AFTC - American Film Technologies Signs Broadband Deal With Industry Leader,
Microcast, Inc.
NEW YORK, Mar 28, 2000 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- American Film Technologies,
Inc. ("AFTC") (OTCBB, AFTC) announced today that Microcast, Inc.
(www.microcast.net), the world's highest capacity turnkey provider of
Internet video services, has signed a letter of intent to enter into a
partnership for broadcasting content owned, branded or distributed by
AFTC over the Internet. Microcast has developed the largest
video-streaming network, with a current capacity to deliver up to 1,000,
000 simultaneous viewers at broadband speed.
Using its proprietary technology, Microcast will deliver high quality
programming to AFTC's web site at www.aftmedia.com for worldwide
Internet distribution. In addition, Microcast will host AFTC's
programming on its servers, allowing video-on-demand viewers to access
AFTC content any time and any place.
Microcast will seamlessly insert video commercials into AFTC
programming in real-time on a demographically targeted basis. This
feature allows a 45-year old female in New York and a 25-year old male
in Los Angeles to simultaneously view the same AFTC video stream and
receive different commercials specifically targeted at the end-user.
Microcast's video hubs are hosted on the fiber optic backbone of the
nation's largest Internet bandwidth providers, spanning the world with
its partners, AT&T (NYSE, T), MCI Worldcom -- (UUnet) (NASDAQ, WCOM)
Sprint (NYSE, PCS), Cable & Wireless (NYSE, CWP), CerfNet and Qwest
(NYSE, Q).
Historically, AFTC's principal business has been the production of
color versions of motion pictures and television programs originally
produced in black and white. Under AFTC's new strategic direction, the
company plans to utilize its proprietary processes to restore,
modernize and preserve classic films and TV shows while building and
distributing its own library of proven content. The partnership with
Microcast would provide a strong conduit for AFTC to generate licensing
fees, advertising and e-commerce revenue over the Internet.
Adding to the interactive experience, viewers will have immediate
access to information and the opportunity to purchase AFTC's products,
DVDs, VHS Tapes, and advertiser's service or products online. AFTC
believes the ability for different people viewing the same Internet
programming to receive different commercials will establish a platform
for demand-creation advertising with instant demand-fulfillment
capabilities.
Fred Rudy, AFTC's Chairman and CEO said, "We chose Microcast as our
partner after a careful review of applicable 'streaming' technologies.
Our decision was based on several factors: Microcast has the world's
largest Internet video-delivery network with patent-pending
ad-insertion software, which sets the stage for AFTC to systematically
generate advertising and e-commerce revenue on a sustainable basis.
Microcast's ability to target commercials to specific behavioral and
demographic groups should enable us to generate advertising fees higher
than can be generated on either TV or traditional Internet channels. We
are particularly impressed with Microcast's massive infrastructure and
strategic partners, which collectively support a total of over 80
million Internet users. We believe this unprecedented access and our
partnership with Microcast will provide AFTC with a strong foundation
to build a robust advertising and e-commerce driven Internet
distribution model."
"All of us at Microcast are extremely excited about the AFTC
partnership and look forward to assisting American Film in the
development of its Internet and broadband business," said Paul Nash,
CEO and Founder of Microcast. "As a content aggregator, AFTC has the
unique ability to develop specialized broadcasts for niche online
audiences throughout the world. This distinct programming advantage
provides a solid branding and advertising opportunity for both
companies, and complements Microcast's highly targeted full motion
broadcast commercial technology, which provides the viewer with
real-time purchase capabilities for the products being advertised. The
combination of American Film's classic content with Microcast's
streaming technology is another example of how converged-media can
successfully deliver desirable entertainment programming over the
Internet."
About Microcast
Microcast, founded in 1998 and based in New York City and Danbury,
CT, is the broadcast standard of the Internet. The company provides
content partners with a turnkey video streaming service, advertisers
with unparalleled one-to-one relationship marketing capabilities and
consumers with live and archived video programming on demand.
Except for the historical information contained herein, this press
release includes forward looking statements which are subject to a
number of risks and uncertainties, including the risks and
uncertainties associated with rapidly changing technologies such as the
Internet and the risks of technology development. Actual results could
differ materially from current expectations. Factors that could cause
or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, the
factors and risks discussed in AFTC's reports filed from time to time
with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). For
more information about these risks and uncertainties, see the SEC
filings of AFTC.
Copyright (C) 2000 Business Wire. All rights reserved.
Distributed via COMTEX.
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CONTACT: On behalf of Microcast, Inc.
Middleberg + Associates
Elisa Greene, 212/888-6610
elisag@middleberg.com
or
On behalf of American Film Technologies, Inc.
Fred Rudy, 212/572-6370
info@aftmedia.com |
