PCC, TWI Merge Net With Digital Video

Pacific Century Cyberworks (PCC) has formed a strategic partnership between its PCC subsidiary and Trans World International (TWI) to deliver a fully converged service providing interactive digital video viewing and Web access.

The new service, called Network of the World (NOW), will utilize at least three global Internet and digital video content production centers. TWI will take an equity stake in PCC, which will be the ISP for NOW.

NOW will draw content from TWI’s wholly owned library of 75,000 hours of program material and 10,000 hours of wholly owned material produced annually by TWI, the programming arm of International Management Group (IMG).

The English-language version of NOW will be based in London, with TWI providing production services for all programs and web services. NOW’s Asian-language services will be based in Hong Kong and Tokyo.

TWI managing director Bill Sinrich said that the firm was recruiting the first of 200 staff for the 55,000 sq ft NOW Net/digital video production center located next to TWI’s London headquarters.

NOW’s Internet services will be available via cable, satellite and telecom. According to the firm, PCC will be the world’s largest digital video/Internet provider of sports content once NOW rolls out next year.