HAMPTON ROADS, Va., Jan. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- The latest interactive studio
to join Cox Interactive Media (CIM), the nation's largest provider of
comprehensive local content on the Web, will bridge the barriers between
Hampton Roads communities, creating a cyberspace highway for all to travel.
By developing a unique Web site specifically geared toward the Hampton Roads
area, CIM's Hampton Roads Studio will foster community relationships on the
Internet by providing content tailored to the needs and interests of local
online users.
"The Hampton Roads area is a perfect match for Cox Interactive Media,"
said Peter Winter, president of Cox Interactive Media, headquartered in
Atlanta, Ga. "By coordinating with our Cox Communications, Inc. (CCI) cable
provider in the area, we plan to produce a unique city Web site with dynamic
and robust content. This new studio will provide Internet users in the
Hampton Roads area with information and services they will not be able to find
anywhere else online."
Leading the team is Paul Gregory. With more than 20 years experience in
traditional and new media, his role will be to create innovative Web sites
based on the interests and needs of that market. Prior to joining CIM,
Gregory supervised the daily metro news operations of the Richmond Times-
Dispatch, a newspaper recognized nationally for innovative projects, including
"Tomorrow's Headlines," a collaborative project with the Richmond area CBS
affiliate. Gregory also managed the newspaper's intensive 90-day coverage of
the historic Virginia statehouse elections in 1995.
"This is a truly exciting project because it allows us to utilize the
resources of Cox Interactive Media to build a home on the Web and a broadband
product for Cox Communication's @Home network. Our Web content will be geared
toward the many diverse communities that make this area so unique," said
Gregory. "The content we produce will be helpful, entertaining, and engaging
-- all from a local perspective."
Frank Bowers, vice president and general manager of the local CCI office,
is equally enthusiastic about having CIM in Hampton Roads. "We see great
synergy between our cable operation's new broadband service, Paul's experience
in newspaper and Cox Interactive Media's expertise with Web content. These
combined resources will benefit our local users and advertisers," said Bowers.
"We hope to break new ground in servicing our community with the combination
of Internet and cable television resources."
Cox Communications (NYSE: COX) is among the nation's largest cable
television operators, with more than 3.3 million customers. The company
wholly owns and operates 18 cable systems throughout the United States, and
shares ownership of an additional system with Time Warner Communications in
Fort Walton Beach, Fla. The Hampton Roads system includes 585,049 homes in
Virginia, including Norfolk, Portsmouth, Virginia Beach, Currituck County
(N.C.), Newport News, Fort Story, Fort Eustis, Chesapeake, Hampton, Poquoson,
Williamsburg, James City County, York County, Langley AFB, Fort Monroe and
both the Coast Guard and Naval facilities.
CIM's role in creating local content sites also extends to its alliance
with @Home, providers of cable access to the Internet. Cox Communications is
one of several investors in @Home. Through this unique alliance, CIM is
positioning itself for delivery of Internet services to users by both
broadband and narrowband. Cox@Home sites are currently operational in
Phoenix, Ariz.; Orange County, Calif. and San Diego, Calif.
SanDiegoInsider.com (http://www.sandiegoinsider.com) is the first Cox@Home site to
launch with dual access -- Internet users and @Home subscribers can both
access the site.
In the past year, CIM has experienced explosive growth, going from a two-
person shop to employing more than 225 people. By mid-1998 it will employ 400
people. The company produces the nation's largest, most extensive and fastest
growing network of city and specialty Web sites, CIMnet(TM). To date, CIMnet
includes 14 city sites and six specialty Web sites. For a complete listing of
CIMnet sites, visit CIM's Web site at http://www.cimedia.com.
Cox Enterprises, Inc., is headquartered in Atlanta, Ga. and includes Cox
Newspapers, Inc. (newspapers, direct mail marketing, book publishing), Cox
Broadcasting, Inc. (TV, spot sales, television production, research, publicly
traded Cox Radio, Inc. (NYSE: CXR)) and publicly traded Cox Communications,
Inc. (cable distribution, programming, broadband communications). The company
is also the world's largest operator of automobile auctions through Manheim
Auctions, providing financial services, government auctions, online services
and price guides.
SOURCE Cox Interactive Media
 back to top
Related links:
http://www.cimedia.com
CONTACT:
Marleen Burford, Cox Interactive Media,
404-572-1830; email: marleen.burford@cimedia.com; Paula Smith or
Fonda Berosini, Duffey Communications, 404-266-2600; email:
paulas@duffey.com or fondab@duffey.com
|
