The New Toronto Group Develops Interactive Multimedia Web Application for Spike TV

July 21, 2006; 09:13 AM

The New Toronto Group (NTG), provider of Adobe software services, announced that Spike TV recently utilized NTG's application development services to bring fans of "Ultimate Fighters 3" into the action and face to face with Spike TV's hosts via the Internet.

Early in June of this year, NTG was approached by Adobe Systems and Spike TV to develop an application to support a video-based call-in show for the web. The application provided Spike TV hosts with the ability to interact live with fans of the show and also allowed Spike TV producers to remotely manage web cam settings and to switch live web video streams in real time. NTG's application development work was completed in less than two weeks and was based on Adobe's Flash Media Server technology.

Spike TV VP & Director of Digital Media, Steve Farrell said that this was SPIKETV.COM's first live "dualcast" and a new element of Spike's "Get More Action" mantra, using digital technology to put fans into their events.

"We had absolutely no time between when we came up with the idea and the actual live event and we knew we were pushing it. NTG delivered with no drama and on the day of the event the app worked flawlessly - which is the greatest feeling in the world. They're a great partner and it's going to be fun to see what we can come up with next," said Farrell.

"We're very pleased to have had the opportunity to work with Spike TV and help them define how broadcasting and interactive web technologies can work together to increase viewership," said Eric Lysionok, Strategic Account Manager with New Toronto Group. "We believe that Spike's initiative to combine live TV and live web-sourced video to be an industry first and it's always exciting to see the technology come together and deliver as well as this has."

The uniqueness of the application received attention from The Hollywood Reporter, a leading entertainment industry publication. Plans are in place to enhance the application for other Spike TV events.

About New Toronto Group

New Toronto Group (www.newyyz.com) provides software services to companies and organizations interested in levering emerging web software technologies. New Toronto Group is a leader in the development of Adobe Flash Media Server based software applications and Rich Internet Applications.