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The Times to launch online TV service

Posted: 06/06/06 By: Oliver Luft

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Times Online is to launch an internet television service, as part of a plan to 'triple page impressions'.

According to The Times, the service, called Times TV, will initially consist of news clips from third-party providers and will launch this week.

However, the identity of the third-party content providers is not yet known, but BSkyB, which is owned by The Times' parent company News Corporation, is a seemingly obvious partner.

News Corporation could also provide content via its Fox entertainment channel and film business 20th Century Fox.

The Times reports that the initiative was announced by Les Hinton, executive chairman of News International, News Corp's British newspaper wing, as part of a plan to "triple our page impressions in the next few years for Times Online".

Mr Hinton said that News International's strategy was to "protect and extend" its newspapers by developing "online and mobile audiences".

He made the disclosure about Times TV during a speech in Moscow at the World Newspaper Congress.

In May, Times Online generated 59.9 million page impressions. The newspaper plans to expand the service with the online TV wing by encouraging readers to contribute their own news content to the service.

The move follows an announcement yesterday by Channel 4 that it was entering the radio market by offering an online service.

According to News International, which also owns The Sun, The Times' online revenue has risen 45 per cent year on year. Much of this is attributable to its mobile phone quizzes, puzzles and crosswords service.

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