ABC enhances ‘World News’ podcast

Some cool new features in ABC’s World News webcast/podcast that appear when watching it on iTunes. First, you can skip ahead to index points in the video through a pull-down menu of topics (bottom right). Second, whenever there’s a story that has expanded material online, a “click for more” icon appears over the window. Click it, and a browser window pops up. And third, ABC says it has reduced the download times by roughly two-thirds.

PRESS RELEASE — ABC’s “World News” webcast/podcast has introduced several enhanced features that are now available via iTunes or any other RSS reader. The “World News” webcast — the first of its kind to be produced by a network news organization — now distinguishes itself with the following enhanced features:

* Table of Contents: Each day’s podcast includes a pull-down table of contents that organizes the program’s reports by chapter. Users can now easily move from one chapter to another, selecting what to view and when.

* “Click for More”: A “Click for More” icon appears in the top corner of the screen at various times throughout the podcast, signaling to web viewers that additional information is just a mouse click away. Users who click on the video window are taken to an ABCNEWS.com page designed specifically for that day’s reports. This feature provides additional articles, reporting, and video beyond the podcast.

Additionally, “World News” has decreased its download time. The podcast’s file size has been reduced from approximately 100 MB to less than 70 MB. Download time is now roughly two-thirds what it has been.

“We led the way eight months ago with the launch of the webcast, sharing the resources of ‘World News’ with an entirely new audience. The webcast continues to stay ahead of the pack with these latest enhancements — letting people move between stories and seek more information while they’re watching,” said executive producer Jon Banner. “As we move forward, ‘World News’ is positioned to further engage its audience and to continue sharing the unmatched reporting of ABC News.”

The “World News” webcast/podcast debuted in January 2006, marking the first time a network newscast produced a unique program for the Internet audience. It airs live at 3:00 p.m., ET and is available throughout the day at ABCNEWS.com , on ABC News Now, through the iTunes Music Store, via RSS readers, and on mobile phones.