Wellbeing set to launch

Granada Broadband and Boots have revealed that Wellbeing, their joint venture website and digital television channel, will launch on March 14.

The TV channel, called The Wellbeing Network, will be broadcast on SkyDigital and ONdigital between 9.00am and 9.00pm daily, with an accompanying website located at www.wellbeing.com.

The content will be centred on health and beauty, with a variety of shows featuring Boots-sanctioned experts. Both the website and the interactive television channel will offer consumers the opportunity to buy Boots goods and services.

Former Boots Internet Ventures managing director Richard Holmes and ex-Granada health director Paula Carter are heading up the business.

The venture, with a combined £18 million investment from the two companies, is the first in a planned series of partnerships between Granada Broadband and major retailers.

It is the first major project to be launched by Simon Shaps, head of Granada Broadband, since the division was set up last year. Granada and Boots will each take a percentage of revenue from advertising and e-commerce.

The plan is to eventually roll out the Wellbeing Network across digital platforms, including mobile phones, PDAs and digital cable. It plans to link up with doctors’ surgeries across the country to offer local advice and enable users to book appointments.

This article was first published on Media Week