LONDON -- 03/06/08 --
Livestation, the first open broadcast platform for
live TV news, today announced that Chris Cramer, former president and
eleven-year veteran of CNN International, has become a strategic advisor to
the company.
Cramer joins the Livestation team with extensive experience in broadcast
and digital media, including Philip Rowley, former chairman and CEO of AOL
Europe and William Cooper, former head of BBC Interactive.
Livestation, which was developed by information broadcast technology leader
Skinkers, enables anyone with a broadband connection to watch leading
international news channels for free. The service delivers high-quality
streams powered by robust peer-to-peer (P2P) technology, and is designed to
meet broadcasters' needs for lower-cost distribution while honoring
copyrights and providing a superior news service.
"I'm working with Livestation because I believe the technology and
platform represent the future of television news consumption," said Cramer.
"Livestation's ability to provide immediate access to multiple, respected
news channels will raise expectations for how consumers receive news.
Broadcasters that choose to stream live content will increase their
viewership and extend greater value to advertisers."
"Livestation is compelling for news veterans like Chris because it
addresses an unmet need, delivering aggregated global news for immediate
access to local coverage of international events," said Matteo Berlucchi,
CEO of Skinkers. "We are developing something completely unique: a free,
high-quality platform leveraging proprietary technology that gives viewers
access to breaking news as it happens anywhere in the world."
Cramer is a highly regarded media executive with more than 40 years
experience in news broadcast, cable and online business management,
including senior positions at the BBC and CNN. He led CNN's international
media businesses to record growth in distribution, revenue and profits, and
has unparalleled expertise in channel and platform start-ups including
effective use of new media tools, bi-media and multi-media newsgathering
systems and creating practices focused on high quality and affordable
global coverage.
Livestation opened its technical trial in February 2008; users interested
in joining the trial can sign up at http://www.livestation.com.
About Livestation
Livestation is aimed at anyone that wants to be able to follow live news
coverage from leading broadcasters around the world. While the web
increasingly provides a primary source of breaking news, there has so far
been no single place to access live television and radio coverage from
multiple channels. Livestation is specifically designed to deliver live
broadcasts to large audiences over broadband, providing a global platform
for coverage of news, sport and events. Users can sign up for the technical
trial at the Livestation website.
Livestation has been developed by Skinkers, the market leader in
information broadcast technology for the enterprise.
www.livestation.com
www.skinkers.com
Contacts
Kate Lothian
Livestation
E: kate.lothian@skinkers.com
PH: +44 (0)207 579 8352
Mike Manning
Cohn & Wolfe
E: Mike_Manning@nyc.cohnwolfe.com
P: 212-798-9787
