Papers see big picture
MovieLink, an interactive online film guide, will create a Web site featuring local movie listings from seven major daily newspapers.
The service, complete with movie reviews, will contain articles and listings from the New York Times, Boston Globe, Chicago Tribune, Dallas Morning News, Houston Chronicle, Kansas City Star, and the Denver Post.
The deal marks yet another move by the mainstream print media to put more of their services online. They are trying to manage a delicate balance in trying to tap new revenues streams online while preserving their own print circulation and fending off competition from electronic start-ups.
"Working with MovieLink allows us to further serve our online customers by providing a practical, personalized service," said Martin Nisenholtz, president of the New York Times Electronic Media company, one of the participants.
Movie guides are among the most popular listings in any newspaper, drawing a steady stream of advertising revenue into their entertainment sections. Many newspaper executives see the move toward putting more content online as inevitable.
In fact, wireless devices now on the market allow users to check movie listings when they're sitting in a cafe near the theater.