'Coast Guard Channel' Web Network Launched

'Coast Guard Channel' Web Network Launched

SCOTTS VALLEY, Calif., Feb. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Tam Communications, the digital media company behind the first-ever reality television series about a branch of the military, today announced the first Internet television network about a branch of the military, the Coast Guard Channel ( http://www.coastguardchannel.com/ ). The Channel, which has enjoyed a pre-launch life as Coast Guard Rescues, is a micro-television network offering "viewers" web-based access to entertaining and informative content about the U. S. Coast Guard.

The network, the brainchild of Tam's co-founders, Tam and Susan O'Connor Fraser, creators of the series "Coast Guard," which aired in syndication from 1995 - 1998, and several Discovery Channel specials focused on the U. S. Coast Guard, has been launched with programming developed over the last 12 years. "As early as 1995, we had a website to support our TV series but posting video was out of the question. The small number of people with broadband connections into their homes made it impractical," notes Tam Communications CEO, Susan O'Connor Fraser. "With the completion of our most recent project for Discovery's Military Channel, 'Coast Guard at War,' we decided to focus our attention back on Coast Guard content. And now the technology is here to support our vision."

The launch of the network's predecessor, Coast Guard Rescues, in September was concurrent with the opening of the "The Guardian." "We wanted something on-line while the nation's attention was focused on the Coast Guard's search and rescue mission." Since September, the Tam Communications team has been fine-tuning the website and spreading the word, preparing for the launch of the Channel. "We've seen a steady increase in website visitors. I've never been involved in a project where viewer feedback has been so overwhelmingly positive and proactive."

In addition to original web-only series and features playing in a "24/7 Video" area, the site also provides an on-line shopping area where viewers can buy Coast Guard-related DVDs and books. Other items will be added to the catalog over the next year. Viewer-submitted content including photos, stories and videos and a forum are featured in the "Get Interactive" section of the Channel.

While Tam Communications has a significant library of existing material, Tam O'Connor Fraser emphasizes, "We have an ambitious slate of new programming scheduled for the next 12 months. We've already started pre-production on a Coast Guard in WWII special and we're planning a summer full of Coast Guard production to take us to some of the Coast Guard's busiest stations." More information about upcoming productions and other new content can be found at the Coast Guard Channel at http://www.coastguardchannel.com/ .

The Coast Guard Channel is an advertising-supported network with several advertising packages available.

About Tam Communications

Tam Communications is a leading digital media company, with both corporate and entertainment client. The company produces video, interactive multimedia, and web-based content. Additionally, the company has an expanding portfolio of original entertainment programming-developed for broadcast, cable, syndication, and the web. Tam Communications is a privately held company located in Scotts Valley, CA. Please visit our web site at www.tamcom.com.

Source: Tam Communications

CONTACT: Regan Eymann of Tam Communications, Inc., +1-831-439-1500, or
fax, +1-831-439-0298, or regan@tamcom.com

Web site: http://www.tamcom.com/
http://www.coastguardchannel.com/

-------
Profile: intent