CNN launches CNN Newswatch, a news alert and monitoring system. The way this application is layed out (mixing text, photos, and customized information,) somehow looks similar to Yahoo's just-shelved FinanceVision, but its push mechanism might remind you of Pointcast, as does its screen saver option (and no wonder, tells Rich Gordon). The introductory rate is $6.95/month or $59.95/year.

Their conversion tactic seems clever: you start with a free seven day trial that doesn't require registration or credit card information. The trick is to get you to personalize the application so that you'll find it useful enough to convert to the paying service. Fee-based online applications need low barriers to customer entry.