Put together a list of Burnaby-based technology-leading companies and you come up with names like Electronic Arts, Telus, PMC-Sierra, Creo and Ballard. That Tally wouldn’t be complete without the mention of INSINC.

“I always say it’s Burnaby’s best kept secret,” said Al Mattrick, the company’s director of business development.

INSINC, or Interactive Netcasting Systems, occupies the position of Canada’s top player in the area of Internet video and audio broadcasting or streaming.

From its humble office location – alongside railway tracks, next door to a trucking company and bordering Beecher Creek – the company can netcast to the world.

Current clients using INSINC include: Report on Business, the Globe and Mail’s business television programming; and Vancouver Television, for their 6 p.m. news broadcast.

In addition, Rogers Communications used the Burnaby company to broadcast its annual general meeting to shareholders; CBS made use of INSINC’s network to allow its executives to watch a casting call for a sitcom pilot being shot in Vancouver; and Electronic Arts allowed its 1,800 employees worldwide to view and hear the official opening of its new Burnaby campus.

One of the next projects coming on stream is with Environment Canada. Through Environment Canada’s Web site, Internet users will be able to get the latest weather reports for anywhere in the country. Also, there’ll be all the detailed information that goes into each specific weather forecast, including animated satellite imagery.

INSINC has left the competition behind because of its quality of Webcasts. Many of its Webcasts are near or equal to TV broadcast quality. Being situated virtually on the backbone of the Internet makes that possible.

Another saleable attribute is INSINC’s staff. It’s not your typical geek-oriented Internet company. In addition to those that write code, there’s also those with backgrounds in broadcasting, telecommunications, computer-aided design and other divergent industries. Mattrick said that makes the 15-employee office an innovative place to work. Not only is it fun but the company has the ability to handle the variety of problems that clients present.

“There’s challenges that come from covering Webcasts from anywhere in the world,” said Mattrick.

One of the next challenges for the company will be going public within the next year, needed to fund future infrastructure. “It’s necessary to take us to the next level.”