CBS expands mobile offerings

Cory Bergman February 9th, 2007

CBS has launched a mobile store where users can download games, wallpapers and “voicetones” from CBS programming. The network has also debuted two WAP sites, one for CBSNews and another for CBSSportsline, that feature “real-time” updates. “We are breaking new ground with these robust wireless offerings just as we did when we were the first to launch video alerts last year,” said Cyriac Roeding, Executive Vice President, CBS Mobile. The network plans to launch mobile sites in the coming months for CBS Entertainment, The CW, “Entertainment Tonight” and CBS’s online entertainment news service Showbuzz.com. Press release after the CBSMobile.com screen grab…

PRESS RELEASE — LOS ANGELES–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Capitalizing on the growing interest of consumers to use their mobile phones as entertainment centers, CBS has launched three next-generation web sites catering to mobile users. The announcement of the three new sites – the CBS Mobile Store and two new advertising-supported mobile web sites (also known as Wireless Application Protocol, or WAP sites) for Sports and News – was made by Cyriac Roeding, Executive Vice President, CBS Mobile.

The “CBS Mobile Store” (www.CBSMobile.com) is an online destination where consumers download a wide variety of exclusive mobile content, including games and special wallpapers and voicetones created specifically for the mobile phone from CBS programming. Additionally, the CBS Mobile Store will offer two industry firsts: “Live wallpapers,” featuring scenes from hit CBS reality shows that can be downloaded in the form of still images within hours of broadcast, and daily mobile video alerts from David Letterman, called “Dave TV,” featuring the funniest moments from the previous night’s show. CBS Mobile Store content is available either for a one-time download charge or at a subscription rate. The technology behind the CBS Mobile Store is provided and run by VeriSign.

The two new CBS WAP sites employ cutting-edge technology with CBS SportsLine (wap.CBSSportsLine.com) featuring real-time scores and the ability to control fantasy sports teams from the mobile phone. CBS News (wap.CBSNews.com) offers mobile users direct access to full stories and images of near real-time breaking news events. Both WAP sites are ad supported on most carriers, with the content available for free to mobile users.

“We are breaking new ground with these robust wireless offerings just as we did when we were the first to launch video alerts last year,” said Roeding. “The CBS Mobile Store and WAP sites represent the most innovative sites of their kind. The content is designed and made specifically for mobile, but at the same time it offers a seamless link to our top television shows. We call this ‘platforming content’ to mobile.”

In addition to “live wallpapers” from reality series such as “Survivor” and “Big Brother” and the “Dave TV” feature, new CBS Mobile Store also includes:

Within the first month, more than 1,000 exclusive and often made-for-mobile wallpapers and voicetones will be available from CBS’s most popular television series, including “CSI,” “CSI: NY,” “CSI: Miami,” and “Survivor,” as well as from classic programs, including “Star Trek,” “Beverly Hills 90210,” “Melrose Place,” “Frasier,” and “The Brady Bunch.”

More than 5,000 additional wallpapers and ringtones, including artist images and music from chart-topping acts.

Entertainment, news and sports video alerts.

Popular general entertainment features, like the Joke of the Day and Daily Horoscopes.

Ashley Hartman, CBS’s Mobile VJ, is featured in a video player throughout the site guiding users through the services and making recommendations based on her favorite offerings.

The new CBS SportsLine and CBS News WAP sites feature next-generation functionality for mobile web sites. Using the latest WAP technology, both sites contain images and color graphics. Access to the mobile websites is possible through most major wireless carriers and the content available is compatible with most services. Consumers will also have the ability to access the sites “off deck,” meaning they will not have to go through their carriers.

Highlights of the new WAP sites are:

On the CBS SportsLine site…

The ability to control fantasy sports teams, including mobile access to league standings, lineups and the live fantasy scoreboard.

Real-time scoring, play-by-play and scoring summaries, and individual player stats.
On the CBS News site…

Exclusive access to news stories and images of near real-time coverage of breaking news events.

CBS SportsLine and CBS News are live now with additional video offerings being added in the near future. In the coming months, CBS Mobile will launch WAP sites for content from CBS Entertainment, The CW, “Entertainment Tonight” and CBS’s online entertainment news service Showbuzz.com.

CBS worked with mobile-solutions firm Volantis to build the WAP sites for all CBS properties.

“We’re very pleased to partner with one of the premiere media companies in the world. We look forward to helping CBS launch the next generation of WAP sites – these are the most innovative WAP sites we have seen anywhere in the world,” said Matthew Harris, CEO of Volantis, based in Seattle, Washington.

According to CTIA – The Wireless Association, there are 215-million cell phone users in the United States, which is 70 percent of the entire population of the country (300 million). In addition, the cell phone is the one medium that consumers have with them while they are enjoying other media, including watching TV, surfing the internet, listening to the radio, and reading a magazine. A recent CBS research study concluded that over half (52 percent) of the 25- to 44-year olds surveyed have their cell phone with them 90 percent of the time when they are watching television. That number increases among the younger demographic, where 64 percent of the 18- to 24-year olds surveyed said they have their cell phones with them 90 percent of the time when they are watching television.