Veteran radio and TV host Tavis Smiley has launched a new weekday show for online service BlogTalkRadio, according to the New York Times.
The newspaper also reports that the partnership with Smiley, is a paid gig, is a first for the Web host, which provides a platform for anyone who wants to host an online radio show. The Tavis Smiley Network represents a shift in the platform’s model, which previously relied on 15,000 registered contributors creating unsolicited content — and netting 18 million unique monthly visitors.
However, Smiley, like other BlogTalkRadio hosts, will have to split any ad revenue generated from his programming.
Other big name contributors currently include Deepak Chopra and Robin Milling.
