Football Made Me Miss NUMB3RS!!!

NOT ANYMORE!!

In a first for network television, CBS today announced a new viewer-centric marketing initiative to keep audiences informed if their favorite television show is delayed due to sports or news overrun. CBS Eye-lert, which launches this fall, will enable viewers to be notified via email and text message if the start time of a program will be delayed.

Through the coordination of CBS Interactive, broadcast operations, email and phone systems, viewers can subscribe to CBS Eye-lert by registering on CBS.com, CBSNews.com and Sportsline.com. This fall, when an NFL game runs beyond 7PM ET, thus causing a delay on the Network, viewers will be notified by email or text message prior to primetime and again once the specific start time of the primetime show has been determined. That way they can adjust their viewing or recording plans.

"Scheduling delays from sports overruns and breaking news are a fact of life in network television and the CBS Eye-lert is a great way to reach audiences in real-time so they can stay current with their favorite show," commented George Schweitzer, President of the CBS Marketing Group. "CBS Eye-lert is literally a game changer for our audience, so when the Jets run long, 'Cold Case' viewers won't come up short."

VeriSign will provide the wireless component that will enable any mobile phone user to receive a text message informing them if there are delays in the CBS program schedule.