Small Business Journalist Launches Web TV Network, SBTV.com

Posted on May 22, 2000

After collecting ideas for her latest book, entrepreneurial journalist Jane Applegate came up with an idea of her own: to create SBTV.com, a global online network exclusively providing small business news, views, features, interviews and services.

``Rock music fans have MTV, do-it-yourselfers have HGTV and now entrepreneurs around the world have SBTV.com, (Small Business TV),'' said Applegate, a regular contributor to the small business section of CNNfn.com, CNN's financial website.

SBTV.com, which will have a reciprocal link from CNNfn.com's small business home page, launches on May 24th during National Small Business Week in Washington, D.C. Applegate has teamed with a top-tier team of big and small companies to create a streaming audio and video network dedicated to helping small business owners succeed. SBTV.com reporters and producers will be in Washington to cover all aspects of the U.S. Small Business Administration's 37th annual National Small Business Week celebration.

``SBTV.com is both a global Web television network and a portal where busy entrepreneurs can find just about everything they need to succeed,'' said SBTV.com founder and CEO Jane Applegate. ``We provide free expert advice, information, entertainment, resources and direct links to our partners who provide the perfect mix of cost-effective products and services.''

The network launches with channels providing expert advice, interviews with leading business authors, sponsored by Planned Television Arts, ``Real Business'' stories and profiles of successful entrepreneurs, practical legal tips and a ``Dot Commerce'' channel featuring exclusive interviews with the leaders of the innovative companies serving small business owners. New channels scheduled to be added in the fall will feature financial advice for women, reports about teen entrepreneurs, a channel for SOHO (small office, home office workers), a ``rest & recreation'' channel, global small business news and a channel providing management and leadership advice.

A former investigative reporter, Applegate has been devoted to serving entrepreneurs since 1988, when she resurrected a defunct small business column at the Los Angeles Times. Applegate has extensive broadcast experience, serving as a commentator for CNNfn, and as commentator, reporter or segment producer for CNBC, PBS, Lifetime and Bloomberg Television.