NEW YORK -- A decision to shut down UPI NEWSTIME service to cable television systems was announced Monday by United Press International.
NEWSTIME is a slow-scan video news service, drawing on UPI's Audio Network and Newspictures resources.
Gordon Rice, UPI vice president of broadcast services, said the decision to cease operations, effective at midnight April 30, was made because NEWSTIME has not proved economically viable.
UPI will offer NEWSTIME subscribers the UPI Cable Newswire in place of the slow-scan service. Currently serving 525 cable systems with the alpha-numeric Cable Newswire, UPI supplies its services to more cable outlets than any other news agency.
NEWSTIME served an historic and innovative function in the emergence of the delivery of news on cable television, Rice said. At its peak, the service reached one million households.
UPI will continue to be a prime supplier of news and information to cable households, Rice said. UPI also intends to continue to develop more sophisticated services to meet the requirements of the cable industry, he said.
