WRN Acquires TSI Broadcast
In April 2009 WRN acquired TSI Broadcast, the TV ingest and playout company. The acquisition gives WRN an excellent platform for growth by expanding the service portfolio alongside its established broadcast management and solutions products, as well as providing the opportunity to compete for larger projects. WRN will now offer its clients a more comprehensive product inventory in ingest, playout, streaming, encoding and transcoding. 

David Treadway, Managing Director of WRN, says of the deal: "As a reasonably small but competitive player, WRN is already internationally renowned in the radio sector, although traditionally less known for our TV services despite the fact that we already have a substantial TV client list. The acquisition of TSI sends out a clear message to the international broadcast industry that TV is now very much part of our inventory, with playout, streaming and encoding services at the forefront of the services we offer. We look forward to working with TSI's existing clients alongside WRN's established customer base and further building on both companies' reputations for innovation, flexibility, excellence and service delivery.

If you would like to know more about the acquisition, or you are a TSI customer who would like to meet the WRN Team, please contact [email protected] to make an appointment.

Mass Encoding Project for MUTV
WRN has successfully completed a mass encoding project and the instigation of a bespoke asset management solution for Manchester United TV (MUTV). MUTV approached WRN's Content Management Services arm for a solution for ingest of its significant tape archive, consisting of Premier and Champions League football footage, reserve matches, Youth Team games and training sessions. WRN provided a workflow evaluation in order to ascertain the best technology solution for MUTV going forward.

As part of the deal, WRN ingested tape assets to IMX 30, QuickTime and the content was then stored within a bespoke digital archive, designed especially by WRN. Once the assets had been processed, WRN created two LTO4 data tapes for deep archive and disaster recovery purposes. A WRN-provided asset management solution was instigated once the system was successfully integrated into MUTV's facilities. The system creates low-resolution proxy files that enable MUTV staff to browse the archive, access content from their desktop and edit the material.

Workflows will be improved as MUTV's editorial team will have access to the digital content library, whilst subscribers to MUTV will benefit from the availability of additional, reversioned content from the MUTV archives. Importantly, a turnkey storage and asset management solution gives MUTV the ability to speed up the productivity and quality of the channel and maximise efficiency by reducing tape-handling.

For more information regarding WRN's ingest and encoding services, contact [email protected]

Summer Sale on Eurobird 1 Satellite Uplink and Capacity
WRN has a limited opportunity for TV broadcasters wishing to access the Sky and / or Freesat platforms to access cheaper satellite space on the Eurobird 1 satellite for any new contracts signed in August.

Eurobird 1 is the satellite that is used to feed Sky Digital, the UK's premier DTH platform, with in excess of 1 million subscribers. Eurobird 1 is also used to feed Freesat, the new digital terrestrial platform launched in May 2008, making HD TV available to 98% of UK households, some of which have previously been unable to benefit from this technology due to coverage, price or subscription contracts. Since the launch of Freesat, over 500,000 receivers have been sold to British homes.

To take advantage of the WRN summer sale on capacity, contact [email protected] now.

New Sales and Business Development Manager
WRN is pleased to welcome the newest addition to its commercial team. Mark Needham joined as Sales and Business Development Manager on 6th July.

Mark's background is in Sales and New Business Development: he has an impressive track record in results-driven, consultative sales environments and trained at Haymarket. His previous roles include managing digital sales divisions at Haymarket, working with brand funded digital video content at HowTo.tv and delivering bespoke multi platform solutions at financial publisher 2i Media.

To make an appointment to meet with Mark to discuss your TV, online, encoding or playout needs, contact him direct on [email protected]

Consultancy Services
WRN offers a limited period of free broadcast consultancy to radio and TV stations. The commercial team welcomes enquiries from new and existing clients who would like to discuss their broadcasting objectives in more detail.

WRN also offers start-up consultancy on all aspects of launching and managing stations, licencing and compliance consultancy and advice on revenue models. Our formidable team has extensive experience in international markets and audiences, as well as specialised knowledge of broadcast platforms and technologies.

To discuss your consultancy needs in more detail, or to meet with one of our team, please contact [email protected]

Meet WRN at IBC
Representatives of the WRN Commercial, Technical and Engineering Teams will be attending this year's International Broadcasting Convention in Amsterdam.

Taking place between 10th - 15th September at the RAI Centre in Amsterdam, the annual IBC is the leading international forum for the electronic media industry. Consisting of over 1,000 exhibitors and combining a highly respected and peer reviewed conference with an exhibition that demonstrates state of the art media technology, IBC is the event not to be missed for anyone involved in the world of content, creation, management and delivery.

If you would like to meet with the WRN Team at IBC, contact Sales on [email protected].

For more information about the IBC visit www.ibc.org