AOL will today pry the lid off the Warner Bros’ TV crypt with the formal launch of In2TV, an ad-supported broadband venture the companies announced back in November. The show will bring long-buried shows like “Growing Pains,” “Kung Fu” and “Welcome Back Kotter” back to life, while hopefully offering AOL’s advertisers a large source of new in-stream video ad inventory.
The service launches with run of site video ads from several advertisers, including Intel, Kia, Kraft and Hershey. Advertising will be limited to one or two minutes of ads for every half-hour episode of programming, compared with about eight minutes on broadcast TV.
The site is divided into six channels such names like LOL TV, offering sitcoms and other comedy shows, and Rush TV, with action/adventure type programming. Intel is presenting sponsor of the LOL TV and Dramarama TV channels, and a Rush TV sponsorship was sold to Kia.
In2TV will be heavily promoted on AOL.com and other Web sites, as well as via outdoor advertising, according to a spokesperson. Also, AOL will host a launch party at the Museum of Television and Radio in Beverly Hills, where many actors from the featured series will make appearances.
The episodes will be available in full-screen Windows Media format, as well as in AOL’s own DVD-quality “Hi-Q” format. The site will incorporate additional special features and add-ons such as contests and email/IM to a friend buttons.
All the video will be accessible via AOL’s video search feature.