
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, August 22, 1994                   TAG: 9408220055
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: 2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

CNN GIVES VIEWERS A CHANCE TO TALK BACK

On August 22 at 1 p.m. CNN will launch the next generation of television talk - a truly interactive television town meeting called TalkBack Live which will provide the first opportunity for Americans from across the nation to speak out about issues that affect their lives.

TalkBack Live is hosted by CNN news anchor Susan Rook and originates from a state-of-the-art amphitheater and newly renovated control room to meet the needs of interactive technologies in CNN's Atlanta headquarters.

Over a year in the making by CNN's award-winning executive producer Teya Ryan, this is the first time in CNN's history that the network has had a daily, live program with a studio audience along with many exciting interactive elements such as video conferencing, on-line conferences, faxes and call-ins.

TalkBack Live incorporates the latest interactive technologies in partnership with MCI to provide all the telecommunications, and CompuServe to offer on-line services to re-create an ``old town meeting'' in today's high-tech society. Also, a customized control center has been built at CNN Center which will change the pace of how television is produced with real-time interactive elements.

A newly constructed open-air studio provides seating for 150 people to watch, listen, learn and talk back among themselves and with Americans who participate by calling, faxing, MCI's video conferencing or CompuServe's online service. With TalkBack Live people across the nation now have a place to speak out and be heard. Access is the key to TalkBack Live; people will be able to take the ``board-room technologies'' onto the streets and into retail outlets around the country for convenient access to the show.

In addition to airing on CNN, TalkBack Live will be seen on the CNN AIRPORT NETWORK in 18 airports nationwide. CNN AIRPORT NETWORK features customized newscasts for each airport that provide concise, updated live reports of the day's news, 21 hours a day, seven days a week. CNN AIRPORT NETWORK is a product of Turner Private Networks, Inc. (TPNI), a division of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.

TalkBack Live is produced by a staff of 15 under the direction of executive producer Ryan, senior producer Don Smith and interactive specialist Chet Burgess.

by CNB