trials of relationships.
While the show airs normally on Mondays at 9:30 EST, the catch up episodes are available in streaming format at any time.
The next new episode is set to air March 12.
CBS is continuing to shine in the online arena thanks to its many offerings on Innertube. By putting these shows on the Internet like it is, it's making it easier for new fans to get hooked on such shows as "Rules," "Jericho" and more on their own schedules.
Criss Angel, the start of A&E’s “Mindfreak,” will make a guest appearance on “CSI: NY” tonight at 10 EST.
Angel will play world-renowned illusionist Luke Blade. When Blade brings his show to New York, his crew members start dropping like flies. It will be up to Mac, played by Gary Sinise, and his team of super detectives to shed some light on the unusual deaths.
CBS has a sneak peek of tonight’s episode available to view right now. For those who can’t tune in this evening, the CBS site has full episodes streaming, which means this one will be available shortly after its network debut.
I have to admit, I haven't checked out this rendition of CSI, but I'm a big Sinise fan. This episode sounds like a good one to catch even for first-timers like myself.
If there were an awards program for the best in online television, I’d cast my vote for CBS’ Innertube to win in the best network streaming video site category.
As an entertainment writer, I spend a whole lot of time on these sites, and it’s easy for me to say that right now Innertube would get my nod, hands down.
Why?
CBS has done a great job embracing the online trend. It came out of the gate strong and this particular site just keeps getting better and better. Innertube is easy to navigate, it offers a lot for fans to see and the streaming quality is quite high. In addition to free replays of CBS’ biggest shows, the site also boasts a fair amount of original content.
Recently, I had the pleasure of catching up with “Jericho” via Innertube. I found the entire process extremely easy. Finding the show and the correct episodes was a snap. The streaming video quality was high, even in full-screen mode, and the commercial interruptions were so minimal, they didn’t even allow enough time for a soda refill.
Finding Innertube via the CBS.com site is very easy, as well. Every show featured has its own link and the site’s in the main lineup on the top left of the CBS home page. With nine original shows for Innertube only, plus free replays of CBS hits like “Rules of Engagement,” “Jericho” and “CSI,” it’s got some of the best free television in television.
The NBC.com is also coming along rather nicely, as well, but CBS edges out ahead in my mind with its multitude of original online series.
“Jericho” followers that have been dying to find out what happens next in this tiny little town with a huge ability to survive don’t have to wait much longer. The show returns with new episodes Wednesday on CBS.
The return episode, “The Day Before,” will deliver a lot of surprises for fans as more questions about the pre-bomb days are answered. The episode, which I had a chance to review thanks to the great folks over at CBS, doesn’t answer everything, however. It clears up just enough of the mystery to be a tease while opening up the door on a whole bunch of new questions in the process.
Brilliant!
While I don’t believe in getting into spoilers, I will say this: “The Day Before” is a must-see for “Jericho” fans. It gives a whole lot of insight into the past while laying the groundwork for some potentially great plotlines in the future.
For those who don’t know, I had not really checked out “Jericho” prior to this past week. I did a marathon over the weekend to catch up in order to be able to view “The Day Before” with an open mind.
I’ve made it clear before that “Jericho’s” reality-based fiction that addresses issues so relevant to today’s news isn’t my cup of tea as far as genres are concerned. “Jericho” might be fiction, but it’s dealing with storylines that many people outside America (and maybe some inside, too) would like to see become fact.
I must, however, admit “Jericho” has me hooked. I’m not happy about it, but it’s true.
I haven’t run into a show in a very long time that manages to choke me up quite as much as this one does while still presenting interesting, sympathetic characters and some great action to boot.
Despite my disdain for this type of show, “Jericho” is absolutely worth a watch. The writing is solid. The acting is great. And, well frankly, the whole “what if” the show presents might be a needed wake up call for some.
“Jericho” airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. EST on CBS and can be found for free online on CBS.com’s Innertube and for purchase on iTunes.
There's only a few days left until "Jericho" makes its return with new episodes on CBS.
To help fans get primed and to help reel in new ones, CBS.com has all kinds of things going on. There's a great sneak peek of the action to come on the site right now along with full episodes of the show to date. This particular feature is one that I'm wishing right now wasn't there.
Yes, I've gotten roped in. First "Heroes," now "Jericho." I still have a lot of episodes to go before Wednesday to catch up, too, and with my Sunday night lineup booked, I could be in trouble.
At any rate, fans of the show are also being invited to stop by CBS.com for a live talk show with the cast and producers of "Jericho" on three upcoming dates. The talk show will be hosted on CBS.com on Feb. 20 at 2 p.m. EST, Feb. 22 at 1 p.m. EST and March 1 at 1 p.m. EST.
TeevBlogger is dedicated to discussing TV online. This includes what shows are available, how and why we watch TV in the online format, technological issues and advancements in this market, and most importantly the enjoyment of television...
April 13, 2007
CBS has once again shown its willigness to break with tradition and get in on the cutting edge of online television.
Fans of 
It’s not been a question of if YouTube would get sued. The real question has been when. The answer, 
David Spade fans who haven’t had a chance to check out his latest entry in the comedy world don’t have to wait for the show's regular airtime on CBS.
Criss Angel, the start of A&E’s “Mindfreak,” will make a guest appearance on “CSI: NY” tonight at 10 EST.
If there were an awards program for the best in online television, I’d cast my vote for 
“Jericho” followers that have been dying to find out what happens next in this tiny little town with a huge ability to survive don’t have to wait much longer. The show returns with new episodes Wednesday on CBS.
There's only a few days left until "Jericho" makes its return with new episodes on CBS.
