Mike Homer and Marc Andreessen, two of the pioneers behind Netscape, have launched a network for online distribution of video and audio media.
The free service, called the Open Media Network, is aimed initially at letting traditional public broadcasters and independent filmmakers distribute their work on the Net. But it will also allow ordinary computer users to publish their files.
Part TiVo, part BitTorrent file swapping, the network puts publishers' content into a peer-to-peer distribution network that could help lower bandwidth costs substantially. The service then creates a TV-like program directory that potential viewers can use to find and subscribe to automatic downloads of individual shows.
In the process, it's also serving as an advertisement for Homer's main company, content distribution service Kontiki, which provides the network's technology.
Link to John Borland's News.com story. (via John Battelle, and thanks also, Davee)
