CBS News, for instance, announced last week a 24-hour, Internet-based video news service where viewers choose the stories they want to watch. It's not alone.

ABC, ESPN, CBS, Fox News, MTV, the BBC, Telemundo and Major League Baseball are already investing in subscription and ad-supported ventures offering TV-like video online. In recent weeks:

• Scripps Networks, which owns Home & Garden Television (HGTV) and the Food Network, said it will launch 10 Web channels by the end of 2006, beginning with one for kitchen design.


• AOL, which recently served live video from Live 8 concerts, will partner in a joint venture to offer entertainment online, as well as via satellite and other platforms. Also in the Network Live venture: XM Satellite Radio Holdings and Anschutz Corp.'s AEG, an arena owner and event promoter.


• At Viacom, cable channel Nickelodeon launched TurboNick (www.turbonick.com), a Web site with episodes of cartoons including "SpongeBob SquarePants" and "Rugrats." Viacom's VH1 also introduced VSpot (www.vh1.com/vspot), which will show the season opener of "The Surreal Life" before the TV channel.


• CNN ditched its nearly $5-a-month subscription fee to rely on ad support for a site with beefed-up programming (www.cnn.com). It plans a broader subscription service this fall.