The battle switches from home screens to more home screens as local television stations pump up Internet capabilities in the face of increasing competition.
The latest: KDVR-Channel 31 unveiled its new and improved website (myfoxcolorado.com) to the public on Wednesday. “We’re biased but we think it’s the best in town,” said Brad Remington, vice president/news director of the Fox outlet.
At first glance, the Channel 31 website looks a lot like those of other stations in town, except, as one competitor said, “their video screen is 2 inches to the left of ours.”
There are the usual links to weather and traffic reports and “Contact Us.” It’s remarkably easy to navigate. For example, no going back to the home page to find categories.
But the big pitch, said Remington, is interactive. “We want the viewer to be given a chance to be interactive, to give an opinion.”
It’s all about news and watching it on TV as a two-way street. There’s an opinion section and a blog space to chat with news anchors and reporters.
Emphasis is heavy on video (put on the website almost as soon as it is shot) and interactive features. One aspect that might have to be re-thought is allowing viewers free rein to post items on the community pages. “We are not going to censor them, except for language,” Remington said, quickly adding that “pictures and videos will be screened.”
The rebuilt website, he said, is not a response to the arrival of a third 9 p.m. newscast on KTVD- Channel 20 (also known as “MyNetwork20”; there’s a lot of “my” in TV these days). “This has been in the works for a long time,” with a large boost from the parent Fox network.
Weekend highlights
Today
It’s a new look – more women in charge – for the 16th season of “Law & Order” (9 p.m., KUSA-Channel 9).
Saturday
See what all the fuss was about. “The Matrix” (1999) and “The Matrix Reloaded” (2003), featuring Keanu Reeves as a computer hacker, play back-to-back (3 and 6 p.m., TNT).
Sunday
Remember our best friends down the block? They’re off for a new season of “Desperate Housewives,” promising the
series’ old zip is back (8 p.m., KMGH-Channel 7).
Around the dial
Radio bad boy Howard Stern rumored to be headed back to free radio. No chance, according to a spokesman for Sirius Satellite Radio, who says “there’s never been any such discussion.” … Cynthia Hessin sits in as substitute host for a discussion on security and terrorism on “Colorado State of Mind” (7:30 tonight, KRMA-Channel 6). Chuck Green and Amy Oliver-Pryzgoda guest … Quotable: “TV and the web are very complementary. It should go hand-in-hand.” – Brad Remington
Dick Kreck’s column appears Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. He may be reached at 303-954-1456 or dkreck@denverpost.com.
