A method and arrangement is provided for the multicasting of streaming digital
content to a plurality of Internet users. Streaming digital audio, video or other
digital data content that is to be multicast to Internet users is formatted into
IP protocol at a head-end content source transmission site. The streaming IP digital
data is transmitted from the head-end transmission site to at least one distant/remote
routing station of an Internet service provider (i.e., a provider-edge router or
Internet point of presence) via a bandwidth portion of a digital communications
data transport service or transmission medium that is substantially unaffected
by conventional Internet communications traffic. The Internet service provider
(ISP) maintains at least one access router for providing Internet access via its
Internet domain for its customers accessing the Internet via conventional two-way
IP connection. The streaming IP digital data received from the content source transmission
site by the ISP routing station may then be multicast via the IPS's existing infrastructure
to one or more of its Internet access customer.