CNN joins PointCast's cast

CNN and PointCast today announced a deal that will bring the cable network's news to the 800,000 registered subscribers of the PointCast custom news service.

PointCast is a much-publicized Internet application that automatically downloads personalized news and information, including stock quotes, weather reports, and sports scores, each organized into categories, or "channels." CNN is now adding a channel with a custom news feed, drawing on stories from its 30 bureaus and 600 affiliates worldwide.

PointCast gets more than news out of the deal; the alliance will give the company significant exposure on CNN's Web site and on its various cable channels. The CNN channel is expected to be ready this fall.