First tourism Internet channel in US launches

Narrowstep, the TV on the Internet company, in partnership with Tourism Massachusetts, has developed www.usamass.tv, the first tourism-based Internet channel in the United States.
The channel was introduced to the tourism industry recently at the Travel Industry Association’s International Pow Wow 2006 in Orlando, Florida. Tourism Massachusetts markets Boston and Massachusetts as the Gateway to America for international tourists.
“Massachusetts is the first US destination to use Narrowstep’s cutting edge technology of Internet television to promote a destination,” said William H. MacDougall, President and CEO of Tourism Massachusetts. “Broadband television is a perfect tool for the tourism industry because it can reach a global audience and it provides a more dynamic, personalised relationship with the consumer. The channel will soon have the functionality of providing viewers with the ability to book a trip directly without having to leave the channel.”
The usamass.tv Internet channel is part of an integrated marketing program that ties visual entertainment content with the data content of the new website, www.usamass.com, to be re-launched this summer.
“Staking a piece of broadband television turf is essential. Bill and his team have had the vision to lead the US tourism industry in this endeavor by implementing a proven television on Internet protocol solution,” said Carolyn Wall, President, Narrowstep North America. “They realise that a broadband channel will cater to the international consumer who is moving towards the Internet as their primary resource for information, entertainment and travel. We are delighted to work with Tourism Massachusetts and Bill’s team to deliver a promotional vehicle that will be a model that we think the industry will follow.”
(GB)