Yes ladies and gentlemen, after taking an extended weekend - one which was spent checking out the new Transformers movie - I am officially back and eMercedesBenz is open for business.  To kick things off this morning Mercedes has announced that starting July 12th, they'll be launching their very own internet television broadcasting service.  The service will kick off with live coverage from Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, after which visitors to the service will also be able to take part in a weekly news magazine as well as 24 hour programming in five different channels (lifestyle, cars, engines & sports, history & legends, and innovation).

According to Dr. Olaf Goettgens, Vice President Brand Communications Mercedes-Benz Passenger Cars:  "Mercedes-Benz TV opens up a new and very emotional communication channel for our customers and anyone interested in the brand.  Our Internet television service sets new standards in terms of content and design, while using video images to convey the fascination and legends that surround the brand with the star."

Although I'm personally not into watching television or anything remotely resembling television via the internet and my computer (I'm more of the digital cable and Sony 70" XBR2 affinity), you may be, and if so, you can check out more details of Mercedes' new branded internet tv service below.

Enjoy.













OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE


Mercedes-Benz to Launch Internet TV

• Brand TV will set new standards for Internet television
  
  
• Programming to be launched during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Berlin on July 12, 2007 (www.mercedes-benz.tv)
  
  
• Weekly news magazine plus five channels for lifestyle, cars, engines & sports, history & legends, and innovation
  
  

Stuttgart, Jul 10, 2007
Mercedes-Benz will launch its own Internet television broadcasting service on July 12 with a live report from Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Berlin. “Mercedes-Benz TV” will broadcast in German and English and set new standards for online brand communication. The Internet TV service will feature a weekly news magazine hosted by Tanja Bülter, a society reporter from the RTL television network. The program will be about 20 minutes long and will offer news, facts, and background information from the world of Mercedes. Internet viewers will also be able to watch programs 24 hours a day on the service’s five Web channels for lifestyle, cars, engines & sports, history & legends, and innovation. Mercedes-Benz events at auto shows and the brand’s world premieres will be broadcast live on Mercedes-Benz TV in the future as well.

“Mercedes-Benz TV opens up a new and very emotional communication channel for our customers and anyone interested in the brand,” says Dr. Olaf Goettgens, Vice President Brand Communications Mercedes-Benz Passenger Cars. “Our Internet television service sets new standards in terms of content and design, while using video images to convey the fascination and legends that surround the brand with the star.”

The launch of the weekly news magazine will be accompanied at 8:00 p.m. on July 12 by a special primetime presentation of “Power Meets Fashion” - live from Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Berlin. The big highlight here will have race car drivers such as Lewis Hamilton and Klaus Ludwig, as well as other celebrities, taking both vintage and brand-new Mercedes-Benz vehicles for a spin on a special course set up between Brandenburg Gate and the Victory Column.

The cars driven here will range from an Uhlenhaut coupe to the current luxury convertible concept known as “Ocean Drive.” In addition to featuring interviews with celebrities like Oliver Bierhoff and top model Eva Padberg, the live broadcast also will present exclusive background information on Fashion Week.

As the first Internet TV offering, Mercedes-Benz TV combines the broadcasting features of regular television with the new digital possibilities offered by the Internet. Anchorwoman Tanja Bülter, for example, presents her weekly news magazine in the traditional manner. At the same time, onsite reporters present individual features for the magazine when appropriate. These reports can also be called up from any of the five channels at any given time on demand. Mercedes-Benz TV features an intuitive system and is therefore very easy to use. Approximately 60 minutes of programming will be available on each channel when broadcast operations are launched.

Copyright © 2007, DaimlerChrysler AG