TVB's Olympic site a big hit

Hong Kong - More than one million viewers have logged on to TVB.com's official Olympic website to see live streaming of the Torch Relay in Hong Kong, with heavy online traffic causing a temporary jam.

Ivy Wong, chief operating officer of TVB.com, said unlike MSN, Google, Yahoo! and other major online portals, TVB.com is the only media that offers live streaming of the Olympic for global online users.

TVB's Olympic site went live today (2 May).

Coca-Cola has signed on as the most prominent global Olympic supporting brand in leveraging TVB's marketing dollars by helping it gain more publicity overseas. Other sponsors of the site include the HK government, Oriental Watch and Blue Girl.

Wong added the group is considering offering Adidas and Volkswagen advertising opportunities as the website further develops. But given its current condition, the website needs to focus more on mechanic and technological upgrade.

TVB's Olympic team of 50 members was created in mid-March this year. They will continue to work on the website until the end of the Games.

Approximately 70% of the sites viewers are local and the rest from North America and Southeast Asia.

Growing audiences in Greater China will also be a focus.

"Chinese are very keen to live streaming and other online interactive programs," Wong added.