Content Catching Up With Broadband Sector

Nearly everyone in the high-tech world agrees that consumers are eager to embrace a faster means of surfing the Internet. But once people get broadband service--either through a cable modem or a high-speed digital subscriber line--they quickly realize that there is a dearth of online content that takes advantage of the bandwidth.

Not for long. At Home Corp., the broadband powerhouse that announced it would buy Internet portal Excite Corp. for $6 billion, obviously has been expanding its reach. Prepping for the day when live sports and on-demand entertainment will flow over the Net, RealNetworks Inc. and At Home are marrying their networking technologies to be able to send their new media products better over broadband networks.

Comcast Corp., which offers high-speed access to customers in Orange County and elsewhere, recently launched a Web site designed to guide users to such content. The site, OnBroadband.com, offers links to more than 1,000 entertainment, news and sports sites with video and audio clips, graphics-heavy games and multimedia-rich e-commerce shops.

And don’t forget the adult entertainment industry, which has long led the digital pack with regard to technological innovation. Danni Ashe, owner of the leading porn site Danni’s Hard Drive, is building a broadcast facility in Los Angeles and developing content aimed at the broadband audience.

P.J. Huffstutter covers high technology for The Times. She can be reached at (714) 966-7830 and at p.j.huffstutter@latimes.com.