Yahoo! to go after RealNetwork entertainment market
By Brand Republic, London, Revolution UK Online, February 11, 2003
Yahoo! is to launch a product that will rival RealNetwork's RealOne Superpass service, offering subscribers entertainment, music, news and sports footage.
The plan is part of the internet company's aim to turn its 213m users into paying subscribers, as it seeks to generate more of its revenue from non-advertising sources.
RealNetworks has been one of the internet success stories, with 900,000 people paying subscriptions for its service, which allows users to view video on the internet, as well as access to content from sources such as the NBA and Major League Baseball.
The new Yahoo! service could offer content from companies it already has marketing deals with, including Fox Network, CBS and Disney. It is expected to detail plans on the new offering when it meets with analysts this Wednesday.
The internet company currently offers Yahoo! Broadcast, a free service where users can view a wide variety of on-demand audio and video content, from space shuttle launches to movies, sporting and music events, as well as advertisements and TV shows that have not been on the air in years. It has also launched a subscription music service called Launchcast.
Yahoo! has already launched a number of premium services, from horoscopes to online car auctions.
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