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SEE ALSO: The Auto Channel 1996 Indy 500 Month Of May Coverage 500 Page Archive, Images, Audio, Text
Editor's Note: 24 years ago today the crew of the pioneering web site The Auto Channel broke new ground by cybercasting the 1996 Indy 500, today NBC broadcast its first Indy 500, welcome to the game NBC.
EXCLUSIVE LIVE 1996 INDY 500
COVERAGE ON THE INTERNET
The Auto Channel's live audio cybercast
of the 1996 Brickyard Classic is a first for the Web
 Tom Carnegie First Track Announcer To Cybercast a LIVE motorsport event |
SEE ALSO: 1996 Indy 500 Content Archives, Images, Text Audio, Video
With the cooperation of Progressive Networks and their RealAudio technology, the live audio reports will emanate directly from the race track announcer's booth. "This is a tremendously exciting first for everyone involved", said Bob Gordon, President of The Auto Channel. "It's the first time that motor sports fans all over the world will be able to hear the actual track announcer's call. It's the first major auto race to be presented live on the world wide web, and it's the first of a series of live events that we'll be covering throughout the year."
 Tim Considine, World's First Indy 500 Webcast Anchor |
The Auto Channel's audio coverage of the annual Brickyard meeting actually begins Saturday, May 18th, with live interviews, track-side reports, and practice results. The Auto Channel will also cybercast live feeds from local Indianapolis sports talk radio shows that are discussing this year's race and Indycar events. In addition, TACH will be using VDOLive technology to present internet users with real time video highlights of past Indy 500 races.
RealAudio and VDOLive are software based internet solutions that allow users to listen to, and watch, live and prerecorded audio and video programs in real time, virtually instantaneously. By using either of these new technologies, extensive download times, which was previously associated with audio and video on the web, are now eliminated. Although RealAudio and VDOLive Plug-in Players are required, they can both be downloaded and used free of charge. The Auto Channel's opening page on its internet supersite provides users with quick and easy access to the respective players.
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