Intercast Networks announces the expansion of its free Kazam video service to a select number of US university campuses with more to follow in the coming weeks. Following a successful spring semester alpha trial at Columbia and Purdue University, in which students validated the service, Kazam has redesigned the UI based on student's feedback and partnered with many new content providers to create a channel lineup that specifically caters to the student audience. The beta service will be available via the next-generation Internet2 Network for Internet2 university members that want to participate in the service. The network provides advanced IP multicast capabilities and connects over 50,000 U.S. research and education institutions today.

In addition Kazam now provides targeted and dynamic ad serving from storage capabilities to allow for the monetization of video content in online and offline viewing mode. Kazam's ad platform is integrated with DoubleClick DART Enterprise for campaign management, ad trafficking, ad tracking and reporting.

Kazam offers students access to a well rounded content offering appealing especially to the student demographic. Students can enjoy premium video content from several major media brands, (including Sports Illustrated and many more) some of which is not generally offered over the open internet. Added to the mix are some great online originals and programming from independent production companies including live concerts from Baeble Music, web series from My Damn Channel, HD shows from On Networks, various shows from Revision3, and even human rights documentaries from WITNESS.

Kazam allows content providers to test the impact of new video delivery technologies in a walled garden and early adopter environment, which does not interfere with their traditional business models. Advertisers are able to test Kazam's targeted and dynamic ad serving from storage technology in the most sought after demographic (18-24) market segment and experiment with a wide variety of ad formats, including high-definition, full screen interactive video ads, to see how they resonate among the student audience. Several leading ad agencies such as Moxie Interactive of the Publicis Groupe, MPG and others have agreed to evaluate Kazam's targeted and dynamic advertising from storage capabilities and are publishing video campaigns from some of their major brands.

Schools at which Kazam will be available this fall include Columbia, Northwestern, Penn State, University of Alabama, UCLA, University of Delaware and others.

Intercast will present its VideoXpress delivery platform and Multicast-to-Storage technology at the upcoming Fall 2008 Internet2 Member Meeting on Oct 15th in New Orleans.