Go Network To Stream Disneyís ""Broadcast Center"" Video Programming

Inforseekís Go Network has launched parent Walt Disney Companyís ""Broadcast Center"" that integrates radio programming, movie trailers and music. The channel will feature selected video programming from the Disney-owned ABC television network and ESPM sports channel by yearís end.Patrick Naughton, Executive Vice President of Products at Infoseek said, ""Itís clear we have a ton of broadband assets available across the company. Broadcast Center gives us a placeholder for pulling together that programming in a single spot.""Television shows that can be augmented with related text and graphics online will be the first candidates for streaming on the Go Network. Naughton said that possibilities include ABC News programming that ties to information online as well as ESPNís SportsCenter program, which can be packaged with related stories posted on he ESPN.com site.""Itís pretty straightforward to take TV shows and put them up on the Web,"" Naughton said. ""The question is whatís the business model."" Selling advertising to support the repackaging of television shows is the obvious answer but the Go Network needs to first settle on a format for its programming faire.Disney, which last year acquired a 43 percent ownership stake in Infoseek, sees the Go Network as its primary vehicle for addressing the interactive market. Infoseekís Broadcast Center is using streaming technology supplied by RealNetworks and Apple Computerís QuickTime to support interactive content.As previously reported a number of Internet portal companies are making their move into the broadband space. In addition to the Go Network, there is the Yahoo!-Broadcast.com deal, the Snap joint venture of Cnet and NBC and new streaming services launched by Lycos.For more information, visit www.Infoseek.com and www.broadcast.go.com.