Pentagon Channel Adds Podcasting to Product Line

On Nov. 7, the Pentagon Channel adds podcasting as a means of distributing the channel's military news and information targeted to the men and women in uniform. "We are excited about leveraging technology that allows for more programming choices for our men and women in uniform," said Allison Barber, deputy assistant secretary of defense for public affairs. "Harnessing this new technology enhances our goal at the Pentagon Channel to communicate relevant, timely and credible military news and information to the men and women of the military." 'Podcasting' is a method of publishing audio broadcasts via the Internet, allowing users to subscribe to a feed of new files - usually MP3s. There is no cost to subscribe, and broadcasts will be delivered straight to the subscriber's computer desktop. Files can be either listened to on the computer or loaded on to an MP3 player. The word 'podcasting' combines the words broadcasting and iPodï, and can be misleading since listening to podcasts requires neither an iPod nor any portable music player. The Pentagon Channel broadcasts military news and information for and about the 2.6 million members of the U.S. Armed Forces -- Active Duty, National Guard and Reserve. Broadcasting 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week, the Pentagon Channel helps ensure that U.S. forces remain the best informed in the world. Today, more than one million service members on more than 267 military bases, camps and installations in the U.S. can watch the Pentagon Channel. It is also available to the 700,000 service members and their families serving in 177 countries overseas via the American Forces Radio and Television Service (AFRTS). The Pentagon Channel also reaches more than 12 million households through commercial distribution via commercial satellite and cable systems nationwide. DISH Network, as well as divisions of Time Warner Cable, Charter Communications, Cox Communications, Mediacom Communications Corp., RCN Corp., Armstrong Cable Services, Knology Holdings, GCI Communications, Verizon Services Corp., and a number of smaller cable companies and public access and government channels in communities around the country carry the Pentagon Channel. The Pentagon Channel can currently be viewed on military installations worldwide, on the Internet and through cable and satellite systems in the United States. For more information on podcasting, as well as viewing the Pentagon Channel streamed live, visit www.pentagonchannel.mil.