IQ News: NBC and InterVU Have Eye For Online Video Web Site

NBC and technology partner InterVU, a video delivery company, this week will launch a video-based Web site called VideoSeeker.com. The site will be available through both that Web address and at NBC.com. Though the network will highlight some of its own programming, the goal is to make the site a comprehensive online locale for quality video material.
InterVU is not looking to compete with other online video technologies such as RealNetworks’ RealVideo or Microsoft’s streaming video product NetShow. Instead, InterVU and NBC are looking to make online video delivery effortless from all platforms. “My goal is in two or three years to just click and play,” said Todd Harris, manager of new content development at NBC Interactive. “There are no plug-ins.”
From the technology end, the most difficult aspect of programming online video is scaling the site for different modem speeds. “To deliver one video file is like moving a whole Web site of text,” said Allie Shaw, director of marketing at InterVU.
Content on the site will include sponsorships and contributions from other Web publishers. A video search engine will aggregate and provide links for sites that are now running Internet-based video such as CNN Video Vault and RealNetworks’ Timecast Daily Briefing. MyLaunch Music, an online music publisher, is the partner for music videos and live performances.
The channel line-up on the site for now includes NBC Showroom, material from NBC network entertainment; NBC Back Lot, interviews with NBC celebrities; and the Rec Room, which contains puzzles and trivia games about NBC stars as well as other video-based games and contests.