Leading
Companies Embrace Macromedia Flash Video Streaming Service
Powered by VitalStream; Carat Interactive, Comcast,
and Edmunds.com Delivering Flash [April 19,
2004]
LAS
VEGAS, Apr 19, 2004 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Macromedia (MACR)
and VitalStream(R), Inc. (VSTH) today announced the
continued adoption of Macromedia(R) Flash(TM) to deliver
streaming video to millions of users.
Carat Interactive, Ltd., Comcast Cable
Communications, LLC, Edmunds.com, and other leading
companies are deploying Flash video content to deliver
their messages using integrated video experiences to
communicate to the largest possible online audience.
The video content is delivered across a high-performance,
reliable content delivery network to Macromedia Flash
Player, which enables approximately 500 million web
users to immediately experience the video content without
downloading special plug-ins or media players. A Flash
Video Gallery containing additional customer examples
is available at http://www.macromedia.com/go/fvg/.
"Macromedia Flash video is really
resonating with media companies, interactive agencies,
and other small and large companies needing to deploy
video on the web," said Chris Hock, director of
product management, Macromedia. "Unlike other solutions,
Flash video enables companies to deliver rich, interactive
video via a seamlessly integrated, fully customizable
user interface, empowering our customers to deliver
custom branded video experiences directly in their website."
Comcast uses Flash video to deliver
an interactive broadband portal to its high-speed Internet
customers that includes "The Fan" broadband
multimedia player, "The Assistant," a personalized
toolbar with always-on utilities, Comcast Rhapsody,
the country's leading Internet jukebox service, and
additional broadband content from leading providers
such as E!, G4, The Weather Channel, The Knot, Planeta
Networks, Expedia, Scripps Networks, Major League Baseball,
and others. Since the launch of "The Fan"
in November 2003, video usage on Comcast.net has increased
by a factor of 10.
"Our goal is to provide our customers
with the information and entertainment content they
want -- when and how they want it -- in an easily accessible
fashion. Working with Macromedia and incorporating the
proven Flash product is a key component in reaching
that goal, because it means our customers do not need
to buy or download any special software to access all
of our high-powered streaming and broadband content,"
said Greg Butz, senior vice president of marketing and
business development, Comcast High-Speed Internet. "Flash
video helps us in ensuring that Comcast provides our
customers the fastest, simplest, and most enjoyable
broadband."
Carat Interactive used Flash video to
deliver the "Impossible is Nothing" campaign
for adidas (http://usa.adidas.com/) featuring female
boxer Laila Ali and her legendary father, Muhammad Ali.
The video ad delivered more than one million plays in
a single day.
"Flash video is a great way to
bring the impact of a successful television and print
campaign online," said Geene Keenan, director of
technology innovation, Carat Interactive. "With
the resonance Flash brings a campaign, to the reliability
of the Flash Video Streaming Service for the delivery,
this was an obvious choice for us."
For its auto show coverage, Edmunds.com
streams video of the latest new cars and trucks not
yet on the market using Flash video, as well as interviews
with leading auto industry executives.
"Edmunds.com is the premier online
resource for automotive information and, as such, we
need to ensure the experience is as engaging as possible,"
said Bob Kurilko, vice president of marketing, Edmunds.com.
"By incorporating Flash video into our site, we
are able to provide more immersive, engaging experiences,
which have resulted in consumers staying on the site
longer and increasing the number of page views."
ABOUT VITALSTREAM, INC.
VitalStream, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary
of VitalStream Holdings, Inc. (VSTH) , is a global provider
of integrated content delivery services that enable
businesses to broadcast their digital media and communications
to worldwide audiences via the Internet. The company
provides complete solutions, including audio and video
streaming, live event broadcasting, media asset management,
integrated web hosting and consulting services, that
seamlessly integrate with today's leading streaming
media technologies. To ensure a worldwide reach, VitalStream
engineered its award-winning content delivery network
certified for quality delivery in the United States,
Europe and Asia. For more information, call 800-254-7554
or visit www.vitalstream.com.
ABOUT MACROMEDIA
Experience matters. Macromedia is motivated
by the belief that great experiences build great businesses.
Our software empowers millions of business users, developers,
and designers to create and deliver effective, compelling,
and memorable experiences -- on the Internet, on fixed
media, on wireless, and on digital devices.
Macromedia, the Macromedia logo, and
Macromedia Flash are trademarks or registered trademarks
of Macromedia, Inc., which may be registered in the
United States and internationally. Other product or
service names mentioned herein are the trademarks of
their respective owners.
SOURCE: Macromedia
Macromedia
Suzy Ramirez, 415-252-4053
sramirez@macromedia.com
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