RNWK--RealNetworks Announces Groundbreaking Live-Ad Insertion Solutions for Internet Broadcasters Live Broadband-Ready Internet Advertising Debuts for Television and Radio Stations; ABC Radio Network, Ackerley Group and Broadcast America Deploy Ad Solutions, Increasing Advertising Reach and Revenue Opportunity
PR NEWSWIRE - April 10, 2000 09:01
LAS VEGAS, Apr 10, 2000 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- RealNetworks(R), Inc. (Nasdaq: RNWK), the recognized leader in media delivery on the Internet, today announced the deployment of the industry's first live Internet ad insertion solution for television programming and further innovation and continued adoption of RealNetworks' existing radio programming ad-insertion capabilities, available through the Real Broadcast Network(TM), the broadcast service from RealNetworks. Pioneered by RealNetworks in 1999 for syndicated national radio, Internet broadcasters can now take advantage of RealServer(TM) 7.0's robust extensibility to insert advertising into both live TV and live radio Internet broadcasts. Real Broadcast Network offers broadcasters the widest range of advertising solutions in the industry and provides unparalleled access to Internet users.
"The worldwide deployment of RealSystem G2 and the more than 115 million unique registered users of the RealPlayer(R), an audience growing by 200,000 a day, combine to provide a compelling platform for Internet broadcasters," said Martin Plaehn, senior vice president, Media Systems, RealNetworks, Inc. "With these live-ad insertion capabilities, broadcasters have a clear opportunity to extend the reach of their broadcasts via the Internet and accelerate their business by doubling their advertising inventory."
RealSystem(R) G2's open, extensible standards-based architecture provides tightly-coupled integration of TV and radio broadcast systems for use with all major Internet ad delivery and management solutions. This integration, coupled with RealSystem G2's scalability provides both TV and radio broadcasters the opportunity to deliver advertising that takes advantage of the impact of broadband audio/video with the targeting and powerful reach of Web advertising.
Compelling Revenue Opportunities for TV Broadcasters
For the first time, TV broadcasters are able to offer news and other local programming live over the Web with Internet-only ads replacing the ads used in over-the-air broadcasts. TV broadcasters are now able to more than double their advertising inventory, creating a separate Internet class of advertising, in addition to their existing over-the-air class of inventory. This innovative ad-insertion capability is only offered by the Real Broadcast Network.
The Ackerley Group, a Seattle-based media and entertainment company, will be the first company to activate the service through its award-winning Rochester, N.Y., ABC station WOKR-TV. Live 6:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. EDT broadcasts will be available daily from WOKR's Web site at rochestertoday.com, beginning May 1st.
"RealNetworks' leadership in this field coupled with our local stations' digital technology and aggressive focus on local news gives us an exciting opportunity to bring broadcast-style news and advertising to the Web," said Chris Ackerley, co-president of The Ackerley Group, which owns or operates 17 television stations nationwide. "Through market-leading news resources and convergent technologies, we are able to offer our advertisers the leading edge in webcasting and offer viewers local news where and when they want it," Ackerley said.
Compelling Revenue Opportunities for Radio Broadcasters
For local radio broadcasters, Internet-only ads can be seamlessly inserted into a Web broadcast from a 24x7 live terrestrial feed, more than doubling a broadcaster's available inventory. Support for local ad replacement complements the existing ad replacement solution for nationwide syndicated radio broadcasts, pioneered by the Real Broadcast Network in 1999.
"We see this as a huge step forward for local radio. We have had overwhelming interest from advertisers on the Tom Joyner Morning Show, a nationally syndicated program, to reach our global Internet audience," said Geoff Rich, EVP for ABC Radio Networks. "This takes business models and opportunities for local radio broadcasting on the Web to the next level and enables us to extend our very real business already built around Internet delivery of our programming."
The first two stations deploying the service will be ABC Radio's WKHX, 101.5 Kicks in Atlanta, GA (www.wkhx.com), and BroadcastAmerica.com's KAAK, in Grand Falls, MT (www.broadcastamerica.com).
About Real Broadcast Network
Real Broadcast Network (RBN), RealNetworks' Internet broadcast service, is a leader in Internet media hosting services, and serves more than 350 radio stations, 30 television stations and cable networks on a daily basis and numerous live and celebrity events. Quarterly, RBN broadcasts more than 3,500 separate events for media as well as corporate customers. RBN's broadcasting services utilize the first distributed, multi-tier Internet broadcast architecture based on RealSystem G2. In partnership with leading infrastructure and backbone providers, RBN's distributed network bypasses congestion points on the Internet, enabling higher quality end user experiences.
About RealNetworks
RealNetworks, Inc., based in Seattle, is the recognized leader in streaming media delivery on the Internet. It develops and markets software products and services to enable users of personal computers and other consumer electronic devices to send and receive audio, video and other multimedia services using the Web. Consumers can access and experience audio/video programming and download RealNetworks consumer software on the Internet at real.com. RealNetworks' systems and corporate information is located on the Internet at realnetworks.com.
NOTE RealNetworks, Real Broadcast Network, RealPlayer, RealSystem and RealServer are trademarks or registered trademarks of RealNetworks, Inc. All other companies or products listed herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.
SOURCE RealNetworks, Inc. |
