Preview of new CNBC web site now available

A preview of the new CNBC web site, which goes live on Dec. 4, is now available here. The current web site can be seen here. Compare the two for yourself.

It promises exclusive live events, video on demand, tools for personal stock portfolios and global coverage. You can program a ticker for the stocks that you care about the most. It’s also promising exclusive interviews.

Here are some of the other features I was able to glean from the preview:

• On your watchlist, CNBC will let you know when there is a new video available or upcoming interview on the air that might be of particular interest to you based on the holdings in your portfolio.
• If you currently have a portfolio on MSN Money, the preview web site allows you to download your portfolio so it will be ready on Dec. 4.
• MSN Money will be sending an e-mail to its registered users on Dec. 4 to alert them to the launch of CNBC’s new site.
• You can also “pre-register” for the CNBC site now.

The web site has the CNBC logo in the upper left hand corner, with the slogan “First in Business Worldwide.”

MSN Money, of which CNBC has been a part of since 2001, underwent an overhaul earlier this week that included new stock charts, stock quote pages and a personalized news feature that seems aimed at keeping viewers after it splits with CNBC. Read about it here.

Microsoft Corp. and NBC merged their financial Web sites, MoneyCentral.com and CNBC.com, in June 2001, shortly after the tech bubble burst. The new site, CNBC on MSN Money, became part of MSN, Microsoft’s family of online sites that also includes Slate.

Microsoft operated the Web site out of offices in Redmond, Wash., with editorial services split between Redmond and Fort Lee, N.J., where CNBC is based.

At the time, analysts said NBC was likely interested in this partnership because its CNBC Web site had not been as successful in capturing web users as expected.

The goal this time around will be how successful CNBC will be in taking Web users away from sites such as Forbes.com, BusinessWeek.com, MarketWatch.com, TheStreet.com and MotleyFool.com that already cater to investors and those wanting personal finance advice.

Last week, CNBC announced a number of new hires for its web site operation. Read about those here.