APTN Direct receives industry award

International video agency APTN has scooped a top industry award for delivering breaking world news to broadcasters in an innovative way.
The agency's new product, APTN Direct - launched ahead of the Iraq war to provide live and rolling news coverage of the conflict - is now being used by more than a hundred television networks world-wide. It combines satellite delivery of video from the heart of the action with an interactive web page, which updates coverage 24/7 and allows APTN's content managers and broadcasters to communicate with each other in real-time via a message board.
Judges at the Cable & Satellite International awards deemed APTN Direct the clear winner of the 'Best Permanent/Occasional Video Service' accolade. The coveted prize was handed over at the Mediacast Product of the Year Awards in London.
APTN was chosen ahead of a distinguished short-list - including second-placed SWE-DISH Satellite Systems and BBC Technology, who came third.
Sandy MacIntyre, APTN's Director of News, said: "The simplest ideas are often the best and APTN Direct is exactly that - a straightforward, user-friendly solution to getting breaking news on air in a way which broadcasters can feel confident about; both by being able to see everything on one satellite and by being able to ask questions about the coverage, online, in real-time.
"The judging criteria included technical innovation, the degree to which the market needs such a solution, how unique the product is and the extent to which it is a tried and tested reality - APTN Direct ticked all the boxes."
This is APTN Direct's second honour - having been nominated for the prestigious Royal Television Society ‘Innovation’ award in 2003.
(GB)