The Broadcastweb Network Joins Infostream, America's First Webcast Audience Ratings Service
NEW YORK, Mar 13, 2000 (BUSINESS WIRE) --
Arbitron Internet Information Services to Provide
Third-Party Measurement to "The Guide
To Online Music and Media"
Arbitron Internet Information Services announced today that The Broadcastweb
Network (http://theBroadcastweb.com), a Maine-based company that owns and
operates several Internet radio stations, has joined its InfoStream Webcast
ratings alliance.
Arbitron Internet Information Services will provide audience measurement
services for The Broadcastweb Network's three Internet radio stations, which
provides both on-demand and live streaming audio programming around the clock.
The company has been Webcasting via the Internet since April 1999. Arbitron's
InfoStream will measure all Internet radio channels streamed by The Broadcastweb
Network's servers.
"We're thrilled to be working with Arbitron Internet Information Services to
develop a valid and reliable measurement solution for streaming media usage,"
said Ed St. James, chief executive officer, The Broadcastweb Network.
"Comparisons to The Broadcastweb Network and terrestrial radio stations in an
advertising context are inevitable. Having Arbitron measure our listening
audience size and habits contributes to a widely trusted measurement and
realizes the impact of our streaming channels to potential advertisers. Our goal
is to set an audience benchmark for multiple channel measurement."
Companies participating in the alliance cooperate with Arbitron Internet
Information Services in its effort to develop audience measurement services for
broadcasters and other content providers that stream live audio and video
content over the Internet.
Since early 1998, Arbitron Internet Information Services has been providing
broadcasters, Webcasters and advertisers with valuable insight into the
fast-growing audience of Internet audio users. In fact, Arbitron Internet
Information Services data shows that roughly 31 million Americans have already
tuned into Internet audio.
"Our media information expertise, along with the cooperation of our partners
such as The Broadcastweb Network, will enable us to deliver the data and
services that Internet radio stations and other Webcasters need to make
advertising revenue from their Internet efforts," said Joan FitzGerald, director
of marketing, Arbitron Internet Information Services. "As Internet audiences
continue to grow, we will provide the unbiased measurement information
Webcasting companies need to capitalize on that growing consumer population. As
we prepare for our entry into the Webcast measurement business, support from
leading Internet stations like The Broadcast Network confirms our belief that
Webcasting is poised to become a new mass advertising medium."
This unique alliance will allow Arbitron to provide radio stations that
simulcast on the Web, other Internet broadcasters, advertisers and advertising
agencies with unbiased, third-party measures that will facilitate the buying and
selling of online and integrated Webcast/broadcast advertising packages. The
Broadcast Network joins other Arbitron streaming media alliance participants
including ABC Radio Networks, Magnitude Network, Real Broadcast Networks,
BroadcastAMERICA.com, Access 21, LaMusica.com, Audioscape and others.
Arbitron Internet Information Services is soliciting additional data partners
from leading companies in the Internet and streaming media industries. The data
partners will provide Web server log file data for analysis, as well as support
and feedback for the development of industry accepted measurement standards.
Arbitron encourages participation of any company involved with the delivery of
streaming media content.
For more information about Arbitron Internet Information Services, the data
partner group, or to find out more about measurement for streaming media Web
sites, contact Joan FitzGerald at 410-312-8380, joan.fitzgerald@arbitron.com.
The Broadcastweb Network owns and operates several Web sites including
TheBroadcastweb.com (http://www.thebroadcastweb.com), BluesBoyMusic.com
(http://www.bluesboymusic.com), JazzManMusic.com (http://www.jazzmanmusic.com)
and SoulManMusic.com (http://www.soulmanmusic.com). In June of 1999, The
Broadcastweb Network, Inc. was acquired by International Internet, Inc.
About International Internet, Inc.
International Internet, Inc. develops and operates Internet and direct retail
marketing companies as well as venture funds focused on the Internet. The
International Internet Group includes wholly owned subsidiaries American
Computer Systems (ACS), StogiesOnline.com, Inc. (www.stogiesonline.com),
International Internet E-tail group, Inc. and International Internet Ventures I
LLC and majority owned subsidiaries, Mr. Cigar, Inc., TheBroadcastweb.com, Inc.
(www.theBroadcastweb.com), StogiesAuction.com (www.stogiesauction.com), a joint
venture between AuctionAnything.com, Inc. (OTC:UBUY) and International Internet.
International Internet also holds minority interests in WowStores.com, Inc.
(NQB:WOWS) (www.wowstores.com) and Goldonline International, Inc. (OTC:GDOL)
(www.goldonline.com) and Vertical Computer Systems (OTC:VCSY)
(www.thechinabridge.com).
About Arbitron
The Arbitron Company is an international media and marketing research firm
providing services to broadcasters, advertisers and advertising agencies in the
United States and Europe. In the United States, Arbitron measures local radio
audiences, and develops qualitative measures of local consumers through
RetailDirect and through Scarborough Research, a joint venture of The Arbitron
Company and VNU Marketing Information Services. Tapscan Worldwide(R), a market
leader in desktop development and part of the Arbitron family, offers a host of
software services that simplify both data and analysis and the buy/sell process.
In the United Kingdom and Europe, Continental Research, a unit of The Arbitron
Company, conducts market research in the media, financial and telecommunications
and advertising arenas. Arbitron Internet Information Services provides survey
research, consulting and methodological services including InfoStream(TM),
America's first Webcast ratings service, and SiteScore(TM), an innovative online
survey methodology for measuring the effectiveness and appeal of Web sites.
Arbitron is a Ceridian company. Ceridian Corporation (NYSE: CEN) is a leading
information services company that serves the human resources, transportation and
media information markets. Ceridian's human resources businesses include
Ceridian Employer Services, a provider of human resource management systems and
payroll and tax filing services; Ceridian Performance Partners, a provider of
fully integrated workplace effectiveness solutions; Centrefile, a provider of
payroll and human resources management solutions in the United Kingdom; and
Usertech, a provider of computer user training and performance support programs.
Ceridian's other businesses include Comdata, a provider of transaction
processing and information services to the transportation industry, and
Arbitron, a research company serving the media industry.
All product names used are trademarks or registered trademarks of their
respective owners.
This press release is available on the KCSA Worldwide Web site at www.kcsa.com
Distributed via COMTEX.
Copyright (C) 2000 Business Wire. All rights reserved.
CONTACT: KCSA WORLDWIDE
Yin Chang/David Riley
212/896-1228/212/896-1245
ychang@kcsa.com/driley@kcsa.com
or
THE ARBITRON COMPANY
Thom Mocarsky
212/887-1314
thom.mocarsky@arbitron.com
or
THE BROADCASTWEB NETWORK
Mark Kantor/Ed St. James
207/288-5640
thewizard@broadcast-web.com
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