Abilene TV Stations Draw Audience to the Web Through ActiveAccess News and Programming Alerts Branded Desktop Application Delivers Information Directly to Computers

BIA Information Network (http://www.activeaccess.com), a leading provider of private-label desktop applications, announced it has teamed with Texas television stations KTAB and KRBC to launch its ActiveAccess desktop application for a new portal website co-published by the stations. WeatherNow will sit on users computers and enhance the portal's purpose of becoming the city's central source for news and events.

Chantilly, Va. (PRWEB) August 8, 2007 -- BIA Information Network (http://www.activeaccess.com), a leading provider of private-label desktop applications, announced today it has teamed with Abilene, TX television stations KTAB and KRBC to launch its ActiveAccess desktop application for a new portal website co-published by the stations. The application, WeatherNow, is designed to enhance the portal's purpose of becoming the city's central source for news, event information, community calendar, weather, videos and alerts by delivering the information directly to the computer desktops of its residents. The application can be downloaded from http://bigcountryhomepage.com/content/weathernow.

Gayle Kiger, Vice-President and General Manager of KTAB, said, "ActiveAccess technology engages our audience by providing them with the information they choose even when they don't care to access the Internet. The WeatherNow application supports our new media initiatives of creating a community portal that serves as the focal point for local consumers, businesses and advertisers. Based on our experience with the technology, ActiveAccess makes it much easier to communicate with users and to provide convenient access to news and information when it's most relevant and critical."

More than 53,000 people have downloaded the ActiveAccess technology from the KTAB website since 2003, each running the application an average of eight hours per day. That version, called KTAB PC, will be upgraded to the more comprehensive and feature rich WeatherNow application.

Click here to see an illustration of the WeatherNow application: http://www.bia.com/images/ktab.gif

ActiveAccess technology creates a direct and interactive pipeline to an audience using Internet technology. When users download the application from the stations new website, http://bigcountryhomepage.com/content/weathernow, they receive personalized, customizable, real-time local and national weather information, weather alerts and storm warnings, breaking news, streaming video and other types of content from both KTAB and KRBC. KTAB and KRBC will be also able to send out targeted communications with their respective listeners based on the information each user provides at sign-up. The stations can also collaborate with advertisers by tying-in station promotions and content.

"Our collaboration with KTAB and KBRC supported their desire to become a resource for their viewers in ways beyond the airwaves," said Haidee Calore, senior vice president and general manager for BIA Information Network. "We are delighted to be working in collaboration with television stations that want to leverage their unique resources to develop an even deeper connection with their local audiences. WeatherNow creates a flexible way for the Abilene community to rely on these respected local television stations for news and information at any time of the day."

Kiger also said that, "We believe WeatherNow will give our viewers what they want - a simple, non-technical, versatile desktop application that they can configure as they please without having to surf multiple webpages or overwhelming their crowded email inboxes."

WeatherNow is a non-intrusive, light-weight program containing no adware, spyware or spam. It can be installed at work or at home and will not slow down a company's network or use much RAM or hard drive space.

About KTAB and KRBC TV

KTAB TV, a CBS affiliate, is owned and operated by Nexstar Broadcasting of Irving, Texas and provides services to KRBC TV, an NBC affiliate, which is owned by Mission Broadcasting.

About BIA Information Network

BIA Information Network, LLC BIA Information Network, LLC, a subsidiary of BIA Financial Network, Inc., is a leading provider of Branded Desktop Applications (BDAs) for the dynamic delivery of news, alerting, weather information, and personalized communications for broadcast media, government, educational institutions and the business enterprise. Our flagship product, ActiveAccess, is a private-label desktop application that captures prime real estate on the computer desktop of a targeted audience. It places a specific brand and personalized content directly in front of an audience, providing a constant one-on-one connection. Some of our broadcast clients include: Entercom Communications Corporation, Gray Television Incorporated, Meredith Corporation, and Nexstar Broadcasting. Click to learn more about this innovative, value driving product, http://www.activeaccess.com.

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