February 6, 2007
NHRA, Multicast to provide live audiocasts for 2007 racing season
NHRA has partnered with Atlanta-based Multicast Media Technologies, a leader in online broadcasting, to provide Internet broadcasts from the 23 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series national events during the 2007 season.
The live audiocasts, which span qualifying and final eliminations, deliver the action of the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series via NHRA.com to homes and businesses around the world, giving race fans live access to the 330-mph action at racetracks across the United States during the sanctioning body's popular Professional racing series.
Founded in 2000, Multicast Media Technologies (www.multicastmedia.com) is a leading provider of Internet broadcast products and services. Multicast's digital media infrastructure enables content producers to easily distribute and monetize content via the Internet. Multicast powers online channels for targeted audiences by offering an integrated system for the management of digital content, program scheduling, and interactive audio/video broadcast services on behalf of more than 500 organizations around the world. Multicast's customer roster includes AutoTrader.com, International Triathlon Union, The Knot, American Cancer Society, Cox Enterprises, This Old House, The Home Depot, Baby TV, Streaming Faith TV, The Dan Marino Foundation, and WebMD.
Multicast will deliver NHRA.com's national event audiocasts on Akamai's global content delivery network. Akamai's high-capacity content distribution network allows the delivery of streaming content to user all across the globe. The content-delivery network begins at Multicast's digital media center and extends throughout the world via 20,000 redundant media services.
NHRA.com began broadcasting final-eliminations coverage from NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series national events at the 1998 Mac Tools U.S. Nationals. Beginning in 2005, NHRA members who registered at NHRA.com were given exclusive access to listen to bonus broadcasts covering the exciting qualifying days. Final-eliminations coverage remained open to all visitors.
"We are thrilled to have found a new partner in Multicast," said Phil Burgess, NHRA editorial director and editor in chief for NHRA.com. "Their vast experience in this medium and their strategic alliance with Akamai will ensure race fans that they can enjoy a quality audio experience throughout the 2007 season. We're looking forward to working with Multicast on future projects as well enhancing the multimedia experiences of NHRA's fans."
"NHRA's new online audio channel is an example of the explosive change taking place in the digital media and entertainment space as global audiences migrate online," said Jason Simpson, EVP business development at Multicast. "NHRA's use of Multicast for turnkey media delivery is an excellent example of how our platform can be used to optimize online business and sports entertainment. We are excited to be a part of bringing content to such a loyal fan base - NHRA race fans."
The first 2007 audiocast will be from the season-opening CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals, Feb. 8-11. Four days will be broadcast, covering all three days of Professional and Sportsman qualifying Thursday through Saturday (available exclusively to NHRA members) and Sunday's dramatic final eliminations, which is open to all visitors.
NHRA also will offer same-day television coverage on ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD beginning Saturday, Feb. 10, at 10 p.m. ET and Sunday, Feb. 11, at 8 p.m ET.