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Country | United States |
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Programming | |
Language(s) | English |
Ownership | |
Owner | Whittle Communications |
History | |
Launched | 1993 |
Closed | 1994 |
The Medical News Network (MNN) was an American interactive video news service delivered to physicians by satellite. It was launched in 1993 by Whittle Communications, and shut down in 1994. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]
The service had a business model similar to Whittle Communications's Channel One, as well as Whittle's Special Report TV and magazine project, which was available in about 30,000 medical waiting rooms." [6] [7]
According to Medical Market and Media , MNN would use satellite transmission to send daily medical news and information programming to VCR/TV units operated by the network and located in medical offices. Programming could be viewed on demand, and included a daily 10-minute news program. The system was interactive, using what Medical Market and Media described as "computer and modem units." [3]
The service had been tested in 5,000 doctors' offices, and Whittle had planned to do a national rollout in fall 1994. [4] But according to the Los Angeles Times, the company was unable to attract sufficient sponsorship from drug companies, and shut down the service in August 1994, laying off 205 employees. [1] [4] [8]