Internetworkers: http://www.ibiblio.org/internetworkers/

[Ron Thigpen <rthigpen AT nc.rr.com>]

The new site is provided by Internet Broadcasting Services <url:
http://www.ibsys.com> working under the McGraw-Hill Companies umbrella.

From the press release: <url:
http://www.ibsys.com/pressbox/press-20001113-170114.html>

<quote>
NEW YORK, November 13, 2000 - WRAL-TV and Internet Broadcasting Systems

announced today that WRAL OnLine, one of the most successful local TV Web 
sites
in the country, will join the IBS network of local "Web Channels." WRAL OnLine
is the leading local news Web site in Raleigh-Durham, NC, and one of the most
dominant local destinations in the country, with 25 percent reach, more than 
ten
million monthly page views and more than 300,000 unique visitors. WRAL OnLine
won the NATPE Iris Award for best local TV Web site in 1999. Additionally,
WRAL-TV is one of the most innovative and respected local TV broadcasters in 
the
nation.

Capitol Broadcasting, owner of WRAL-TV and also of WRAZ-TV in Durham, WJZY-TV
and WFVT-TV in Charlotte, and WILM-TV in Wilmington, has agreed to join forces
with IBS to capitalize on the IBS network's success in driving substantial new
revenue for local Web sites and television stations. As part of the agreement,
IBS will develop Web Channels for the above stations; Capitol Broadcasting 
made
an undisclosed investment in IBS and became a co-owner of the IBS network.
</quote>

Note the emphasis on "new revenue" while there is no mention of content 
quality
or community service. Also note the investment of Capitol Broadcasting in 
IBS. 
Oddly the release cites WRAL Online's previous awards, as if they weren't
sacking the award winning staff and overwriting the previous site contents.  

And with this move the media landscape has just been a bit further 
homogenized. 


For your convenience, here are some E-mail addresses gleaned from the feedback
page source  <url: http://www.wral.com/news/462710/> and their reply to my
e-mail:

feedback AT wral.com, jclark AT ibsys.com, jay.lieberman AT ibsys.com, jmoos AT wral.com,
ken.rees AT ibsys.com, drodrick AT ibsys.com,jutley AT ibsys.com, bpeterson AT wral.com.

Regards, 

Ron Thigpen