LAS VEGAS, Feb. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- With the finalization of an agreement between iStreamPlanet and Canal SUR, 40 million Hispanics in the US will have access to exclusive news, sports, humor and music programming from Latin America at any time by merely getting online.

The agreement commits iStreamPlanet to provide secured access on demand, 24-hours-a-day for Canal SUR's more than 500 hours of various programming to Canal SUR's subscribers. To accomplish this, iStreamPlanet will be employing its revolutionary PayCast Solutions, a turn-key media delivery platform that incorporates a variety of technologies including Windows Media 9 Series, the latest digital media technology from Microsoft.

iStreamPlanet has successfully applied its PayCast Solutions for the Las Vegas Convention Center, Orlando Convention Center and live pay- per-view webcast of the 2003 World Series of Poker.

"The Internet is the perfect medium for this kind of service and with Windows Media 9 Series, customers are ensured of getting the highest quality viewing experience possible," said Jason Reindorp, group manager of the Windows Digital Media Division at Microsoft. "We're pleased to be able to help iStreamPlanet and Canal SUR deliver quality Latin American programming to Latino populations around the world."

Nielsen Research Media reports that half of Hispanic-American households are thought to prefer watching programs in Spanish. With the agreement, iStreamPlanet and Canal SUR hope to expand consumer choice for Spanish speakers, the largest foreign-language speaking segment in the US, which comprised 13 percent of the population in the 2000 census with purchasing power expected to hit the $700 billion mark in 2004, $928 billion by 2007 and $1.2 trillion by 2010.

"Latino people living in other countries tend to be interested in what is happening back home. As many flourish in other countries, they want to stay connected to their homeland where many still have loved ones and friends. There is also a desire to expose the next generation to the Latino culture with hopes that the heritage of their county will be carried on," said, Rodolfo Luisis, Vice President of Canal SUR.

Media Metrix reports that about 12.5 million Hispanics were online in June of 2003 in the US alone and Hispanic consumers are spending more time online than the average non-Hispanic consumer. To gain access to Canal SUR's content being provided by iStreamPlanet, consumers need merely sign up for a low monthly subscription fee ranging from to $4.80 to $17.60 to have programs available at their fingertips, wherever they are, whenever they want it.

"We are excited to be working with folks from Canal SUR," said Alex Khaira Director of Entertainment Content at iStreamPlanet. "It is human nature to want to know what is happening back home."

Canal SUR plans to launch the service in February with a kick-off marketing campaign on satellite and cable networks nationwide. A multi-media marketing campaign targeting Hispanic speaking people is geared to bringing exposure and brand awareness in key markets such as California, Texas, New York and Florida.

For further information, please contact Mio Babic of iStreamPlanet, +1-702-943-6751. iStreamPlanet

CONTACT: Mio Babic of iStreamPlanet, +1-702-943-6751