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Decisionmark Corp. And WRAL-FM To Pilot First "Air-To-Web Broadcast Replication" Technology
CEDAR RAPIDS, IA — September 4, 2002 — Decisionmark Corp., a leading provider of Internet-based broadcast industry solutions, announced today it will work with WRAL-FM radio in Raleigh, North Carolina, to pilot its patented Air-to-Web Broadcast Replication (AWBR) technology, allowing the radio station to transmit its content via the Internet while replicating its over-the-air signal reach. The significance of this new technology is it permits any radio station to broadcast their local signal over the Internet without infringing upon copyright laws by extending the signal beyond legal geographic boundaries. Because the web listenership would duplicate that of the listeners already able to receive the signal with an antenna, it would lessen the fears of content being streamed to an unlimited audience, hence eliminating the need for additional copyright fees. The first of its kind, this pilot program will initially extend to a targeted listener audience who will be able to begin enjoying WRAL-FM from their computer beginning September 5, 2002. During this time, listeners will be asked to provide feedback to the station relating to ease-of-use, sound quality and other observations to help further enhance the listening experience. "We are excited to work with Decisionmark in proving its new patented 'Air-to-Web' technology," said James F. Goodmon, president and CEO, Capitol Broadcasting, owners and operators of WRAL-FM in Raleigh, North Carolina. "This technology is the solution to a problem that has been plaguing the broadcast industry for quite some time now. This sets the stage for us to take advantage of the Internet and keep the ears of our valued local listeners from car to desktop," Mr. Goodmon added. "Capitol Broadcasting is one of the most technically advanced and innovative broadcast companies in the U.S.," said Jack Perry, president and CEO of Decisionmark Corp. "Through WRAL-TV, they were the first station to offer a digital signal and the local newscast in HDTV. Our Air-to-Web technology is a significant step for the broadcast industry and we are excited to be testing it with such a cutting-edge partner and look forward to bringing the remaining 13,000 radio stations in the nation back to the web," Mr. Perry concluded. The Problem: Broadcast is Local; Internet is Global Traditionally, the Internet has been a global entity, providing content to all regardless of location. What is needed is a way to provide broadcast, via the Internet, that replicates what consumers receive with an antenna. Radio streamed on the PC has come under fire from organizations such as the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) that expect webcasters to pay royalties based on the global nature of the Internet and not the local reach of a traditional broadcast signal. In 1998 the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) was passed with provisions calling for performance royalties specifically for the recording artists and music labels. The performance rates were recently set at 0.07 cents per song, per listener and retroactive three and a half years. With tens of thousands of dedicated listeners, this amount would virtually bankrupt webcasters. The fees proposed by the DMCA exceed those typically paid to songwriters and publishers. Broadcasters currently pay under an agreement among Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI), the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), and the Society of European State Authors and Composers (SESAC). The fees typically average $250 annually or a small percentage of gross revenues. The DMCA also mandated that webcast royalties be set under a so-called marketplace-based deal reflecting what copyright owners would accept for licensing and what fees webcasters would be willing to pay. In addition to those fees demanded by BMI and ASCAP, the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA), a union that represents actors who voice radio commercials, is seeking 300 percent of their regular broadcast fee if radio stations retransmit their ads. These issues have been raised and extra money is being sought because the Internet has no geographic boundaries. The Solution: Air-to-Web Broadcast Replication (AWBR) Air-to-Web Broadcast Replication (AWBR) is Decisionmark's patented solution (patent number US 6,252,547, issued on June 26, 2001) to the problem of delivering radio content via the Internet. The goal of AWBR is to provide the technology and data that will allow audio content to be delivered over the Internet with the same copyright protections currently enjoyed by broadcast delivery. Decisionmark has proven this technology by assisting satellite carriers and broadcasters with the Satellite Home Viewer Improvement Act by providing an online eligibility-screening tool. This same patented technology can be used to limit transmission of a streamed radio signal to an FCC-approved signal area. Decisionmark's solution is made possible due to its signal area prediction technology and the AWBR verification process. Decisionmark also ensures that the underlying signal area data is accurate. Local broadcasters communicate signal area coverage changes via a Decisionmark software tool so that off-air and web broadcasts are ALWAYS identical. Rather than going around the broadcasters, the solution is designed to work with the broadcaster to make streaming local broadcasts on the PC a reality.
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