Narrowstep, in
partnership with Tourism Massachusetts, has developed
www.usamass.tv, the first tourism-based Internet channel in the United
States.The channel was introduced to the tourism industry at the Travel Industry Association’s International Pow Wow 2006 in
Orlando, FL. Tourism Massachusetts markets Boston and Massachusetts as the
Gateway to America for international tourists.
  “Massachusetts is the first US destination to use Narrowstep’s cutting
edge technology of Internet television to promote a destination,” said
William H. MacDougall, president and CEO of Tourism Massachusetts.
“Broadband television is a perfect tool for the tourism industry because it
can reach a global audience and it provides a more dynamic, personalized
relationship with the consumer. The channel will soon have the
functionality of providing viewers with the ability to book a trip directly
without having to leave the channel.”
  The usamass.tv Internet channel is part of an integrated marketing
program that ties visual entertainment content with the data content of the
new website, http://www.usamass.com, to be re-launched this summer.
  “Staking a piece of broadband television turf is essential. Bill and
his team have had the vision to lead the US tourism industry in this
endeavor by implementing a proven television on Internet protocol
solution,” said Carolyn Wall, President, Narrowstep North America. “They
realize that a broadband channel will cater to the international consumer
who is moving towards the Internet as their primary resource for
information, entertainment and travel. We are delighted to work with
Tourism Massachusetts and Bill’s team to deliver a promotional vehicle that
will be a model that we think the industry will follow.”
  The TIA reported that almost half of all online travel planners use
online sites to plan trips. Further, 82 percent of those planners booked
travel lodging and package tours online in 2005—a jump from 70 percent
for the prior year.
  Steve Beaumont, Narrowstep CEO, said, “As the largest market in the
world for our unique broadband television solutions, the US is our
principal target market, and this is but the first of what we expect to be
many US-based customer announcements. Further, we believe it lends credence
to our expected growth, not only on the top- and bottom-lines, but also in
terms of our presence and share.”
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