In October 2007, BSkyB dealt a major blow to the UK TV and Radio industries when it announced its decision not to launch any further TV or radio stations onto Sky. Citing limitations of legacy set top box capacity, BSkyB announced a closure of the platform.

Since then, any new radio broadcaster wishing to access the EPG has had to undertake a private purchase of an EPG number from an existing station on the platform. These opportunities have been very few and far between.

However, WRN has a window for radio broadcasters wishing to access the Sky platform, which is still the leading digital DTH platform in 9.5 million homes in the UK and Ireland. The channel is either available for sale or for hire on a 24/7 basis.

Radio broadcasters will be able to benefit from an instant access to the otherwise-closed Sky platform, uplink and 128 kbps stereo capacity on the Eurobird 1 satellite, an Ofcom licence, EPG management and submission services and 24/7 monitoring and support.

Opportunity subject to contract and availability. For more information please contact [email protected]

WADR Launches on Sirius 4 Satellite for Africa

WRN recently launched West Africa Democracy Radio (WADR) onto Sirius 4. Covering the majority of Africa, Sirius 4 is an attractive platform for broadcasters wishing to widen their reach across the continent.

WADR is a trans-territorial radio station, set up to facilitate the exchange of development information between and among countries of West Africa, including Mauritania, Chad and Cameroon. In the station's first phase, it targeted mainly the Mano River Union countries of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

An undertaking of the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA), WADR is conceived to be the hub for a West African network of public, private and community radio stations; creating an avenue for networking between these radio stations and a channel for dialogue among peoples of the respective countries they serve.

Launched in 2007 and with a planned 15 year lifetime, Sirius 4 satellite has six transponders, some of which are already contracted to provide DTH bouquets - mainly in South Africa and Nigeria. There are also a growing number of religious neighbourhoods, making the satellite an appealing proposition for Christian clients.

Sirius 4 also presents broadcasters with a low cost opportunity to reach Africa - hitherto very difficult to access via ku band capacity. It is located at 4.8° East and uses Ku, which can be received with 90cm dishes.

For more information on Sirius 4, please contact the WRN Sales team at [email protected]

For more information on WADR, refer to www.wadr.org

IMG Shortwave Transmissions

When IMG came to WRN at very short notice to ask if we could provide shortwave services to transmit Premier League football match commentary into China, WRN was only too pleased to be able to help.

Within 24 hours of the initial request, WRN was able to arrange for the transmitters to be in place and the first match of twelve, Manchester City versus Arsenal, was broadcast on 12th September. Further matches continue to be broadcast at weekends.

IMG is the world's premier and most diversified sports, entertainment and media enterprise and is the largest independent sports producer in the world and a global leader in multi-genre production.

If you are thinking of using shortwave services for transmission to any part of the world, please contact [email protected] to consult with our specialists.

DVB and Channel 4

Highly Commended at AIB Awards 2009 Last week, WRN gathered with over 200 industry professionals to celebrate the success in international TV, radio and online production at the AIB's International Media Excellence Awards 2009.

The event, which took place in the atmospheric surroundings of the LSO St Lukes in Shoreditch, was hosted by Bloomberg TV anchor Francine Lacqua and was attended by senior executives, producers and journalists from media organisations around the world.

Categories covered by the ‘AIBs' include awards for radio and television, current affairs, coverage of a single news event, creative features and personality of the year, as well as awards for innovation in marketing, use of technology and cross media productions.

WRN was pleased to host its long time client, Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB), who were in attendance along with the Channel 4 Dispatches Team, who used material shot by DVB for the programme entitled ‘Orphans of the Burma Cyclone', which was awarded Highly Commended in Best Current Affairs Documentary in the television category.

WRN's first engagement with DVB came through our work with World View, the group of human rights broadcasters that was connected to the Nobel Prize Committee. WRN has a special interest in human rights broadcasting and much experience in reaching closed societies. WRN has been involved with DVB in its present incarnation since its inception in 1996 - beginning with providing DVB Radio with satellite and shortwave broadcast services to Burma and later providing satellite uplink and capacity for its TV services.

For more information regarding the AIB Awards, refer to www.aib.org.uk

Access DTH in Italy via Sky Italia

WRN is pleased to announce that it has successfully launched the Word Television Network onto Italy's premiere DTH platform, Sky Italia, on EPG 823. As The Word Network's chosen provider to backhaul its content on transatlantic fibre and uplink onto Eurobird 1 for the Sky platform in the UK, WRN was the natural choice for helping The Word to expand its global reach. Capitalising on its good relationship with Sky Italia, WRN provided The Word with a full consultancy service to ensure a successful launch.

Sky Italia is an Italian digital satellite television platform owned by News Corporation, which launched on 31 July 2003. It is similar in many ways to BSkyB's Sky Digital in the United Kingdom and Ireland and, like that network, it is a major sports broadcaster.

WRN can provide consultancy on worldwide DTH platform launches and provide a full, technical turnkey solution for broadcasters wishing to reach other markets.

If you would like to discuss your global broadcasting aspirations, including accessing DTH, please contact [email protected]

Radio Mada GTT Internationale

Following on from the series of special transmissions of Radio Mada GTT Internationale in March 2009, WRN has once again helped the station to reach listeners in Madagascar with a series of one-off shortwave broadcasts, beginning in October.

Radio Mada GTT Internationale is an initiative of Gasy Tia Tanindrazana - a collective of Malagasy around the world founded by a group of individuals in June 2009. It is a clandestine station which supports the deposed Madagascan president, Marc Ravalomanana.

WRN has much experience in reaching closed societies via shortwave and was pleased to be able to help Radio Mada to reach listeners in the country.

For more information on WRN's shortwave services, contact Sales at [email protected]