MANY BUSINESSES EXPECT TO USE STREAMING MEDIA BY 2003

WITH streaming media again at the forefront of numerous companies’ development and services infrastructure programmes at NAB, a recent survey indicates that many businesses expect to be using streaming media by 2003.
The survey by e-CAST 2001 suggests that some 75 per cent of companies anticipate using streaming media inside the next two years. Nearly all of the 1,259 companies that responded to the survey indicated that they were involved in either broadcasting or e-commerce.
Streaming media provides the ability to deliver audio or video content over the internet or via satellite directly to individual PCs. This new technology is revolutionising the way content is distributed and opens up whole new revenue streams to the traditional broadcast and content markets.
At NAB Kingston MediaStream demonstrated a successful example of this technology in action. Using satellite feeds to local offices, Xerox are using IP media streaming technology to migrate the broadcast of their corporate ‘XTV’ business television service direct to the desktop. The XTV channel reaches out to Xerox’s 200 offices in 21 countries throughout Europe providing convenient and flexible access to sales and training programmes for around 19,000 employees.
Aiming to strip away some of the hype surrounding streaming media, events at the e-CAST 2001 show will examine the applications of this new technology. The events will include presentations, panel sessions, and product demonstrations. There will also be a facility for attendees to arrange one-to-one meetings with representatives of leading companies.
One seminar stream is primarily for the broadcast, content and entertainment sectors, while the other is focused on corporate and enterprise companies.
During the content sessions, Digital Island will discuss business models regarding Granada Media, and BBC Technology will examine digital rights management and interactive TV. In the corporate sessions Avid Technology will illustrate how streaming media can be used to support brands, to improve sales and to channel communications. BBC Technology will discuss business models for New Media, while Chyron Internet will examine how to increase revenue through streaming media.
End user panel sessions will involve senior representatives from leading organisations presenting their experience of the critical success factors in selecting, implementing and optimising investment in streaming media technologies. This will be followed by a discussion between the end users and leading streaming media companies chaired by an independent expert. End users on the panels include Granada Media, The Economist Group and Canal+ for the content stream, and William Hill (gambling) and CPD Direct (legal publishers) in the corporate stream.
e-CAST 2001 takes place from the May 21 to May 23, 2001 at the ExCeL Conference & Exhibition Centre in London.
Visit www.e-castexpo.com/ for further information. (SP)