Not willing to give an inch to the network competition, Canal J’s immediate priority is to be present on all supporting media channels, especially on Internet. The creation late last year of a 50/50 multimillion-dollar interactive joint-venture with Hachette Multimedia, baptized CJHM, has one raison d’etre: developing Canal J’s multimedia content and interactive services. The channel’s first significant step towards becoming a real new media player came in early January with the launch of an enriched version of its old website. Conceived as a portal dedicated to children ages eight to 14 and named CanalJ.net, it builds on the experience kids have with Canal J’s strongest shows by offering chats, forums and editorial features on culture and consumer products like music and books. Next spring, the site will be enriched again so that Canal J can offer interactive TV services for CanalSatellite and digital cable subscribers. Currently in development by French company On/Off for launch on the site in the future are several convergence games and activities, including a project that will allow kids to critique television shows in real time. ‘The Internet allows us to communicate with our young audience. In December, we got 600,000 page views and 25,000 visitors. Our objective is to make CanalJ.net a leading children’s website, upping our monthly page views to two million by next year,’ says Canal J general director Claude-Yves Robin.