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Low cost webcams create the "£9.99 global broadcaster"

First it was Karaoke, now it is international broadcasting. The growth in Britons’ interest in self-expression and performance is rising dramatically, according to PC World. Sales of web cams, video editing software and the growth of broadband connections are creating millions of potential broadcasters in UK homes.

Bryan Magrath, commercial director at PC World, said: “What’s telling about this sales spike is that it has come out of nowhere. Web cams have been on sale in our stores for several years and suddenly in the last twelve months, unit sales have rocketed 48 percent. There’s no question that this is being fuelled by the YouTube phenomenon.”

You Tube is the most popular among the free video sharing services available online. It enables users to upload, view and share video clips. According to a survey in July 2006, 100 million video clips are viewed every day on YouTube, and 65,000 new videos are uploaded every day. The site has almost 20 million visitors each month, according to Nielsen/NetRatings. 44% of visitors are female, 56% male, predominantly in the 12- to 17-year-old age group. YouTube commands up to 64% of the UK online video market.

Bryan Magrath added: “Today, most reasonably equipped homes have enough technology to enable 37 Acacia Avenue to broadcast to a global audience in the hundreds of millions. Most have more technology available to them than a state-of-the-art broadcaster would have had as recently as a decade ago. Broadband access, digital camcorders and web cams, basic video editing software and a YouTube account are now all affordable realities.”

With prices starting at £9.99 for a decent web camera with a microphone, all 155 PC World stores across Britain have seen a substantial rise in interest and sales.

Bryan Magrath added: “This is the perfect demonstration of the two-way nature of the Internet. We’re seriously thinking about setting up a home broadcasting department in our stores to help our customers understand the amazing opportunities there are for creative expression on the World Wide Web.”

While only one in four households in Europe are connected to Internet, nearly eight out of ten connections to the Internet in the UK are via broadband. This has paved the way for levels of sophistication in communication that were previously impossible.

Prices start at £9.99 for a PC Line web-cam with a microphone. There is no additional cost except for access to Internet. By far this is one of the most efficient, entertaining and social ways of communicating online.

Web cam facts:

- A group of researchers created the first web cam in a University of Cambridge Computer Lab in 1991. The first model could only display images.

- Prices of web cams start today at £9.99 for a web camera, up to £69.99 for a notebook camera

- The newest web cameras offer high image quality with a glass lens, which allows for facial expressions to be seen clearly.

- Some web cams come with a built-in microphone.

- The newest cameras capture at 30 frames per second which means that the video images you see are smooth and seamless.

More information:
Hamish Thompson | Twelve Thirty Eight Ltd | 07702 684290

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