AFTC - news repeat, from another service - AMERICAN FILM TECH - Signs Broadband Deal With Industry Leader, Microcast, Inc.
Toronto, Ontario, Mar. 29, 2000 (Market News Publishing via COMTEX)
-- American Film Technologies, Inc. ("AFTC") announced 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.
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