CLICKING UPSTREAM In the June issue we covered Narrative Communications Corp. (www.narrative.com) of Waltham, MA and its Enliven banner-ad technology, which allows surfers to make purchases from a banner without leaving the site they’re visiting. Now Narrative has added the ability to “stream in” audio and video to make for even livelier banners. Narrative says the technology will allow for previewing movies or CDs and communicating with other surfers through the ads. Grey Advertising client Procter & Gamble and U.S. Web client TalkCity are planning to use it with video from TV campaigns, according to Narrative. The streaming technology was developed by RealNetworks Inc. (www.real.com), Seattle. The two companies will be promoting the banner technology together.
THEY’RE THE TOPS Media Metrix-“The PC Meter Company”- which measures Web usage, released its figures for the 50 fastest growing Web sites (based on audience size) for the first half of 1998. Topping the list were sites offering home pages, chat and e-mail-good to know if you’re looking for a place to advertise-such as Angelfire.com (No. 1), Xoom.com (No. 2), The Globe.com (No. 4) and Hotmail.com (No. 5). No. 3 was Preferences.com (Internet privacy). Direct marketers on the list included BarnesandNoble.com (No. 23), Amazon.com (No. 24) and Ebay.com (No. 25).
DRINK TO THIS Here’s a new one: Beverages Direct (www.beveragesdirect.com). A whole wacky range of non-alcoholic beverages, from energy drinks to Green River Soda’s green soda to EnTHAIce fat-free iced coffee (in a can) is offered here. You’ll also find microbrew root beer and the full Jones Soda Co. line. Chicago-based Beverages Direct is the exclusive supplier of online beverage ordering for The BevNet, which reviews non-alcoholic drinks (www.bevnet.com).
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