RealNet advance streams in

Over 70 companies to support TV-like RealVideo 9

By MARC GRASER

Video on the Internet is about to look a lot better: RealNetworks launches a new version of its RealVideo player today that is expected to make streamed video comparable to broadcast television for high-speed Web subscribers.

The Seattle-based Internet audio and video giant introduced RealVideo 9 across the Web today, timed with the start of the Streaming Media West/Internet World confab, which takes place at the Los Angeles Convention Center through Friday.

New software, available as an immediate upgrade when Netizens try to view RealVideo 9-encoded content, improves the quality of video by lowering required bandwidth by 30%, benefiting not only DSL or cable modem subs, but also Netizens who still dial up to the Web using 56K or slower modems.

RealVideo 9's lower bandwidth needs also reduce encoding, storage and streaming costs for content distribbers over RealVideo 8. Already, more than 70 media companies, including ABCNews.com, BMG, Court TV, FoxSports.com, iFilm, Maverick Records, New Line, Virgin Records, Warner Bros. Records, Avid Technology, Intel and Williams Communications have agreed to support the new format. More than 10 sites have gone live with content in RealVideo 9, as of today.

Critical mass

RealNetworks is anticipating the quality of streaming video now is at a level make future video-on-demand services such as MovieLink, that distribs pics via the Web to computers, viable businesses for creators and attractive to consumers.

Additionally, RealVideo 9 will help RealNetworks' attempts to transition into the mobile space of cell phones and PDAs, as well as set-top boxes and digital videorecorder services, such as TiVo, with which it has inked deals.

Then there's its own service: RealNetworks is hoping that improved video will encourage the 270 million people who have downloaded RealNetworks' software to become paying subscribers of its RealOne SuperPass service, which has 600,000 subs who pay $9.95 per month to access exclusive fare.

It has been nearly two years since RealNetworks launched RealVideo 8, and the introduction of RealVideo 9 comes nearly nine months before close rival Windows is expected to launch the latest version of its Windows Media Player, dubbed "Corona."