U.S. TV networks court YouTube crowd in quest for digital viewers

By Lisa Richwine ANAHEIM, California (Reuters) – For the first time, cable TV network Nickelodeon staged a casting call at VidCon, a convention that draws stars of YouTube and social media like Vine, Instagram and Snapchat and their passionate followers. The Viacom-owned channel's talent search is one way traditional TV networks are recruiting Internet personalities to build audiences. YouTube stars include comedians, beauty gurus, product reviewers, gamers, musicians and fitness buffs who post videos of themselves, often looking directly into the camera.

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Clinton, congressional Benghazi panel at odds over appearance date

Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign said on Saturday the former secretary of state will testify on Oct. 22 before a House committee investigating the 2012 Benghazi, Libya, attacks, but a spokesman for the panel said no date had been set. Republican Representative Trey Gowdy, chairman of the Benghazi investigation committee, had sought to hear from Clinton on the attacks, in which four Americans were killed, and her use of a private email account while she was America's top diplomat.

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Nickelodeon unveils paid streaming service for kids

(Reuters) – Viacom Inc’s Nickelodeon unveiled on Wednesday a paid streaming service for children called Noggin that will launch on March 5 for $5.99 a month. The mobile subscription service will be available for Apple Inc’s iPhone, iPad and iPod touch devices. Noggin serves as a complement to the Nick Jr

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