Philadelphia Business Jounal had a nice write on Dynamic Imaging Systems.
amcity.com
September 7, 1998
Multimedia Internet newspaper set to roll
Dynamic Imaging Systems says every one of its stories will be
complete audio/visual experiences
Deni Kasrel Staff Writer
Dynamic Imaging Systems Corp., a local producer of audio and video presentations for
the Internet, is readying to unveil what it's billing as the first multimedia Web-based
newspaper.
"Other Internet news sites may have some version of multimedia, but it's usually only for
a couple stories whereas nearly all of our stories will be fully audio/visual," said Donna
Murdoch, vice president of marketing for Dynamic Imaging.
The new site, set for a Sept. 9 launch, is called A/V DailyNews
(http://www.avdailynews.com). It will aggregate news from assorted sources including
the Associated Press, United Press International, Comtex, The Sports Network, CNBC
and ITN World News. The news, in some cases, will be presented live on the Net.
Plans call for the site's home page to feature top stories of the day alongside a menu of
categories with stories and information about targeted topics such as technology,
health, business, sports, entertainment and weather.
And while many news and portal sites have these same categories, Dynamic Imaging
believes none will approach their subject matter in quite the same way as will A/V
DailyNews.
As Dan Hunt, a vice president and director for Dynamic Imaging Systems explained,
visitors to the site can peruse headlines and short synopses for stories that grab their
interest. If they want to go deeper into a particular story, the user can click on the
audio/video icon to get a multimedia version of the piece. "They'll hear a report and see
photos and other illustrations that relate to what's being said. There may be charts and
graphs. It's like a slide presentation. And some stories will have streaming video."
Hunt said presentation of stories will be relatively short and to the point. "They'll be
about five or seven minutes. And we will only have about four or five main stories. As
opposed to ABCnews.com, which has about a dozen choices to sift through. We're
boiling it down so you don't have to wade through a lot of stuff to get a good idea of the
day's most important news."
In the last few months, Dynamic Imaging, with headquarters in Philadelphia, has
acquired two companies, in exchange for stock, that are now involved with
A/VDailyNews.
In the latest deal, last month, it acquired Atlantic Broadcasting System Inc., a New
York-based online audio provider of information and commentary on the U.S. stock
market.
Drew Robertson, ABS president, thinks A/V DailyNews will have certain advantages
over other new sources. Radio, he said "has no video dimension." TV conveys its
stories via news readers. "They're reciting something that's been carefully scripted.
Here, I can rip and read. I can tear something off the wire and say, 'This just in.' We can
read the news as its happening."
In another deal, in early July, Dynamic Imaging acquired The Artichoke Group Inc., of
Albuquerque, N.M., which specializes in digital media production. Its staff will now help
with design, coding and other technology tasks associated with running the Web site.
Dynamic Imaging has made special arrangements with other parties that are involved
with shaping the content of the site. For example, Murdoch said health-care
professionals have been recruited to help develop news from their industry.
Weather content will be aided by the participation of Web camera owners. "They aim
[the camera] out a window or go outside with it. People are into it. We didn't have to
look very hard to set up a network around the country,'' said Murdoch, who added that
the goal is to have Web cam weather coverage for major cities around the world.
Plans call for the entertainment section to have trailers and multimedia reviews of
current movies. Also, the site will feature Chiquita, a Los Angeles-based radio
personality, doing celebrity interviews.
"I think if they are successful in doing all this, they'll literally change the way news is
delivered over the Internet," raved Roland Perry, head of the Internet Stock Report, a
firm that tracks publicly traded Internet-based companies.
"And it's not just the technology," he continued. "It's the method and how they will use it.
This is the most extensive use of audio/video. A lot of people have the capability, but no
one else is loading it on like they are."
Perry said more people are starting to rely the Internet to get the news. Indeed,
according to several Web measurement services, the "big three" news providers on the
Net -- USAToday.com, CNN.com and ABCnews.com -- are routinely in the lists of top
10 most visited sites.
To stir up interest in A/VDailyNews, Dynamic Imaging Systems is placing ads on
several Web sites. These include USAToday.com. Travelocity, Big Charts, Mindspring,
Alta Vista and Intellihealth.
Hunt said A/VDailyNews isn't soliciting ads for its own site just yet.
c 1998, Philadelphia Business Journal |
