Decisionmark and Capitol Broadcasting Partner to Bring Local Broadcasting to The Internet

Decisionmark and Capitol Broadcasting Partner to Bring Local Broadcasting to The Internet

- Companies Launch Landmark Apollo Project in Raleigh, North Carolina -

RALEIGH, N.C., Feb. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Decisionmark Corporation announced the launching of the landmark Apollo Project with WRAL-TV, the CBS affiliate in Raleigh, NC. Using Decisionmark's revolutionary Air to Web Broadcast Replication technology, known as TitanCast, the agreement enables WRAL-TV, a Capitol Broadcasting Company-owned station, to retransmit its broadcast signal over the Internet--making them the first station in the country capable of streaming local, network and syndicated content over the Internet but within the bounds of their over-the-air signal area.

The global nature of the Internet has made distributing network content virtually impossible for local broadcasters, since affiliate agreements grant broadcasters an exclusive geographic license covering their signal area. As a result, networks have struck partnerships with other Internet-based distributors, cutting out their local affiliates. TitanCast solves this problem by allowing broadcasters to determine which viewers are actually able to receive their over-the-air signals.

"With TitanCast, local broadcasters will finally be able to take advantage of all the capabilities presented by the Internet. The local nature of over- the-air broadcasting and the worldwide reach of the Internet are no longer mutually exclusive. Viewers will have a viable platform that grants them unparalleled convenience and accessibility to content that is available both in real time and on-demand," said Decisionmark CEO Jack Perry.

The Apollo Project consists of three phases. Phase 1 - the pilot stage - enables employees of WRAL to access their local programming content over the Internet both synchronously and asynchronously. Phase 2 of the project allows all people living in the Raleigh market to access their local content over the Internet. The mission of the Apollo Project is to offer CBS Network content to all viewers - Phase 3 - in a way that sustains and enhances the network- affiliate model. At this time, CBS has been non-committal on whether to allow their affiliates to deliver network content over the Internet.

According to Jim Goodmon, President of Capitol Broadcasting, TitanCast technology will offer unlimited opportunities for both the networks and the affiliates. "Decisionmark's TitanCast technology allows us to test the mutual benefits of an affiliate-friendly use of the Web to deliver programming."

Decisionmark has a proven track record, having worked with broadcasters to protect copyrighted content since 1996. Its technology has been used by EchoStar and DirecTV over 200 million times since the inception of the Satellite Home Viewer Improvement Act to determine viewer eligibility for local broadcast signals, and network affiliates rely exclusively on Decisionmark to ensure the satellite companies' compliance.

WRAL is the market leader in local news and operates WRAL.com -- one of the nation's most successful local television websites. WRAL broadcast the nation's first digital television signal in 1996 and in 2001 became the first station in the country to gather, produce and air all local news in High Definition.

"We are pleased at the opportunity to partner with Capitol Broadcasting, one of the most innovative and advanced broadcasting companies in the nation and one with which we have a long history of successful cutting edge projects. This latest partnership marks a historic step forward for the broadcast industry," Perry said.

About Decisionmark

Decisionmark is the leading online software and information provider to the broadcast industry. ProximityTV.com supplies broadcasters with data and software tools to help them protect market share and navigate the transition to digital TV broadcasting. Decisionmark leverages relationships with television networks, local broadcasters, DTV manufacturers, antenna manufacturers and a number of computer industry companies to provide this valuable data analysis and management product to broadcasters. For consumers, Decisionmark offers the only real-time household-level online programming guide, TitanTV.com. Because of its close relationship with TV broadcasters, the TitanTV iPG has the most accurate program schedule and signal reception information on the U.S. market. Decisionmark is a profitable, privately held company, based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Please visit our web site at http://www.decisionmark.com/ .

About Capitol Broadcasting

Capitol Broadcasting Company, Inc. is a diversified communications company which owns and/or operates WRAL-TV, WRAL Digital, WRAL-FM, WRAL-HD2, WCMC-FM, Microspace, the North Carolina News Network, CBC New Media Group and Wolfpack Sports Marketing in Raleigh, NC; WJZY-TV and WWWB-TV in Charlotte, NC; WILM-TV in Wilmington, NC; WRAZ-TV and The Durham Bulls in Durham, NC; the Myrtle Beach Pelicans Baseball Club in Myrtle Beach, SC; and real estate interests including the American Tobacco Project and Diamond View office building in Durham, NC.

Source: Decisionmark Corporation

CONTACT: Jill Ungs of Decisionmark Corporation, +1-319-365-5597,
pr@decisionmark.com

Web site: http://www.decisionmark.com/

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