CTV and Blue Zone Productions have inked an interactive television and broadband news website development deal.

The broadcaster has licensed Blue Zone’s patented NewsBz platform – a convergence tool that integrates tv, the Internet and print media – which it will apply to CTV Newsnet and CTV National News interactive properties under the banner CTVNews.com. The site, which will be launched by fall 2000, will offer realtime, continuous news broadcasts complete with up-to-the-minute supporting print information, 24 hours a day.

‘We’ve crossed the platform,’ said Henry Kowalski, senior vp, news, ctv, in a statement. ‘For the first time, viewers will have a service that offers all the immediacy of television news and all the depth of information the Internet offers, all at the same time.’

Blue Zone’s NewsBz and other strategic services will be used to produce enhanced tv programming, personalized news-on-demand, and to simulcast interactive content, on-air and online.

CTVNews.com will enable the broadcaster to capitalize on the emerging broadband and set-top-box markets, while building audience share and creating new revenue streams.