TVNZ snaps up NBCi deal to improve web strategy

By MICHAEL FOREMAN

TVNZ has licensed content from Snap.com, owned by NBC Internet (NBCi), to underpin its planned New Zealand "portal" site, but is denying that the move is a prelude to a stock market float of its internet operation.

TVNZ's general manager of strategy and marketing, Simon Aimer, said: "Frankly, we think the best people to own it - are us."

The NBCi deal was "one of a number of steps we are making to establish a much more comprehensive web offering to New Zealanders."

TVNZ has paid US-based NBCi an undisclosed sum to use Snap's comprehensive internet directory and search functions, global content guides as well as chat features in its web sites.

Mr Aimer said local users performing a Snap internet search would be using software that had been developed in New Zealand by Christchurch-based Global Brain. The search engine would feature local advertising, "hopefully making for a more coherent online experience."

The TVNZ site had been using Snap content for a month and more features would be added over the next six months.

Mr Aimer said TVNZ's web strategy was based on research that showed that the bulk of New Zealand web traffic was split equally between three types of site.

Among local content providers, the TV One News site was already one of the most popular, along with the Herald web site and Telecom's Xtra pages.

"Then you've got the destination sites category ... where we would not attempt to compete."

However, Mr Aimer said TVNZ saw an opportunity in the third category - the astonishing number of local users who were visiting US sites such as Yahoo! and Excite.

"We think it's all about the generic stuff. Personally I hate the word 'portal' but it's a necessary evil."

Mr Aimer said a number of aspects for the new site, including naming and branding, had yet to be finalised.