Bermuda's top television and video production house has joined forces with an American company which enables clients to have moving pictures of the Island on their web sites.

Panatel said broadcast quality moving pictures of Bermuda would now be incorporated into the US company's database and it will provide any new footage required from the Island.

And the production company said the move would be a boost for Bermuda and tourism.

Panatel, which claims to be Bermuda's number one production house, announced yesterday a partnership with eterniTV -- a California-based company which enables businesses around the world to add streaming video-computerised moving pictures to their own Internet-based services.

Wendi Fielder, Executive Director at Panatel, said: "We are very excited about this new opportunity and proud to be working with eterniTV. It means Panatel has truly entered the global market place. eterniTV subscribers around the world will be able to tap in to the service and see for themselves the superb locations Bermuda offers. This new venture will give tourism a boost as well as raise the profile of Bermuda worldwide.'' In a release, Panatel said eterniTV offered a full range of services necessary for web sites or businesses with an Internet presence to add streaming video on virtually any topic.

The company said clients could select their own customised packages of video clips for integration into their services.

It added eterniTV already had access to over one million hours of programming originally developed for television and covered around 20 subject areas such as travel, health, financial services, home, garden, autos, sport, music and others.

The release said Panatel would be providing broadcast quality footage of Bermuda and other destinations from its existing library, as well as supplying new material for eterniTV.

Mark Strecker, co-founder and president of eterniTV said: "Quality content is the key to eterniTV's success.

Panatel link-up "We are delighted to welcome Panatel as a content partner, and to have the opportunity to incorporate their excellent programs on Bermuda and elsewhere into our service.'' eterniTV was founded by Mark Strecker and Jonathan Kirk with funding from incStream LLC in January 2000. It is headquartered in Silicon Valley, California, and is already doing business in more than 20 countries. Its web site is www.eterniTV.com.

Wendi Fielding