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VIRGIN RADIO ROCKS WITH REALNETWORKS’ REALAUDIO 10
Virgin Radio Now Broadcasting in RealAudio 10 with AAC — the Leading Audio Quality Format
London, U.K. — April 07, 2004 — Virgin Radio, the UK’s only commercial national rock music station, and RealNetworks®, Inc. (Nasdaq: RNWK), the leading creator of digital media services and software, today announced that Virgin Radio will now broadcast in the highest quality live signal across the Internet using RealAudio® 10 with AAC. Today’s announcement builds on Virgin Radio’s reputation as the world’s most listened to station on the internet with a proven track record for adopting the latest technology innovations to ensure its listeners consistently experience the best audio experience possible, regardless of how they listen to the station’s internet streamed content.
RealNetworks’ latest audio codec, RealAudio 10 launched earlier this year, includes the standards-based AAC codec. Virgin Radio has chosen RealAudio 10 to deliver exceptional Virgin Radio music quality to broadband listeners. At bitrates of 128 Kbps and greater - typical of broadband internet connections - the AAC portion of RealAudio 10, ensures that consumers experience a first rate audio experience. As broadband adoption continues to grow as a primary method that scores of homes across the UK and around the globe use to access the internet, adoption of the award-winning and leading RealPlayer® 10 alongside RealAudio10, will also increase as the chosen media player and audio format of consumers worldwide.
Separately, RealNetworks today announced the launch and immediate download availability of the U.K. version of RealPlayer 10. Using RealPlayer 10 consumers can now listen to Virgin Radio’s live programming in the latest clearest sound on their broadband connected computer, by visiting www.virginradio.co.uk/real10 or www.real.com. RealPlayer 10 is available as a free basic software download. Also available for purchase is the premium version of RealPlayer 10, which provides consumers access to multimedia content including Virgin Radio, as well as other leading sports, entertainment and news content.
Additionally, Virgin Radio has implemented RealNetworks Helix™ Universal server 10 as its platform of choice for media delivery to enable Virgin Radio to use a single server platform for its infrastructure. The robust infrastructure of the Helix Universal server enables Virgin Radio to support the leading streaming formats to enable the station to best serve the content delivery needs of all its listeners.
David Jones, Head of IT at Virgin Radio, said, "We aim to keep ahead of the game by providing our listeners with a high quality service however they choose to listen. We’re delighted to be leading the industry once again by adopting RealAudio 10, which has proved extremely popular during testing."
"We are very excited to enable Virgin Radio’s millions of broadband listeners around the planet to now enjoy the world’s premium music and audio experience with the addition of RealAudio 10 and Helix Universal server, via our new RealPlayer 10," said George Fraser, General Manger, EMEA, RealNetworks, Inc. "Our Real 10 platform, including the high-fidelity RealAudio 10 and the latest Helix Universal server, provide broadcasters such as Virgin Radio, the unique ability to broadcast music in the industry’s leading audio formats while providing our content providers with tremendous market reach to the PC and beyond."
For More Information:
Lisa Strong, RealNetworks, 206-892-6585, lstrong@real.com
Simon Horne/Cat Macdonald, Virgin Radio Press Office, +44 20 7432 3418/3317, firstname.lastname@virginradio.co.uk
ABOUT REALNETWORKS
RealNetworks, Inc. is the leading creator of digital media services and software including the award-winning Rhapsody® Internet jukebox service and RealPlayer 10, the first product to integrate finding, organizing, buying, playing and managing digital audio and video in a single product. Consumers can access and experience audio/video programming and download RealNetworks’ consumer software at http://www.real.com. Broadcasters, network operators, media companies and enterprises use RealNetworks’ products and services to create and deliver digital media to PCs, mobile phones and consumer electronics devices. RealNetworks’ systems and corporate information is located at http://www.realnetworks.com.
ABOUT VIRGIN RADIO
Virgin Radio is the UK’s only commercial rock music station. It can be heard on 105.8FM in London, on 1215AM nationwide, on any DAB Digital radio, via Sky Digital and the cable TV networks and via WorldSpace. Virgin Radio is the world’s most listened to station on the internet and can be heard at www.virginradio.co.uk. Virgin Radio is wholly owned by SMG plc.
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