Case Studies

Mobile Crazy TV was a fully managed radio service that broadcasted on Sky Digital channel 691 in the UK. Mobile Crazy TV was a 'text and chat' television service that allowed viewers to 'text' messages to be displayed on screen and purchase mobile telephone related products and services. The Planetwide Radio Service provided a fully featured radio station that supports the 'on screen' visuals and provides the TV channel's audio content. Mobile Crazy TV ceased broadcasting some time ago (due to ongoing costs of carriage on Sky).

 

Case 2 - Mobile Crazy TV
 

Please note that this case study was written when Mobile Crazy TV was still in operation.

 

Mobile Crazy TV is a new television channel broadcasting on the Sky Digital satellite network (channel 691) and aimed at mobile phone and 'text chat' enthusiasts. The channel consists of a number of interactive visual elements to provide mobile phone related products and services and to allow viewers send text messages directly to the TV screen.
 

The Planetwide Radio Company provide this live radio service 24 hours a day, 365 days a year by combining our expertise and experience in the broadcast sector with the technology of our sister company P Squared Ltd.
 

The project required Planetwide Radio to utilise the full extent of it's expertise in order to overcome the challenges of providing a lively, entertaining and engaging radio service to meet the clients needs. Our aim was to provide a service that would entertain viewers of the channel with a diverse mix of modern and classic pop music, chat and information about the services on offer. We were also determined that the production values of the service would match any other radio station on the platform. In addition to the musical content, the client was also keen to include 'presenter links' to add to the personality of the station and to punctuate the stations musical policy.
 
In addition to the audio and production challenges faced by the Mobile Crazy TV team, there was also the matter of the technology needed to provide a robust radio service that offered reliability and redundancy. From day one, the radio element of the TV station was considered key to the success of the station as a whole and as such we had to ensure that the right technology playout technology was selected and a proven hardware platform was used. In addition, we also had to provide carriage of the final product to the satellite uplink site and ensure that adequate redundancy was in place so that a failure in the main audio delivery method would not result in a loss of service.
 
In order to meet these demanding technical challenges, we worked closely with our sister company P Squared Ltd to examine all possible solutions and select the best options based on reliability, function and cost effectiveness
 

 
The service was launched on schedule on November the 10th 2003 and can be viewed on channel 691 by anyone with a Sky Digital system. The station was an instant hit and the feedback on the radio service provided by The Planetwide Radio Company has been positive from day one.
 
The Planetwide Radio Company are delighted to continue to work with Mobile Crazy TV on closer integration between the radio and TV services and are currently finalising a number of exciting enhancements to the service.