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| Thirty-nine newsstands in Philadelphia now feature CBS Always On — a 24-hour news ticker and a flat-screen high-definition TV set to broadcast news, weather and sports updates along with tourist information about Philadelphia, according to the company. |
Philadelphia recently became the first city in the region to launch a street-level news network when Center City Direct joined forces with all seven of the CBS stations in the Philadelphia market — CBS 3 (KYW-TV), The CW Philly 57 (WPSG-TV), KYW Newsradio 1060, 98.1 WOGL, 94 WYSP, SportsRadio 610 WIP and The Big Talker 1210AM WPHT — to present the market’s first digital newsstands.
Thirty-nine newsstands in Philadelphia went live at 7 a.m. Nov. 24 with CBS Always On — a 24-hour news ticker and a flat-screen high-definition TV set to broadcast news, weather and sports updates along with tourist information about Philadelphia, according to the company.
Plans are to eventually expand to 120 digital newsstands city-wide. CBS Local is the exclusive news provider for the service, and Eyewitness News will supply the TV news updates throughout the day, said the company. The CBS Radio stations will provide content for the marquee.
The CBS Always On newsstand network is also wired to provide alerts in case of a city emergency, including Amber alerts, coordinated through the City’s Office of Emergency Management, said the company. The initiative is the end product of an ordinance introduced by City Philadelphia Council Member Frank DiCicco this past summer and signed by Mayor Michael Nutter allowing digital signage for this purpose. Center City Direct manages the technology, the content and the advertising which covers the cost of the program at no cost to the City.
“This will be the most effective way for the city, businesses, our partners and community groups to communicate to the center city workforce,” said Phong Phan, president and CEO of Center City Direct, which is a division of Alternative Media Holdings LLC based in Philadelphia that uses its proprietary, Web-enabled, closed-circuit TV technology to broadcast content to digital monitors installed in retailers, office buildings and on the street. “Digital signage is a rapidly growing industry and we’re thrilled to be a part of this initiative in Philadelphia.”
The newsstand owners also are excited about the new addition to their stands, according to John Rocco, president of the Newsstand Association of Philadelphia. “This is another way that the city newsstands can provide news and information in the electronic age,” he said. “It also provides us with a way to give back to the community.”
The stands provide a natural extension for the CBS stations locally. “CBS 3 and The CW Philly have expanded our Eyewitness News brand across both stations, online and to cell phones,” said Jon Hitchcock, president and general manager of CBS 3/CW Philadelphia. “Providing a street-level news service is another way to provide the viewer with the news and information they need wherever they are and whenever they need it. Ultimately, we want CBS to be the news source locally.”
“The combined voices of our two television stations and five radio stations represent the complete package,” said Marc Rayfield, senior vice president and market manager for the CBS Radio Stations in Philadelphia. “Whether the news of the day is sports, music, entertainment or politics, we have an authority on staff that can provide the latest headlines and beyond.”