WJZ has a new business ? making widgets. The “widgets” are add-ons embedded on several local blogs and Web sites in the Baltimore area. The widgets will connect real-time news feeds with headlines linking back to full stories and videos on WJZ.com.
Owners of Web sites participating in the WJZ Baltimore Network receive a portion of the advertising revenue generation by the station, which will sell ads on the widgets. Content on the widgets will be customizable to match content on the partner Web sites. WJZ is one of 13 CBS-owned television stations across the country taking part in the partnership with local blogs and Web sites. Others participating include affiliates in Philadelphia, New York, Los Angeles and Chicago.
“WJZ and WJZ.com produces a lot of very strong, different types of content in the course of the day,” said WJZ Vice President and General Manager Jay Newman. “The idea is to reach as many people as possible with the content. It also strengthens their Web site by providing content they could not produce themselves. It?s a win-win.”
The initiative began a few weeks ago and has grown to include six Web sites and blogs across a variety of interests and topics. Early participants include sports site ebonybird.com, restaurant-oriented urbanspoon.com and the Baltimore section of ameri
cantowns.com.
