Belo Interactive Launches a New Online Car Shopping Resource In Four Markets
The Cobalt Group and Belo Interactive, the Internet
subsidiary of Belo Corp., announced August 13 the launch of
"AutoCenter," an online automobile classifieds portal that enables four of
Belo Interactive's local news and information Web sites to provide car
shoppers with over 60,000 new and used vehicle listings from more than 240
dealerships.
Belo Interactive introduced AutoCenter on azfamily.com, the Web site
affiliated with KTVK-TV in Phoenix; NBC6.com, the Web site affiliated with
WCNC-TV in Charlotte, NC; WHAS11.com, the Web site affiliated with WHAS-TV
in Louisville, KY; and KTVB.com, the Web site affiliated with KTVB-TV in
Boise, ID.
According to the company, visitors to the television station-affiliated Web sites can locate a
dealership and search its inventory, compare potential purchases
side-by-side, and request a price quote online.
"The addition of AutoCenter to Belo Interactive's Web sites streamlines the
car-buying process and provides a comprehensive online resource for local
car buyers," said Eric Christensen, vice president/general manager, Belo
Interactive. "We're excited to partner with Cobalt, a leader in automotive
e-business, to provide visitors to our sites with online access to a large
number of local dealers and thousands of new and used vehicles."
Seattle-based Cobalt is the technology partner for Belo Interactive,
responsible for building, hosting and maintaining the auto classifieds
section of the site. In addition, Cobalt is responsible for polling and
managing the vehicle data for all participating dealers, ensuring that the
new and used listings are updated daily. Cobalt is a provider of
e-business software and services to automotive manufacturers and dealers and
provides online automotive e-business services to a number
of local media companies across the country. Cobalt's clients include 12,000
franchised dealers and 16 manufacturers.
About The Cobalt Group
The Cobalt Group works in the automotive retail
market to help manufacturers and dealers develop integrated e-business
programs. Cobalt offers a range of products and services
developed specifically for the automotive marketplace including enterprise
software for manufacturers and dealers; customer relationship management
(CRM) software applications; online automotive commerce applications; an OEM parts locating and marketing service; dealership
e-business best practices training, consulting, and process compliance
analysis; and wholesale used vehicle remarketing services.
Cobalt operates a dealer network including 12,000
franchised dealers and 72 of the 100 largest dealer groups.
With headquarters in Seattle, Cobalt has offices in five
U.S. cities, and a field sales and services force in 30 states, including
all major U.S. metropolitan sales areas (MSA).
For more information, please contact Mike Martinez, vice
president, product management, at 206-219-8434, or visit
About Belo Interactive
Belo Interactive, Inc., Belo Corp.'s Internet subsidiary, includes the Web
site operations of Belo's television stations and newspapers, interactive
alliances and partnerships, and a range of Internet-based products and
services.
Belo is a media company with a
group of television, newspaper, cable and interactive media
assets. Belo
owns 19 television stations (six in the top 16 markets) reaching 13.9
percent of U.S. television households; owns or operates six cable news
channels; and manages one television station through a local marketing
agreement. Belo publishes four daily newspapers: The Dallas Morning News,
The Providence Journal, The Press-Enterprise (Riverside, CA) and the Denton
Record-Chronicle (Denton, TX). Belo Interactive's new media businesses
include 34 Web sites, several interactive alliances, and a broad range of
Internet-based products.
For more information, contact Linda Fisk, vice president/marketing of Belo
Interactive, at 214-977-4017.
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