Arena announces new OB deal with Granada

Arena Television, one of the UK’s leading independent Outside Broadcast (OB) companies, have announced a new tie up with Granada Media.
As part of a new contract recently signed with Granada, the company will service the majority of Granada’s OB and satellite linking requirements.
The new contract encompasses the majority of Granada’s programme-making departments. This development represents a substantial workload for Arena given that Granada makes around 58 per cent of ITV programmes and also produces shows for other broadcasters.
Arena’s first large commission was coverage of the Royal Bank of Scotland’s annual results from the Guild Hall, which was linked to six other venues (including New York), where Arena also provided remote camera feeds, back into the Guild Hall. The next large project will be the Mirror Pride of Britain Awards from the London Hilton.
Also in a deal outside this core contract, Arena have been awarded the contract to televise 'Touring Cars' for ITV Sport. The company have been covering motor sport for over seven years and have experience of many of the UK’s motor racing circuits.
In order to meet demand, Arena are currently completing digital upgrades to the remaining units in their OB fleet. The entire fleet will be fully digital by the summer 2002.
The company are also investing heavily in new equipment including cameras and lenses. Arena will also be one of the first OB companies to take delivery of the new Aston Red caption generator and plans for a new double expanding side OB truck are also in the pipeline.
Arena, www.arenaplc.co.uk
(GB)