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NBC Unveils Low-Bit Multimedia Player for Internet News Distribution

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

NBC Desktop Video has launched a new low-bit multimedia player that allows users to access picture, audio, and text multimedia presentations on the Internet at 14.4 Kb/s with no downloading time. Developed in conjunction with GE Research and Development Center, this media player enables the transmission of real audio at half the data rate of existing services, freeing up bandwidth for the transmission of picture and text. This technology is expected to be integrated into NBC's existing information services, NBC Professional (NBC Pro) and NBC Private Financial Network (NBC PFN), which will become available in multimedia format on the World Wide Web starting in December 1995.

Key Takeaways:

  • NBC Desktop Video has developed a low-bit multimedia player that transmits real audio at half the data rate of existing services, allowing for the transmission of picture and text.
  • The new player will be integrated into NBC's existing information services, NBC Professional (NBC Pro) and NBC Private Financial Network (NBC PFN), which will become available in multimedia format on the World Wide Web starting in December 1995.
  • NBC Desktop Video is introducing authoring tools that will allow companies to easily add multimedia to their Web sites, accessible in real-time with a 14.4 modem.
  • The company will license the authoring tools and encoding software to other companies and NBC affiliates.
  • By the end of the first quarter in 1996, NBC Desktop Video's technology will allow real-time multimedia coverage on the Web of live events.
  • Microsoft, Sun Microsystems Inc., and Netscape have agreed to support and be compatible with NBC Desktop Video's applications.
  • BBN Planet will provide Internet services, and software allowing viewing of multimedia stories will be bundled with Netscape and Microsoft browsers, incorporating Sun's Java technology.
  • Mike Wheeler, President of NBC Desktop Video, stated that the Internet is a logical distribution method that allows for greater access to their products and has broader application as well.

Statistics:

  • 14.4 Kb/s: the speed at which users can access picture, audio, and text multimedia presentations using NBC Desktop Video's new low-bit multimedia player.
  • December 1995: the month when NBC's existing information services, NBC Professional (NBC Pro) and NBC Private Financial Network (NBC PFN), will become available in multimedia format on the World Wide Web.
  • 1996: the year by the end of which NBC Desktop Video's technology will allow real-time multimedia coverage on the Web of live events.
  • 14,000: the number of people worldwide employed by Sun Microsystems, Inc.
  • $6 billion: the revenues of Sun Microsystems, Inc.
  • 1,400: the number of leading companies and institutions nationwide that connect to the Internet via BBN Planet's operations.

Sources:

  • NBC Desktop Video press release, October 2, 1995
  • GE Research and Development Center
  • Microsoft
  • Netscape Communications Corporation
  • Sun Microsystems, Inc.
  • BBN Planet Corporation

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