VH1 hits VSpot with Classic Thanksgiving

Music network airs holiday programming on both the Web and television.

The turkey will reach the Internet table a week early this year as a companion to VH1 Classic's annual A Very Classic Thanksgiving Special.

Clarence Clemons (The E Street Band), Patty Smyth (Scandal), Wonder Mike (Sugar Hill Gang), and Chris Barron (Spin Doctors) will join host Twisted Sister's Dee Snider on First Course, a programming appetizer being served on VH1's broadband network VSpot beginning November 17.

A Very Classic Thanksgiving premieres the traditional way at 7 p.m. November 24.

"It's not just about pushing content from one platform to another, but we also can make programs really interactive in a way linear programming can't do," VH1 digital media vice president Tina Imm said.

The multiplatform approach gives shows a longer life than they could otherwise have, she added, because it provides an avenue for marketing and lead-up and postshow programming.

"It drives people to the broadcast, and it builds that buzz and that excitement about the programs you really want to get out there," Imm said. "But mainly, it's definitely all about the content on-demand first or whenever our viewers want."

She said the broadband platform's element of control and the exclusive content appealed to viewers, but programs benefit as well because of the creative opportunities.

"VSpot allows us to go deeper with the audience," Imm said. "We can offer storylines that don't make it on the air, [as well as] additional character depth and new and original programming surrounding the shows."

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