In an ambitious attempt to raise its online presence, CBS News is launching an on-demand 24-hour broadband news channel .

Through a video player called ‘The EyeBox’, viewers will be able to watch more than 25,000 video clips, including stories that have not yet been broadcast on television. In late summer, the new site will post a blog called “Public Eye,” edited by media writer Vaughn Ververs, wiht the aim of offering people better insights into the news gathering process.

“This major expansion of CBSNews.com is designed to capture an audience that is increasingly looking for news and information at all times of the day, not just during scheduled periods, and using the Internet for that purpose,” said Larry Kramer, president of CBS Digital Media.

This new endeavour by CBS was also prompted by projections that homes connected to high-speed internet or “broadband” will equal or surpass homes serviced by cable and satellite by 2010.

CBS joins other networks who have taken the step to become multi-platform news providers. Fox News offers free video on its website, and CNN began its own free broadband video service last month. ABC has its own subscription digital cable channel, which includes a live channel and video-on-demand service. BBC News and Sky News also offer an online free video service.