Letters: 28 November

Letters to the editor from issue dated November 28 2008

Interest sparked in UK's digital offer

It's very encouraging to see so many new digital productions being commissioned as highlighted by Futurescape (Broadcast, 21.11.08) and the UK punching above its weight when it comes to digital.
At MoMedia International, we find the biggest successes are either simple and easy-to-use factual content such as "how to" guides that give users an immediate solution, or short, punchy dramas with great stories that keep users hooked.

We represent many of the UK's top producers and are seeing more interest in original UK digital productions from our offices in Asia and the US. Smaller indies must talk to specialist distributors during the concept stage to ensure they can sell their programmes internationally on these platforms.

Our approach is to run briefs past our partners, which include mobile, web, IPTV, games console and digital signage. We can then feed back to the producer to ensure they can make additional revenue in these challenging times.
Lucas Bertrand, chief executive and co-founder, MoMedia International

Staff are key to your company going green

Well done Broadcast for highlighting some of the steps producers and broadcasters can take to go green (Broadcast, 14/11/08) . What I really mean is well done for pointing out some measures that production companies can take to lessen their guilty waste of diminishing resources, and avoid the hypocrisy of promoting sustainability while practising profligacy. Production companies can get their own house in order, at the same time as telling children how to save the planet.

Meanwhile, company car parks bulge because too many people come to work in their own car. Staff can find 101 excuses not to car-share. After all, it is staff who are your organisation's key to green performance. If 10 million office workers in the UK used just one less paperclip every day, over a year that would save 72 tonnes of steel from being manufactured, packaged and transported. It's a no-brainer. The light is on. Have you seen it?
Katharine Robinson, co-founder of EBM Strategic Consulting.