Backbone Introduces Radio Centralcasting Via Web at NAB 2003

New Software Application Employs MPEG-4 for High Quality, Low Cost Feeds to Affiliates and Studio-Transmitter Links

(Worcester, MA; March 23, 2003) Backbone Networks Corporation announces that the company will introduce a new radio centralcasting application at NAB 2003 in Las Vegas, April 5 - 10. Backbone Radio Central is a software application that utilizes the Internet to deliver high quality audio directly to affiliate stations, resulting in higher quality tranmission at lower operating costs. The application also enables stations to link studios with their transmitter sites via the Internet.

Backbone Radio Central builds upon the powerful Backbone Radio Pro, the company's Internet radio streaming software. The centralcasting application adds features that enable the user to stream its programs to select affiliates or transmitter sites, with several levels of security and provisions for enhancing the reliability and robustness of the Internet connection.

The application is a two-volume software application composed of a control "client" and a streaming "server". The Mac OS X client serves as the live audio platform, and also controls the playlists, schedules and prerecorded insertions. The Linux or Mac OS X based server creates and maintains the IP connections, stores the prerecorded clips and delivers the audio content to the affiliates. Since client and server software may be installed on two different computers, the client may reside in a lightweight laptop computer for covering remote live events, such as sports or awards shows.

Backbone Radio Central uses MPEG-4 as its primary streaming format. The new worldwide standard delivers dramatically higher audio quality coupled with significantly faster compression speed. Affiliates receive the audio content through a modified version of the Apple QuickTime 6 player, which includes provisions for login and password protection, as well as monitoring and maintaining the connection.