Tribune Media Services' TVQuest Gets Anchor on AOL

Tribune Co.’s Tribune Media Services (TMS) signed an agreement with America Online that makes TMS’ TVQuest the one-source guide to TV listings for AOL.

TVQuest will be available in AOL’s TV Today and AOL’s popular Entertainment Channel. Financial arrangements were not disclosed.

As a part of the agreement, TMS will sell television programming advertising into the TVQuest site on AOL. TMS’ TV Week Network advertising group is expanding its interactive advertising sales program to include the newly formed TVQuest Advertising Network. The company’s online advertising sales operation has placed ads on over 40 newspaper Web sites, including ads for NBC, Warner Brothers, CBS and all major cable and broadcast networks.

With TVQuest, AOL members can easily find TV programming of interest to them based on criteria such as program titles and genres. Each day TVQuest will update the listing for every AOL member according to his or her cable system and interests. This updated schedule can be sent directly to individuals via email and is also viewable online.

“TVQuest on AOL raises the bar in the online industry for fast, easy access to TV programming information,” said David D. Williams, president and CEO of TMS. “Our research shows that the daily TV program listings–what’s on and when it’s on–are by far the most used portion of any TV information product.”

“TMS’ TVQuest partnership with AOL positions television programming advertisers to reach a key audience online–viewers making their viewing choices,” said Barbara Needleman, vice president of database and advertising products at TMS.”

TVQuest also offers AOL members a Show Planner that can be printed as a personal viewing guide. Information about TV programs, celebrities, the latest tips for what to watch on TV and breaking news on programming changes are also part of TVQuest’s listings.