High bandwidth broadcast system having localized multicast access to broadcast content

摘要

A method of multicasting digital data to a user accessing an Internet connection is disclosed. The method includes placing digital data that is to be multicast in IP protocol to generate IP digital data. The IP digital data is transmitted from a transmission site to a remote Internet point of presence through a dedicated transmission channel substantially separate from Internet backbone. The dedicated transmission channel may be, for example, a satellite channel. At the remote Internet point of presence, the IP digital data is multicast for elivery to at least one receiving Internet user's apparatus connected to but distal from the remote Internet point of presence.