"ABC has resumed talks with its affiliates about forming a joint venture to operate ABC News Now, the network's fledgling broadband news channel," broadcasting biz site TVNewsDay reports. "ABC executives and representatives of the affiliates have had a series of meetings over the past couple months, the most recent just last week. Both sides report good progress. But, says an ABC News representative, 'nothing is imminent or final.'"

"With the backing of the affiliates, ABC News Now could one-up the more established cable news networks by offering local news segments," Harry Jessell writes. (Didn't MSNBC try inserting local news updates several years ago?) "A deal would also provide a badly needed boost to the channel's distribution..."