FIRST WORLDWIDE TELETHON ATTRACTING RECORD NUMBERS
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 6, 1998 - Six hours into the first worldwide telethon, broadcast to a television audience of some 75 million people in the United States and Canada, and Webcast live worldwide on the Muscular Dystrophy Association home page, www.mda.org, the show has already attracted almost 16,000 cyberviewers.
"It's absolutely wonderful that our clarion call to help families affected by neuromuscular diseases already has touched families in 52 countries for the first time," said Jerry Lewis, MDA National Chairman. "They've had the opportunity to see fantastic entertainment. They've learned about the rapid progress being made in the fight against 40 neuromuscular diseases, and they've become familiar with the extensive information available online on the Association's award-winning Web site."
"We're indebted to AT&T and RealNetworks for hosting our Webcast," Lewis added, "as they've helped MDA better serve families worldwide." MDA attracted 30 times more Sunday Web site visitors than achieved on other weekends. MDA's introduction of streaming video Telethon previews to its home page enhanced show awareness, fostering a 140 percent increase in average daily visits 14 days prior, a 254 percent increase in average daily visits seven days prior and a 480 percent increase in Saturday Web site visits the day before the 21½-hour broadcast that concludes Monday at 6:30 p.m. EDT.
MDA is a voluntary health agency working to defeat 40 neuromuscular diseases through programs of worldwide research, comprehensive patient and community services, and far-reaching professional and public health education. Recognized by the American Medical Association with a Lifetime Achievement Award "for significant and lasting contributions to the health and welfare of humanity," MDA maintains 230 hospital-affiliated clinics that offer families the best in care for progressive neuromuscular diseases.
MDA annually funds some 400 scientific teams worldwide. These investigators have made significant advances toward cures for several muscle-wasting diseases. They've pioneered breakthroughs that may well lead to therapies for heart disease, cancer, AIDS, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Huntington's and cystic fibrosis. For information about MDA and/or referrals to MDA clinics, call 1-800-572-1717, or visit MDA's Web site at www.mda.org. MDA programs are funded almost entirely by individual private contributors.
COUNTRIES WHERE PEOPLE VIEWED THE TELETHON ON THE INTERNET ON SUNDAY, SEPT. 6
Argentina · Australia · Austria · Bahamas · Belgium · Botswana · Brazil · Canada · Chile · China · Colombia · Denmark · Egypt · England · France · Germany · Ghana · Guam · Guatemala · Holland · Honduras · Iceland · India · Indonesia · Ireland · Israel · Italy · Japan · Korea · Lebanon · Malaysia · Mexico · Netherlands · New Zealand · Norway · Pakistan · Philippines · Portugal · Russia · Saudi Arabia · South Africa · Spain · Sri Lanka · Sweden · Switzerland · Taiwan · Thailand · Trinidad · Turkey · Ukraine · United Kingdom · Venezuela
More Telethon news!
|
