SyncCast, LLC, a value added streaming provider (VASP), announced today it has begun aggressively marketing an existing license agreement with the Recording Industry Association of America’s (RIAA) digital rights organization, SoundExchange, to stream on-air broadcasts.
SyncCast recently completed its negotiations with RIAA’s digital rights organization and is one of a few content delivery networks with a license from SoundExchange.
“Broadcasters are excited about getting back online and we have completed several deals over the past few months that allows SyncCast to provide broadcasting companies a complete and legal streaming solution,” said David Nichols, VP of Sales and Marketing for SyncCast.
SyncCast’s license agreement pays past streaming liabilities for broadcasters and covers all the required reporting and compliance issues for broadcasters. The license agreement allows SyncCast to take the Internet licensing burden off the shoulder of broadcasters and provides them a quick and complete streaming solution that can get them steaming again.
“The License agreement is significant but we had to create some additional working relationships before we solicited broadcasters to take advantage of the agreement,” said Ezra Davidson, VP of Business Development for SyncCast. “We have been working arduously over the last several months to negotiate agreements with ad-insertion companies to replace on-air commercials with ad spots for the Internet that do not violate the rebroadcast agreement with AFTRA (American Federation of Television and Radio Artists).” Davidson further stated, “We also completed an agreement with Exodus that allows us to provide extremely competitive bandwidth pricing to broadcasters. The deals we have put together will significantly lower broadcasters’ costs tremendously.”
SyncCast obtained its digital media license agreement at the request of one of its streaming clients, KKBT (100.3 The Beat) in Los Angeles. “We were streaming the Beat and its online audience was growing exponentially. I think the management of Radio One became concerned about the fees. We thought it would be good for our customers to have business certainty, so we started negotiating with the RIAA for a license back in December 2000,” said Davidson.
“Our deal with SoundExchange allows broadcasters to stream today and pays for any liabilities related to past broadcasts,” said Lance Ware, President, and CEO of SyncCast. “The deal also gives broadcasters the flexibility to switch out of our License agreement later and into one designated by the CARP (Copyright Arbitration Royalty Panel) if they so wish.”