Sail.TV launched

A truly innovative free to use internet sailing resource was launched to a packed press conference at the London Boat Show on 6 January and it is LIVE today. Sail.tv is a new internet-based TV station and the first 24-hour channel available globally that is devoted to sailing and watersports. Log on to www.sail.tv

Despite an increasing interest in sailing, there remains an unfulfilled and enthusiastic audience ready and waiting to view more of their favourite sport.

• Sail.tv is launching on broadband, offering full screen delivery of its content to a global audience of over 250 million broadband users, with 24-hour, 365 days of scheduled programming.

• Sail.tv provides a brand new opportunity to maximize exposure within the sport for individuals, events, teams, sponsors and media partners by using cutting edge technology to make the video images instantly available worldwide.

• Sail.tv brings a simple and free to view medium to the sailing enthusiast. This cutting-edge technology is being brought to you by people who know what they’re talking about and are at the sharp end of the action, producing footage from the key events with commentary by the cream of the racing fraternity.

• Sail.tv plans to bring internet audiences a wide range of programming within the scheduling covering everything from top class regattas to instructional videos, interviews with the stars, Boat show coverage, news, reviews and information on the latest developments within the sport from around the world.

Andy Steward, one of the partners in the new station said, “Sail.tv is all set to revolutionise the distribution of sailing coverage in the coming years by taking advantage of the very latest broadband technology. We are not a competitor to existing TV networks with their mass medium distribution but are targeting a special interest group - sailors worldwide. When they get home after a day on the water, they can, for the first time, go online and watch what they want, when they want. We think this is the future of broadcasting i.e. the ultimate On Demand technology.”

The technology used to deliver the video streaming is supplied by Narrowstep Inc, a well proven platform currently being used by over 50 Broadband TV channels. Features of this enable Sail.tv to be viewed at everything from 56kb dial up, to 1800kb at top quality and full screen on your computer; there is a search function for specific programming, that can be viewed on demand; live events can be seen when scheduled; there’s continuous streaming without the need to refresh or constantly buffer. Narrowstep’s platform can also deliver to 3G mobile, wireless, point of sale and even broadcast networks.

Steward continued, “We see the station becoming the pre-eminent source of video content for sailing and water sports globally, where people can not only watch what they want and when they want, but advertisers and sponsors can reach a highly targeted audience through a medium that has never been possible in the industry before. It is a ground-breaking opportunity.”

More Information:

• sail.TV