Live Events, Digitally Delivered, Thanks to a Philadelphia Company

by KYW's Lauren Lipton

Say you want to hear a concert or lecture but you have no way of getting to where it's going on. 

Enter Specticast, a Philadelphia-based company that is starting something new.

(Rupp:) "Specticast is a private digital broadcast company.  We're focused on televising live, cultural, performing arts and entertainment events to senior communities, colleges, universities, and community centers for their use in private theatres."

Specticast's Mark Rupp (right) says first up, the Philadelphia Orchestra!

(Rupp:) "We have an agreement with the Philadelphia Orchestra Association, and we're scheduled, starting this fall, to broadcast five live Philadelphia Orchestra events.  We will be sending those events live to senior communities and some colleges and universities."

So how does it work?

(Rupp:) "It would be like any other live event.  In this case, instead of live performers on stage, on their large screen in their primary auditorium, they would be able to view a live event right out of Verizon Hall at the Kimmel Center."

Joan May lives at the Quadrangle, a continuing care facility in Haverford, Pa., and was part of a test run of the orchestra.

(May:)  "It was wonderful -- very exciting."

And this is just the beginning.

(Rupp:)  "We have an agreement with the Free Library of Philadelphia to broadcast live their author event series."

(May:)  "It's the closest you could possibly get to being there."

And that's Positively Philadelphia!

(Photos provided by Specticast)