City will make broadcast history at dawn of 2008

Dec 21 2007 by David Bartlett, Liverpool Daily Post

LIVERPOOL will make broadcasting history when it takes over a TV station for 24 hours on January 1.

Liverpool City Council is today expected to give approval to the Culture Company to book airspace on Information TV, channel 167 on Sky.

It will be the first time in the world that anyone has booked all 24 hours on any one channel to promote one product – Liverpool.

A rolling six-minute “teaser” programme promoting the city’s European Capital of Culture celebrations will run in a loop for the duration of the day.

The unique deal will also see Information TV host a Capital of Culture Micro Channel across its service comprising six hours of coverage each day, starting on January 12.

Last night, culture supremo Phil Redmond said he hoped the channel would be used for people to “create culture, rather than just consume it”.

He said emails would be sent out today to “movers and shakers” in an attempt to “virally” promote the idea by word of mouth.

Once the Culture Company’s micro station goes live it will have three fixed one-hour slots at around midday, early evening, and late evening, as well as an additional three floating hours each day after January 12.

“In the evenings, we will be running highlights and what’s coming up, and later in the evening we will be promoting a cultural conversation,” said Redmond.

He said arts groups, schools and other organisations would be offered airtime to promote their cultural endeavours.

“This is not just us trying to advertise on TV, look at it more as an exhibition tool and a platform.”

“I have said it often, it is about people creating culture, rather than just consuming it.”

He said for example someone might hold a photographic exhibition, make a programme about it, and then tell someone elsewhere in the country to tune in to watch it.

The deal is not costing the Culture Company very much, said Redmond.

“Information TV is going to be our cultural satellite partner. They are very interested in this type of thing.

“That’s why they originally set up the channel for public services and large organisations to buy time.”

davidbartlett