Services Provided: Web Development, XML-Flash Video, Custom J2EE Programming
Purpose: Washington Gas, a wholly owned subsidiary of WGL Holdings, Inc (NYSE:WGL), approached Janmedia about the need to effectively stream rich media content online to their partners, consumers and stock holders. Although Washington Gas is well established in the Greater Washington DC Metropolitan area, they know the importance of staying ahead of the competition in order to maintain their status the predominant provider of energy related services. 
Process: For this implementation, Janmedia was able to leverage Rainforest® Media Server technology to enable Washington Gas to update and maintain a library of rich media content without any advanced technical knowhow. Janmedia’s team was represented by a dedicated project manager and members of the analytics, creative design, Flash/XML/AS engineering and Java engineering departments.
The first step to achieving the client’s goals was to formalize our understanding of Washington Gas’ needs and subsequent plan of action. This was achieved through an upfront analysis of trends in rich media dissemination, conformance to best practices and W3C recommendations, and an evaluation priorities and target audience. From there, the content architecture was established and our creative team was able to bring the online brand to life. Our graphical initiatives not only encompassed the home and subpages, but also elements such as the custom flash player that was created specifically for Washington Gas’ needs.
Then the real magic took form, as Janmedia’s programming and flash engineers worked together to tie the ascetics and animations of the site to the supporting backend. This resulted in the infusion of XML-Flash Video with Janmedia’s internally developed Content Management System, Rainforest®. This ensured that the site would always be up to date as the client could for the client to upload new videos any hour of the day, from anywhere in the world.
Payoff: Washington Gas now has the ability to stream rich media presentations and video for a number of different reasons. As Larissa Spruill, Marketing Specialist for Washington Gas and lead point of contact for the Janmedia-Washington Gas partnership explains “As a regulated utility, we are required to provide certain information about safety and environmental issues to consumers; and this gives us a creative and fun way to do that versus just traditional bill inserts and web copy.”
Washington Gas can cross reference any given video across any number of categories by utilizing Janmedia’s relational database architecture; append “pre-roll” advertisement spots prior to when the main video content begins; control banner placement and promotions throughout the site; offer supplementary links, content and information to make for a richer viewing experience; and has enjoyed the ease of use so much, they now have a second Rainforest® powered website implemented by Janmedia.
