Mixing books, digital channel

In yet another sign of the convergence between publishing and the Internet, Simon & Schuster Inc. announced that it is launching a digital video channel to promote the company’s authors and forthcoming releases. The publisher, working in concert with TurnHere Inc., a leading Internet video company, will begin offering the service next month.

The channel, to be called Bookvideos.tv, will be available at a major online video site and will also be linked to several other sites, including the publisher’s own SimonSays.com.

Programming will consist of two-minute video features highlighting books from all divisions of the publishing house. The videos will focus on author biographies, behind-the-scenes stories of individual books and other relevant topics, according to Sue Fleming, vice president of online and consumer marketing.