Kansas City, KS, (December 6, 2005) -- KCTV5, Kansas City's news and technology leader, will provide news, weather, sports, and other information on Sprint PCS VisionSM mobile phones beginning today. The new service, KCTV News NOW!, allows Sprint PCS customers to download up-to-the-minute news stories, pictures, city camera images, weather forecasts, Doppler radar, and severe weather warnings to their mobile phones. KCTV News NOW! was designed by KCTV with wireless assistance from News Over Wireless, a division of Capitol Broadcasting Company's New Media Group.
With the launch of KCTV News NOW! KCTV5 is the first local TV station to offer up-to-the-minute news, weather, and sports on mobile phones via a customized downloadable application. "In today's wireless world, it's critical to reach viewers in new ways," KCTV5 GM Kirk Black said. " I'm thrilled to be the first local station in Kansas City to offer news over wireless phones. Now KCTV5 News and Katie Horner's Storm Track 5 forecasts are always available."
"We are delighted to launch this wonderful service with KCTV, a trusted and proven news leader in Kansas City," said Sam Matheny, General Manager of News Over Wireless. "KCTV News NOW! is a great example of how KCTV provides their viewers with the best possible technology in an increasingly mobile world."
KCTV News NOW! is designed for use on J2ME-enabled devices and is a flexible application. It is template and menu driven and can serve a wide variety of content. Additionally, new and different categories of content can be added on the fly. KCTV thoroughly researched the mobile market and is deploying the downloadable news application as the best way to reach an increasingly mobile audience.
Sprint PCS Vision customers can register for KCTV's news and information application by visiting KCTV.newsoverwireless.com, Sprint.com, or they can download the application from the Download menu on their handset. The monthly fee is $3.99 for unlimited access to the service. This is in addition to the subscribers' monthly Vision data plan.
About KCTV
KCTV5 has been Kansas City's CBS Network affiliate since 1955. KCTV5 is committed to deliver the highest quality news, information and entertainment programming. KCTV5 operates with the highest commitment to the local community, and will provide service to our customers that is second to no other.
Meredith Corporation is one of the nation's leading media and marketing companies with core competencies in magazine and book publishing, television broadcasting, integrated marketing and interactive media. Meredith owns 11 television stations that reach nearly 9 percent of television households across the country: WGCL-TV (CBS), Atlanta; KPHO-TV (CBS), Phoenix, AZ; KPTV (UPN), Portland, OR; KPDX-TV (FOX), Portland, OR; WFSB-TV (CBS), Hartford-New Haven, CT; WSMV-TV (NBC), Nashville, TN; KCTV (CBS), Kansas City, MO; WHNS-TV (FOX), Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson, SC-Asheville, NC; WNEM-TV (CBS), Flint-Saginaw, MI; KVVU-TV (FOX), Las Vegas, NV; CBS 3, Springfield, MA; and KFXO-CA (FOX), Bend, OR.
About Capitol Broadcasting Company
Capitol Broadcasting Company, Inc. is a diversified communications company which owns and/or operates WRAL-TV (http://www.wral.com/), WRAL Digital (http://www.wral-hd.com/), WRAL-FM (http://www.wralfm.com/), WRAL-HD2 (http://www.wral-hd.com/), Microspace (http://www.microspace.com/), the North Carolina News Network (http://www.ncnn.com/), CBC New Media Group (http://www.cbcnewmedia.com/) and Wolfpack Sports Marketing in Raleigh, NC (http://www.gopack.com/); WJZY-TV (http://www.wjzy.com/) and WWWB-TV (http://www.wb55.com/) in Charlotte, NC; WILM-TV (http://www.wilm-tv.com/) in Wilmington, NC; WRAZ-TV (http://www.fox50.com/) and The Durham Bulls (http://www.dbulls.com/) in Durham, NC; the Myrtle Beach Pelicans Baseball Club (http://www.myrtlebeachpelicans.com/) in Myrtle Beach, SC; and various real estate interests in North Carolina.
Kirk Black
General Manager, KCTV5
913-677-5555
Sam Matheny
News Over Wireless
919-821-8938
sam@newsoverwireless.com