CHICAGO: ABC News and RealNetworks, which claims to be a global leader in network-delivered digital media, have announced that they have expanded their agreement.
With this announcement, RealNetworks is the only premium content subscription service to offer ABC News Live. This is ABC News' 24-hour live news service, which launched in March. In addition to providing ABC News content to RealOne SuperPass subscribers and supporting premium video news content for ABC News On Demand, ABC News will also collaborate with RealNetworks on new mobile content services.
The new agreement also provides for inclusion of ABC News content in new RealOne subscription services in international markets.
ABC News' president David Westin said,"With news breaking around the world and throughout the day, we realise the importance of reaching our audience 24 hours a day at home and at the workplace. ABC News has set a new direction for news networks, whereby 24-7 quality news coverage is no longer limited to the television.
"In cooperation with Real's technology and the RealOne service, ABC News is making notable advances in the news and media marketplace through their commitment to broadband delivery of ABC News Live, their dedication to production and editorial quality, and their interest to deliver news globally as well as via wireless devices."
Part of the RealNetworks' subscription services since August 2000, ABC News continues to expand its content and programming on the Internet. The launch of RealOne SuperPass in 2001 featured World News Tonight with Peter Jennings and Nightline.. earlier in the year ABC News added ABC News Live and the "virtual control room," a quad screen format, which provides Internet viewers with four live simultaneous video feeds.
Most recently, ABC News Live added hourly news briefs with anchor/correspondent Alina Cho. Cho also anchors breaking news and live events as news develops throughout the day. In addition to live feeds from around the world, ABC News Live programming includes reporting exclusively for ABC News Live and repackaged, high profile ABC News interviews, including Barbara Walters' exclusive interview with senator Hillary Rodham Clinton.
