'New York Magazine,' MetroChannels join forces for Web site

New York Magazine and MetroChannels, a local New York cable TV network owned by Rainbow Media Holdings, will join in a partnership to create an Internet site with broadband capabilities. The venture was announced in a news conference the week of March 27 attended by Tom Rogers, chairman-CEO of Primedia, which owns New York Magazine, as well as Publisher Alan Katz and Editor in Chief Caroline Miller. Also on hand were Joshua Sapan, president-CEO of Rainbow, and James Dolan, president-CEO of Cablevision Systems. Rainbow is owned by Cablevision and NBC. "This is the first time a local magazine and a local TV franchise have come together to create an Internet venture suited to the broadband future,'' Mr. Rogers said. "It's a combination of video and text.'' The site will be primarily a lifestyle and entertainment guide to New York, the new partners said. The new Web location will replace the magazine's current "narrowband'' site. "If you're looking for a restaurant,'' Mr. Sapan said, "with our broadband technology, you'll be able to actually visit the restaurant, visit with the chef and watch while your food is being prepared.'' He also said a visitor will be able to select a doctor using the site, asserting, "You'll be able to meet with a physician online.'' Ms. Miller said New York Magazine has "been trying to get into this game for some time. Now we have a CEO [Mr. Rogers] who can get us there.'' Mr. Rogers, formerly president of NBC Cable, joined Primedia last year. There was no launch date announced for the site, nor was a spending amount for the new project announced. Mr. Sapan said the new venture will start hiring staff within six months. The partners also haven't come up with a URL for the site.