CBS Interactive Named Online Partner for Grammys

NEW YORK, January 28:
CBS Interactive has scored a two-year deal to become the official online
partner of The Recording Academy to distribute programming around the Grammy
Awards brand.

CBS Interactive will
develop online content, communities and promotions around the Grammy brand and
the annual awards show broadcast. Grammy-related content will be distributed
across the company's network of online, wireless and digital platforms,
including CBS.com, CBS Audience Network, CBS Mobile and Last.fm, among others.

Content being developed
for the 50th Annual Grammy Awards on February 10, airing live on
CBS, includes a live online, pre-show special with talent arrivals and
interviews from the Red Carpet; a live stream of the Grammy pre-telecast
ceremony on CBS.com and Grammy.com; and a radio widget from Last.fm. In
addition, CBS Interactive will feature Grammy rehearsal footage and a video
online countdown featuring background on nominees and predictions for
categories leading up to the broadcast. CBS Interactive will use this content,
along with classic video clips, photos and other event coverage, to create an
online community.

"There are only a
few annual tent pole events that a media organization can count on to drive
traffic, business, buzz and community activity," said Joe Ferreira, the
senior VP and general manager of the CBS Audience Network. "The Grammys is
certainly one of those events, and CBS Interactive is proud to embark upon this
new digital alliance and to further enhance the overall CBS/Grammys relationship
that has been built for decades."

—By Mansha Daswani