Just a few days ago, we reported that online video blog Rocketboom's former host Amanda Congdon had signed a development deal with HBO. Well, while she's raking in the premium cable dough, she'll also be broadcasting on ABC as a contributor to the network's digital channel ABC News Now. She'll make occasional appearances on ABC's televised news programs and will be making a weekly video blog for abcnews.com on new media, political and environmental subjects.Congdon may be the first "cewebrity" to land a deal with a major network, but she's just one of many to use the internet as a launching pad to wider fame. United Talent Agency's Digital Talent Agency has already signed Hosea "Ze" Frank, host of The Show with Ze Frank, and Kent Nichols, co-creator of the Ask a Ninja video blog.
If you discover yourself in India one day and find you just can't live without news and information from ABC News, then you'll be happy to know that ABC News Now, the network's 24-hour news service, will be airing in India later this year. This is the first time the service will be seen outside of the United States. The ABC News Now service offers many of ABC's well-recognized news programs and programs unique to News Now, such as 20/20, Healthy Life, Ahead of the Curve (technology program), and Time Tunnel, a look back at important news events in history. The service will air in India on Dish TV. ABC sees this as a first step and hopes to eventually expand to other countries, as well.
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