CNN.com Gets More Social for Relaunch

Thursday, November 5, 2009

To beef up entertainment coverage, CNN.com has inked content partnerships with corporate siblings Entertainment Weekly and People. The site is also planning to launch an online game show, CNN Challenge, which will feature the network's top anchors such as Anderson Cooper and Larry King challenging contestants on news trivia. For commentary, CNN.com appears to be looking to replicate HuffingtonPost’s successful blend of celebrity columns and serious political news. The new CNN Opinion section will feature contributions from conservative journalist David Frum and social networking expert Pete Cashmore, CEO of Mashable, as well as actor John Leguizamo. “Not many people think of CNN for commentary. I’d like to challenge that,” said Estenson. Finally, CNN.com will look to recreate the mega-success of its partnerships with Facebook during this year’s presidential inauguration and Michael Jackson’s funeral. On Nov. 9, the site will host a 90-minute Webcast during which Oprah Winfrey will discuss her latest book club recommendation. Facbook users will be able to instantly log in and share their opinions on the latest book, Say You’re One of Them by Usem Akpan. Advertising was not a major focus of CNN.com’s presentation. However, it will play an upfront role in the site’s relaunch next week. On Monday, users will encounter the old version of the site, followed by a unique home-page takeover ad from Lexus which will then pull back the ‘virtual curtain’ on the new site. BlackBerry will receive the same treatment on Tuesday.

Posted by 7Hungama.c0m at 7:22 AM

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