The internet content delivery market has grown so much in the last year that it has earned a report of its own, due in September from the Internet Research Group (IRG). New services from Akamai Technologies, Digital Island, iBEAM Broadcasting, Intervu and Sandpiper Networks have put this formerly obscure technology on the map. Content delivery systems are rapidly capturing the market’s attention as a means of delivering media- rich content quickly and economically to the far reaches of the internet, said VP of research Peter Christy, as witnessed by Cisco’s recent $49m investment in Akamai. IRG estimates that spending will increase from $150m in 1999 to $2.3bn in 2003. As if to emphasize the excellent prospects for content delivery companies, iBEAM announced a distribution agreement with Los Angeles, California-based Entertainment Boulevard Inc.
