First Interfaith Streaming Media Website Launched by Faith & Values Media

Webby-Award Nominee FaithStreams.com Creates Unique Electronic Library" of Faith-Based Video; Offers Streamed Programs and Video-On-Demand

New York, NY (PRWEB) June 16, 2005 -- Faith & Values Media, the nations largest coalition of Jewish and Christian faith groups dedicated to media production and distribution, today announced the launch of FaithStreams.com, the first Web-based interfaith service to incorporate streaming video and video-on-demand (VOD). In addition to video, the new site will also include all content from the award-winning Faith & Values Media Web site (www.faithandvalues.com).

Already hailed as a content-rich provider of faith-based media, FaithStreams.com received two Webby Award nominations during its Beta stage. Since its inception and its soft-launch in September, 2004, the website has received over 150,000 unique visits per month. Now ready for its full launch, FaithStreams.com offers a 24-hour distribution vehicle for a wide range of video material, including dramas, documentaries, worship, panel discussions, music, and magazine shows. Content will be provided by more than 30 members of Faith & Values Media, as well as by Faith & Values Media itself.

With FaithStreams.com, we are creating a unique, electronic library that will provide access to programs on topics ranging from peace and justice to arts and culture, rituals and traditions, faith and healing, sermons and scripture, even movie reviews, said Edward J. Murray, President and CEO of Faith & Values Media. At the same time, it gives our members access to a dynamic 24-hour forum for participating in the public dialogue on the role of faith in the world." Murray noted that FaithStreams.com will also allow member organizations to communicate more effectively with their own constituencies. We believe this new technology offers enormous opportunities to our members," said Murray.

FaithStreams.com will provide a free 24-hour stream of scheduled programming, repeating in six-hour blocks, with VOD available on a subscription basis. Both streamed video and on-demand programs will be high-resolution, with a larger picture available to VOD subscribers.

Dave Pomeroy, vice president of Faith & Values Medias Digital Division, noted that FaithStreams.com has the ability to create additional program pages that can be customized for a members needs. In many cases, content in addition to video may be of primary interest to a member group. These pages will provide our members with a vehicle to deliver highly specific materials to their audiences," Pomeroy stated. Examples might include Sunday school lessons and materials, or congregational meetings, general assemblies, and conferences, all of which could be supplemented with links to the members own Web sites, according to Pomeroy.
   
There is a wealth of great content developed that illustrates the richness of many faith traditions, which we believe deserves a broader audience. FaithStreams.com is the perfect vehicle for providing access to these materials," said Pomeroy.

About Faith & Values Media
Faith & Values Media is the nations largest coalition of Jewish and Christian faith groups dedicated to media production, distribution and promotion. Its member association is made up of denominations, organizations and individuals, who encompass most of the recognized Jewish and Christian faith groups in the United States. Together, these faith groups have more than 200,000 congregations with 120 million congregants. (A list of member faith groups and organizations is available upon request.) The programming services of Faith & Values Media are available on Hallmark Channel and on www.faithstreams.com. Faith & Values Media is a service of the National Interfaith Cable Coalition, Inc., established in 1987.

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