Country | United States |
---|---|
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]