TechTV

SAN FRANCISCO -Technology-news outlet TechTV
plans to launch a live, nine-and-a-half-hour daily news block called "Tech Live" today (April 2), expanding its earlier plans for a five-hour live suite.

TechTV chief operating officer Joe Gillespie said network executives recently decided that it makes more sense to program a full daytime block, rather than incrementally building to that level.

The plan now calls for Tech Live to run from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., with a half-hour recap newscast at 9 p.m. that would be repeated at midnight and 3 a.m.

Each hour will be comprised of technology news, finance, new-product reviews, help and consumer advice, the network said in a news release.

Programming will originate from TechTV's new San Francisco studio, with coverage from TechTV bureaus in New York, Washington, the Silicon Valley and Seattle.

The on-screen look will include a TechTV "Superticker" that provides updates on leading tech stocks and other data.

TechTV's current original programming will relaunch as a three-hour primetime block (7 p.m. to 10 p.m. on the East and West coasts), with repeats over the weekend.

TechTV, part of Paul Allen's Vulcan Ventures Inc. stable, claims 23.5 million subscribers.