Cowles California Media Launches 40 Hyperlocal Neighborhood Web Sites
Cowles California Media Launches 40 Hyperlocal Neighborhood Web Sites
Cowles California Media Launches 40 Hyperlocal Neighborhood Web Sites in Monterey and Santa Barbara to Serve Local Communities and Advertisers
SALINAS, CA — November 30, 2009 — Cowles California Media today announced that it has launched a network of 40 hyperlocal neighborhood Web sites in the Monterey/Salinas and Santa Barbara/Santa Maria CA markets, increasing local content offerings and expanding advertising opportunities for local businesses. The new sites provide a way for Cowles’ CBS and FOX TV stations (KION46, KCBA/FOX35, KCOY12 and KKFX/FOX11) to better serve local communities by combining the stations’ valuable content with community reporting and commentary focused on each individual neighborhood. This launch is the latest implementation of DataSphere Technologies’ LocalNet service, which includes an online platform that provides technology, advertising and sales solutions.
The hyperlocal sites are designed to provide local communities with the best source of information about news, events, entertainment and personalities relevant to their day-to-day lives. The new sites include http://sanmiguel.kcoy.com, http://carmel.kionrightnow.com and over 35 others. A complete list of the sites can be found at www.kcoy.com/communities and www.kionrightnow.com/communities.
"Being able to provide news and information down to the individual neighborhood level will allow us to serve our communities in ways we never could before," said Paul Dughi, President of Cowles California Media Company. "We now have more reporters in more communities throughout our viewing area."
The Cowles newsrooms will effectively and efficiently capture and post community news on a real-time basis to the new sites. Local stories and breaking news that station reporters cover on a daily basis will be complemented with user generated content, and also with generally available information relevant to each community.
The launch of the 40 new neighborhood sites builds on the successful launch of over 80 DataSphere LocalNet sites in markets including Seattle and Portland. The sites benefit from both DataSphere’s technology and sales capabilities in addition to the broadcast TV content and process knowledge provided by its strategic partner Fisher Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: FSCI).
DataSphere Technologies’ new LocalNet service provides TV broadcasters and other local media companies with the opportunity to take advantage of powerful existing brands and communication channels to build relevant and valuable online assets. LocalNet is a complete solution to address the local small business advertising market, including not only technology but also a seasoned, professional sales team. New clients can be up and running within weeks.
About Cowles California Media Company
Cowles California Media (http://cowlescaliforniamedia.com/) owns and/or operates six TV stations on California's Central Coast, including KION (CBS), KCBA (FOX), KMUV (TELEMUNDO), NION (CW) in Monterey/Salinas, CA and KCOY (CBS) and KKFX (FOX) in Santa Barbara/Santa Maria, CA.
About DataSphere
DataSphere Technologies, Inc. (http://www.DataSphere.com) is a Software as a Service (SaaS) Web technology and hyperlocal ad sales company focused on generating online profits for media companies. DataSphere offers a range of turnkey solutions to rapidly improve site monetization and experience with minimal investment of time and money.
DataSphere is headquartered in Bellevue, Washington, USA and led by a team of Internet veterans with backgrounds from Amazon.com, IMDb, Microsoft, RealNetworks and AltaVista.