Emap plans independent TV portal

NEWS Magazine publisher, Emap, is joining forces with Channel 5 and Netdecisions to set up an Internet portal for the independent television industry. The site will include information to allow producers to source sets, crews, studios and other facilities, and aims to link TV channels with production companies. It will also include daily industry news services with content provided by Emap, which currently produces industry magazines such as Broadcast and Production Solutions. Emap says that the portal, to be called produxion.com, aims to be a resource for the international television industry, although it will initially have a UK focus. The site will launch in January 2000, and will be funded by advertising revenues, with ecommerce initiatives such as the trading of programmes over the Internet to be developed. Emap, which will own 60 per cent of the joint venture, says that it is the first result of the reorganisation of their digital investments announced last month.