Alliance Atlantis Goes Live with Canada's First Internet Television Channel.Business Editors/Entertainment Writers TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 15, 2001 Launch of U8TV.com Significant Step Towards Integration of Internet, TV, Content Development and Delivery, Demonstrates Alliance Atlantis' Leadership in Convergence Alliance Atlantis Alliance Atlantis Communications Inc. (formerly traded as TSX:AAC) is a Toronto-based media company, which now operates primarily as a specialty service operator in Canada. Communications Inc. (Alliance Atlantis/NASDAQ: AACB AACB Australasian Association of Clinical Biochemists AACB Alliance Atlantis Communications Inc. AACB Aeronautics and Astronautics Coordinating Board AACB Aeronautics & Astronautics Coordinating Board AACB Ann Arbor Concert Band (Ann Arbor, MI) ) went live today with Canada's and the world's first Internet television Internet television (or Internet TV) is television distributed via the Internet. Overview In the past, television was only distributed by cable, satellite, or terrestrial systems. channel - U8TV.com - in a joint venture with TVForReal, a new Canadian New Canadian Noun Canad a recent immigrant to Canada company which created the U8TV.com concept. U8TV.com produces three hours of original information, lifestyle and entertainment programming daily. This is overlaid with the real-life experiences of eight young people living, working and interacting with viewers in a fully-wired loft that includes a state-of-the-art Internet TV broadcast facility, complete with 21 cameras. The experiences of the lofters are also packaged into a half-hour daily television program for broadcast on Alliance Atlantis' Life Network. "Developing an Internet television network is a natural direction for our company, as Web content and network television programming eventually become interchangeable," said Michael MacMillan, Chairman & CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. , Alliance Atlantis. "We know that there is a whole new segment of media consumers who are looking for Looking for In the context of general equities, this describing a buy interest in which a dealer is asked to offer stock, often involving a capital commitment. Antithesis of in touch with. content to be delivered in the exact way that U8TV.com is broadcasting it." Alliance Atlantis, a leading speciality television broadcaster, is also using U8TV.com to help increase its already strong presence in the specialty network specialty network Single specialty network Managed care A loosely cohesive group of physicians specialized in one area of medicine–eg, cardiology, oncology, Ob/Gyn, ophthalmology, radiology, etc, who form a network to attempt to capture a segment of a Pt business. "As the first Internet television channel, U8TV is breaking new ground," said Phyllis Yaffe, President, Alliance Atlantis Broadcasting. "It's a network that is totally interactive, led by the Internet, supported by television in a complete reversal of traditional broadcasting." Lili Shalev, President and one of the founders of TVForReal, said that developing a solid business strategy for U8TV.com was a key priority in ensuring its success. "We knew there was great potential for an Internet-driven television network like U8TV.com and that it would be a win-win for a broadcaster and a new media company," she said. "Now that it's live as of this morning, U8TV.com is a showcase of TVForReal and Alliance Atlantis' collective experience in the areas of new media, broadcasting, entertainment and advertising. It's a powerful combination that few organizations can match." Shalev also recognized the industry relationships that helped make U8TV.com a reality. "For example, our choice of Microsoft Windows Media not only provides U8TV.com with the functional benefits of the Windows Media Player Digital jukebox software for Windows from Microsoft that plays a variety of audio, video and streaming formats including MP3, WMA, CD audio and MIDI. Starting with Version 6.2 in 1999, the Windows Media Rights Manager was added for securing copyrighted content. , but also allows us to provide content playable on the Web's fastest growing player," said Shalev. "We are very pleased that U8TV.com has chosen the Microsoft Windows Media format," said Kate Atherley, Business Development Manager, Microsoft. "U8TV will be able to take full advantage of the high-quality audio and video of the Windows Media Format, adding even more breadth to thousands of worldwide content providers now available on WindowsMedia.com." About TVForReal Based in Toronto, Canada, TVForReal specializes in the development of filmed entertainment for convergence - melding Internet and television programming - beginning with the launch of U8TV.com. U8TV.com is a joint venture between TVForReal (49 per cent) and Alliance Atlantis Communications Inc. (51 per cent). About Alliance Atlantis Communications Inc. Alliance Atlantis Communications Inc. is a leading broadcaster, creator and distributor of filmed entertainment with significant ownership interests in eight Canadian specialty television networks. The Company's principal business activities are conducted through three operating groups: Broadcasting, Motion Pictures and Television. Headquartered in Toronto, Alliance Atlantis Communications Inc. operates offices in Los Angeles, Edmonton, Montreal, Shannon, London and Sydney. The Company's common shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange Toronto Stock Exchange (TSE) Canada's largest stock exchange, trading approximately 1,200 company stocks and 33 options. - trading symbols AAC (Advanced Audio Coding) An audio compression technology that is part of the MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 standards. AAC, especially MPEG-4 AAC, provides greater compression and better sound quality than MP3, which also came out of the MPEG standard. .A, AAC.B and on NASDAQ NASDAQ in full National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations U.S. market for over-the-counter securities. Established in 1971 by the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD), NASDAQ is an automated quotation system that reports on - trading symbol AACB. The Company's Web site is www.allianceatlantis.com. Alliance Atlantis currently owns, either wholly or in part, eight specialty television networks - Showcase, Life Network, Home & Garden Television (HGTV HGTV Home and Garden Television Canada), History Television, Series+, Historia, Headline Sports and Food Network Canada. Additionally, Alliance Atlantis is the exclusive sponsor in Canada for the U.S.-based The Health Network. |
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