Case Studies » Community Channel Phase 2
The Community Channel had the first phase of their Sky interactive service developed internally by Sky, as part of Sky's commitment to the Media Trust which is supported by some of the Uk's major broadcasters.
When Community Channel were looking for a development partner to extend the range of content within the service and take it from an essentially static service, to one that could be churned on a daily basis, Sky recommended Press Red as one of a select number of potential suppliers. We won the pitch based on our web-based templating technology which Sky themselves have been using for the last two years to drive their WTVML interactive advertising platform.
Our developments for second phase of the Community Channel service allow the interactive components to be churned on an ad-hoc or scheduled basis as best suits the channel editors. News, votes and competitions can be loaded up in advance and will be churned as required.
This second phase meant we were required to supply WTVML and ISM development (Press Red is one of a few companies in the UK licensed by Sky to develop ISMs), usability, server-side database development and web-based administration systems.
Content is edited via a simple web-based content management system that negates the need for any specialist knowledge or equipment - a web browser is all that is required.
Since the launch of the second phase of the service, we have helped Community Channel raise money for the Disaster Emergency Committee, London Bombings appeal and the Niger Crisis appeal.
We've also helped the channel to let people volunteer via their TV as part of the 2005 Year of the Volunteer campaign. Other Media Trust members like Channel 4, ITV and Sky have carried re-branded versions of the Volunteer service and in addition to the interactive components, we supply Community Channel with a real-time tracking system that tells them which channel a volunteer arrives from.
July saw the Channel implement a new brand developed by Heavenly and BBC Broadcast across its broadcast, website and interactive channels