VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 19, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- VoIPMDU.COM (Pink Sheets:VPMD) (www.voipmdu.com) announced today that it has acquired a 100% interest in an online website providing live and on-demand sports events via streaming video webcasts.
The website, www.liveplaybyplay.com currently offers live webcast and on demand pay-per-view facilities to a wide variety of sports organizations, including ten junior hockey teams, nine horse racing venues, the Vancouver Whitecaps Soccer Team, the Coquitlam Adanacs Lacrosse Team, various university sports teams and several national events such as the Challenge Cup and National Baseball Championships.
"The acquisition of Liveplaybyplay.com fits perfectly into our original plan of offering comprehensive VoIP packages in voice, video and data to consumers and business owners in North America and around the world, stated Richard Kipping, Chairman and CEO of VoIPMDU.COM. "The VoIP technology industry is growing exponentially every year, but the strongest breakthrough sector within the industry at this point is the sports subscription business where pay-per-view streaming has become the king," he added. Major league baseball (MLB.TV) has jumped into the pay-per-view business that delivers live feeds to most of its games. Streams are being tailored for a variety of delivery bandwidths with special packages for subscribers internationally.
According to Stat/MDR Research, North American subscribership to online video services is growing at a rate of 50% per year, and by 2007, more than 9 million North American subscribers will pay about $ 100 a month to digital services. In all, streaming video is projected to generate nearly $400 million in revenue this year and over $ 3.3 billion by the year 2007.
Pay-per-view streaming video presents a tremendous opportunity for all levels of sports from the elite professional leagues right down to local sports teams that don't have the resources to set up webcasting systems to reach the potential of an expanded fan base. Setup costs for webcasting are minimal so with the VoIPMDU.COM streaming video pay-per-view program, participating sports organizations will receive a virtually free turnkey webcasting system to reach a geographically limitless market, not only for game day exposure but for corollary spin-off benefits such as in-stadium home game ticket packages and increased merchandise sales to previously untouched markets.
VoIPMDU.COM intends to expand its sports streaming video market into several levels of professional and amateur sports, with a focus on junior hockey, which is presently enjoying a massive new fan base with the NHL lockout providing a source of revenue that is finding its way into local and regional sports events across Canada and the United States. The Company is now initiating discussions with several junior hockey leagues in western Canada as well as its lucrative eastern markets where attendance figures have increased by 30% to 40%.
VoIPMDU.COM's joint venture partner, INSINC (www.insinc.com) will provide all the backup services required including broadcasting setup, administration, tech support, help desk functions, customer contact and installation setup. The two companies will share in the revenues generated by their innovative pay-per-view program. To head up its wholly owned subsidiary, the Company has appointed Paul Davey as its President and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Davey has extensive experience in the sports marketing industry with a background of more than ten years in advertising and promotion with the Vancouver Canucks, the B.C. Lions Football Team and the Vancouver Whitecaps Soccer Team.
VoIPMDU.COM is a broadband VoIP telecom company offering local and long distance VoIP services, pay-per-view and video on demand to consumers, business owners and multiple dwelling unit buildings. The Company provides turnkey solutions for all of its voice/video/data applications including a state-of-the-art billing platform. For more information call Richard Kipping at (604) 723-8750 or Paul Davey at (604) 669-2850.
Safe Harbor:
The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a 'safe harbor' for forward-looking statements. Some information including this press release contains statements that are forward-looking. Such forward-looking information involves significant risks and uncertainties that could affect anticipated results in the future and accordingly, these results may differ materially from those expressly any forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of the Company. For a description of additional risks and uncertainties, please refer to the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange commission: http://www.sec.gov including the Company's recently filed 10KSB.