Television
"The TV facility in the Docklands has two state-of-the-art studios and 14 editing suites working continuously"
Northern & Shell has produced television advertisements since the early Eighties but entered the satellite TV market in 1995 when it became obvious that its expertise in magazines had applications for multi-channel television, which tends to divide into similarly specialised areas. The group secured its first satellite transponder at that time, built and equipped its own studios and engaged a specialist team to develop its television interests. The production facility was designed to meet the highest standards of broadcasting and advertisement production with associated administration and compliance.
Putting OK! on ITV1 was a highly successful venture in conjunction with Carlton. Pioneering a new approach to celebrity television, it broke viewing records with sumptuous footage of hitherto inaccessible stars inside their homes, at weddings and other private events.
Today TV advertisements for the Daily and Sunday Express, OK! and the Daily Star amount to several hundred productions a year coming from two fully equipped, state-of-the-art studios, 14 editing suites and audio suite: a highly versatile facility which is constantly expanded and upgraded.
Subscription Channels
Television X - The Fantasy Channel, with its upbeat presentation and irreverent humour, has firmly established a unique role in British television. As an OFCOM-regulated channel it combines adult movies with its own comedies and studio presentations. The channel can be received by all of the satellite and cable-viewing population, as well as all digital terrestrial television viewers, catering for a much wider market than anything previously broadcast in this sector. The launch in 2003 of bonus channels has significantly increased the number of new customers and greatly improved subscriber retention.
Pay-per-night Channels
Building upon the achievements of the Fantasy Channel, Northern & Shell expanded into the pay-per-night market with equal success. With the Red Hot channels, viewers register and purchase via their remote control handset. Interactive and Red Button services give the easy access that is the key to high viewing figures. Market leadership on the Sky platform has been maintained by offering eight channels for one per-night price; a policy which has boosted take-up and customer satisfaction. The services are carried by the two cable television providers Telewest and NTL. As with the subscription channel, digital terrestrial provides the newest opportunity for expansion. The services combine to reach a potential audience of about 15million.
Further Expansion
With the expansion of platforms, viewer access has been made a lot easier. Freeview, Top Up TV, NTL and Telewest VOD platforms have all been recent additions to the many ways the public can access Portland TV and all its channels. Portland TV is at the forefront of technological development and, given the infrastructure in place, we are able to launch new channels exploring new markets extremely quickly and efficiently.
Additionally, Portland TV is now capitalising on in-house expertise and infrastructure by offering turnkey services leasing Satellite space segments, up-link, Studio space and play-out services to third parties for both full and part-time channels. Currently carrying a shopping channel and a gaming channel alongside its own offering, it is a market with significant potential.