Exclusive Live Broadband Broadcast
5 April 1999
For Immediate Release
THE AUTO CHANNEL Internetwork Takes Its Next Step Towards Delivering Broadcast Quality Video Via the Internet
AUTO CENTRAL; April 5, 1999 -- When The Auto Channel presents coverage of the 5th Annual Palm Springs Car Classic Show & Auction this coming weekend, it will enter its next phase in the march towards full convergence of traditional television and the Internet. All three days live coverage will be broadcast solely in a high bandwidth format.
The broadband broadcast affords a more enjoyable, watchable, TV-like experience. The size of the viewing window is considerably larger than the standard 1/16th screen size window of a 28.8 or 56k video. The resolution is far superior and the encoded frame rate will be set for 30 frames per second, the same as broadcast quality television and video. Although The Auto Channel currently hosts about 100 different high bandwidth streaming video programs (out of more than 600 total streaming video shows), this will be the auto webnet's first LIVE broadband presentation.
Viewing the broadcasts will require that Internet users have high-speed connectivity through either a cable modem, DSL service, T1 line, or satellite. ISDN and 56k connections will not be robust enough to watch the live show. Selected segments of the event will be videotaped and archived on TACH in 56k and 28.8 versions for on-demand access at a later time.
"As the number one user of streaming video on the Internet, we have always tried to push the technology envelope. This broadband broadcast is just our latest shove", said Marc Rauch, Executive Vice President of The Auto Channel. "When we first presented streaming video in March 1996, which required 28.8kbs connectivity, most Internet users had 9600 baud or slower modems, some had 14.4kbs, but very few had 28.8 modems. However, this limitation never hindered us from developing a large and loyal audience. It was a 'build-it and they will come' scenario. Advanced Internet users were hungry for leading-edge content, and we were one of the very few sources capable of providing it. Now that cable TV and phone companies have really started to push high-speed connectivity into the marketplace, there's an even greater need to support their efforts and show the public what they could be experiencing, if they have broadband service. We actually expect a larger LIVE audience for this year's event than we had for last year's broadcasts, which were directed specifically at 28.8kbs modems. We will use a base of 200kbs, but we may try experimenting with even bigger streams during the weekend."
The three day event takes place this Friday through Sunday, April 9th, 10th and 11th. It features three days of auctions, Friday, Saturday and Sunday; a Cruise-In on Saturday; and a Concours d'Elegance on Sunday. The 5th Annual Palm Springs Car Classic is produced by Spectrum Auction Company, one of America's largest and most prestigious automobile auction companies. The complete schedule of events, plus direct access to the broadcasts, can be found at "http://www.theautochannel.com/cybercast/1999palm_springs_classic/index.html", or through the Spectrum Auctions website at "http://www.spectrumauctions.com".
To watch the Palm Springs Car Classic broadcast, Internet users will need the Windows Media Player, which is available free and can be downloaded from the Microsoft website through The Auto Channel. Installation is completed quickly and easily into both Netscape and Explorer browsers.
The Auto Channel is the Internet's most complete and comprehensive automotive information resource. TACH covers 18 subject categories; has 14 searchable databases; thousands of streaming media programs; and over 200,00 pages of information. The main URL for The Auto Channel is "http://www.theautochannel.com".
Company Contact:
Larkin Hill
(502) 584-4100
(916) 852-1956
email: lhill@theautochannel.com
