How BlackBerry devices are helping GMTV keep up to the
minute in a fast-moving world
The company
GMTV, owned by ITV (75%) and Disney (25%), is the UK’s biggest
breakfast broadcaster, attracting an average daily audience of six
million viewers. Launched in 1993, the programme airs between
6.00am and 9.25am, 365 days a year. GMTV currently employs 300
people, 14 of whom are correspondents.
Customer requirements
GMTV staff, both correspondents and sales executives, spend a
large proportion of their time out of the office. For the outside
broadcast teams it is important to be able to access "on-air" times
(telling them exactly when they will go live) without having to
constantly phone in to find out.
In addition, Geoff Wright, GMTV's chief engineer, is responsible
for 1,100 transmitters in the UK during GMTV’s airtime, and needed
an effective way of receiving updates on them.
The sales team also required a solution to keep them in touch
with e-mail and company information while travelling to different
prospects without having to carry a laptop.
Historically, GMTV relied on paging, and more recently SMS, to
contact employees away from base who could then access e-mail via
Outlook Web Access. However, this still meant they had to find
somewhere to access the internet from, which was not always
practical.
Mobile solution
GMTV reviewed different options to facilitate mobile office
working, and opted for the BlackBerry from Orange, primarily as it
provided the most cost-effective solution to mobile working, but
also due to ease of use and installation.
A total of 28 staff are now equipped with BlackBerries from
Orange, including 10 of the 14 correspondents. GMTV plans to
increase the number of BlackBerries to 45 over the next couple of
months.
BlackBerry Wireless Handheld
Orange offers the BlackBerry Wireless Handheld as part of its
extensive mobile device portfolio. Getting started requires a
simple installation of a BlackBerry Enterprise Server at the
customer site, which enables secure mobile access over Orange’s
GPRS network.
Customer benefits
- GMTV is the longest live daily television production on
ITV. With BlackBerry from Orange, the correspondents can ensure
they can continue to be productive during free slots in their
schedule
- The running order of the programme often changes to reflect
world events, particularly on busy news days. Now correspondents
out in the field get up-to-the-minute information on when the
studio is coming to them live. The software in the BlackBerry
automatically updates information every 30 seconds
- The sales team is able to receive e-mail and company
information while on the go
- The chief engineer can now receive a status report on any of
the 1,100 transmitters that need to be monitored during the
programme
Future use
GMTV is looking into other uses of the BlackBerry,
including:
- access to various wire services such as PA and Reuters to
ensure reporters are aware of all breaking news stories
- access to a simple interface enabling viewing of the
programme’s script
- remote capabilities for server administration
- video streaming capabilities for broadcasting.
Quotes
“The BlackBerry from Orange is simple and easy to use. This,
coupled with the physical size and weight, makes it an ideal
handheld device. The technology and underlying security have been
very stable and reliable to date. It works - which is not always
the case with other devices.”
Geoff Wright, chief engineer, GMTV
“Up-to-date receipt of information is vital in the media
broadcasting industry. Mobile technology can deliver this through a
variety of different ways. Orange offers a range of extensive
bespoke solutions and partners with the best in breed to offer
third-party solutions. The BlackBerry solution is very popular and
easy to set up and use, providing a good match to GMTV’s mobile
working requirements.”
Shaun Orpen, marketing director for business solutions,
Orange
For further information on BlackBerry from Orange and Orange
Business Solutions, click here >>
The RIM and BlackBerry family of related marks, images and
symbols are the exclusive properties of and trademarks of Research
In Motion Limited - used by permission.