Irish version of Sky News...

chernobyl

http://www.irelandlivetelevision.tv/

Dublin, Ireland
22nd February 2002

THE IRISH PRIME MINISTER LAUNCHES WORLDS FIRST

24-HOUR TELEVISION NEWS CHANNEL ON BROADBAND FROM IRELAND

Ireland Live Television News, a new digital media television news channel aimed at the global market, was officially launched today (Friday, 22nd February 2002) with a live broadcast by An Taoiseach, Mr Bertie Ahern, TD.

Mr Ahern said, “It is a great pleasure to officially launch Ireland Live Television News on behalf of The Anner Media Group. I warmly welcome the start-up of Ireland’s first 24-hour news channel. I wish it every success as a digital media television service, which is aimed at the global Irish community of over 70 million people.”

With start up investment costs of nearly 6.35m euro(IR£5m), Ireland Live Television News is part of Ireland Live Television Networks (ILTN), which can be found at www.irelandlivetelevision.tv and offers the world’s first dedicated 24-hour live news channel on broadband.

“There really is no one else doing live news on broadband at this level except the BBC, CNN and Bloomberg,” said the channel’s owner Mr Andy Ruane. “We’re using an infrastructure that has cost billions to build. The 72 billion AOLTime Warner merger into the biggest media group in the world puts everything into context. This is not just about the production, but the delivery of digital content”.

No stranger to broadcasting himself as a TV & Radio presenter, Ruane’s companies are two of the largest media organisations in Ireland – The Anner Media Group and TV production company Like It Love It Productions (International).

Ireland Live Television has a rolling news service that will be repeated and updated every 15 minutes using pictures from its own staff crews. Essentially it is an Irish Sky News. The 15-minute bulletins cover all the major Irish stories, Irish business news with daily reports from various stockbrokers, Irish sports news and results, international news headlines, a look at all the Irish newspapers and weather.

While relevant to the domestic market, the network is primarily aimed at the global Irish community of over 70 million people based mainly in the United States, Britain, Europe, and Australia and all those interested in Irish affairs. ILTN will also offer a range of niche on-demand channels to complement the main news channel. These will feature business & finance, sport, music, entertainment, comedy, cookery, betting, travel and daily drama. An Irish language channel and Irish shopping channel will also be available. Eventually the Network could have up to 25 different channels.

The Network is available free to viewers and will be funded through advertising. As with many other broadcasters, Ireland Live Television News will show television commercials and is targeting major brands for advertising with the emphasis on Irish owned international brands.

Broadcasting from the Anner Media Group’s facility at 50 Upper Mount Street, Dublin 2, close to government buildings, Ireland Live Television News will be broadcast to a worldwide audience. The channel will be viewable via a traditional 56K modem installed in most computers, but the majority of viewers are expected to access the channel through much faster broadband internet connections, ISP’s and uplinked to cable TV head ends around the world.

The global availability of hi-speed Internet access (broadband) is accelerating at breakneck speed. In the US half of all US office workers watched the events of September 11th unfold on the Internet using broadband television.

Already Irish news and entertainment sites attract about 50 million people every month. In television terms this is a very attractive audience.

Digital technology also allows for interactive advertising, so by clicking on the commercial, the viewer can order a pizza, buy a CD, or arrange a test drive. This digital signal can also be carried on mobile wireless devices such as personal digital assistants (PDAs) and the new generation of mobile phones.

While many Internet ventures have faltered, Ruane argues that Ireland Live Television Networks is different because it is not launching a totally new concept. “A 24-hour television news channel is a proven concept. Television works, always has, always will. As well as traditional delivery we are using new paths to deliver 24-hour Television News to the world. That’s a very strong position for anyone to be in”.

The Anner Media Group offers production, post production, facilities and broadcast for film and TV and is one of the largest Streaming Services Providers (SSP) in the world.

Like It Love It Productions (International) produce for all Irish television broadcasters and has sold a number of its formats worldwide. It produces its most successful show ‘The Lyrics Board’ in 19 countries with Pearson/Fremantle and enjoys huge commercial success in countries from Russia to South Africa, Finland, Poland, France, Turkey, Sweden and beating ‘Who Wants To Be A Millionaire’ in Norway and ‘Big Brother’ in Poland. A further deal for Israel was signed last week.

Financial advisers are PriceWaterhouseCoopers.

Ireland Live Television Networks can be found at www.irelandlivetelevision.tv

The current line-up of presenters includes Emma Buckley, Bob Gallico, Joanne Byrne, Cathy Cregan, Joe Horan, Cathy McKone, Sean McCarthy and Danielle Meagher.

-Ends-

For further information contact:
Sinéad Ryan or Joanne Byrne
O’Leary PR & Marketing Ltd
Tel: 01 6789888

Although I was at first glance disapointed with this new service,I'd like to give it a break-it will improve.
It's not aimed at "me" untill its available on a digital platform.
So untill then I will give it a look again in about a year or so to see if it's improved.
mm