Education Digital 2 Limited Confirmed As Preferred Supplier For Teachers TV By Department For Children, Schools and Families
13th March 2008
Consortium poised to secure a five year contract
Education Digital 2 Limited has beaten off strong competition and is set to retain the prestigious Department for Children, Schools and Families’
(DCSF) contract for digital TV channel Teachers TV for a further five years. Brook Lapping/TenAlps PLC remains the major shareholder with a 75% stakeholding, and is joined by ITN (Independent Television News Limited) which also brings Espresso Education and Channel 4 Learning.
Chairman of Education Digital 2, Brian Lapping, welcomed the DCSF’s decision and said: “The consortium between Brook Lapping/Ten Alps PLC and ITN brings Teachers TV exactly the skills it needs for the next phase of its development. The existing ED2 team has launched and developed the channel – earning high praise from the Secretary of State and the profession. The new contract will enable us to establish the channel as a permanent and valued part of the education world.”
Mark Wood, Chief Executive of ITN commented: “Teachers TV has been a great success under its current management team and ITN is delighted to be involved in taking it forward. ITN brings experience as a TV news organisation, a factual programme-maker and as a world-leading video archive business, where we have growing involvement with digital education platforms. ITN has also developed market-leading expertise in multimedia production for broadband and mobile. We believe we can tap into this combination of skills to contribute to the next phase of Teachers TV’s successful evolution."
Espresso Broadband Limited’s companies, Espresso Education and Channel 4 Learning, also offer the consortium a new route to reach schools and access to a rich source of additional content. Richard McGrath, Managing Director, commented: “We see Espresso and Channel 4 Learning as providing Teachers TV with a direct channel into schools. We are keen to embed Teachers TV’s highly regarded service into our offering, which is subscribed to by 55% of English primary schools, as we believe it truly fulfils a need by supporting a teachers’ personal pursuit of professional development.
Education Digital 2 will be led by the existing management team and Chief Executive and Creative Director for Teachers TV, Andrew Bethell, is delighted with the DCSF’s decision and said: “We laid out an exciting vision for the future and I am delighted with the DCSF’s decision to make ED2 the preferred supplier. The existing management team relishes the opportunity to build on the initial success of Teachers TV and to work closely with both Brook Lapping/Ten Alps PLC and ITN in the next phase of the channel.
Notes to Editors:
Brook Lapping/Ten Alps
- Brook lapping is an internationally renowned documentary production company. Ten Alps is the sole shareholder in Brook Lapping. Ten Alps is a factual media company with output ranging from high quality broadcast documentaries to niche, multi-platform content such as Teachers TV.
ITN
- ITN is one of the most diverse and dynamic content creators in the world, producing news and factual programming for media ranging from television to broadband to mobile phones. Its business comprises: ITN News, ITN On, ITN Source, ITN Consulting and ITN Factual.
Teachers TV
- Teachers TV is an innovative digital TV channel and broadband internet service designed to help support everyone that works in education to raise standards in schools in England.
- The channel has filmed over 5,000 teachers in 2,000 schools and over 1,600 educational experts, advisers and academics have been filmed. The Teachers TV website has had 1.2 million visitors to date and has over 100,000 registered users.
- Teachers TV broadcasts 24 hours a day, 365 days a year on digital satellite (Sky 880), digital cable (Virgin TV 240), Tiscali TV (845), and between 11am – 1 pm on Freeview (88). Over 1800 videos are available to watch online at anytime.
- The existing management team that is currently leading Teachers TV form the management team for Education Digital 2 and bring with them significant experience in successfully operating the channel.
For further information and to find out more about Teachers TV, please contact Natalie Orringe or Emily Lacey on 020 7400 4480 or e-mail ttv@hanovercomms.com
About Espresso Education
With over 10,000 subscribing schools using its resources, Espresso Education is the leading digital curriculum service in the UK. Espresso is a comprehensive library of high quality, video-rich teaching resources that support teachers, motivate pupils and raise standards in the classroom. Espresso combines video clips, interactive news articles, multi-media activities, websites and worksheets, all categorised into modules that directly support the National Curriculum and QCA Schemes of Work. The service updates on a weekly basis, giving access to fresh, relevant resources that draw on topical events to bring learning to life.
For further information on Espresso Education or for images please contact:
Helen Windsor, Senior PR Account Manager, Mango Marketing,
1B The Quadrant Courtyard, Quadrant Way, Weybridge, Surrey, KT13 8DR
Tel: 01932 829077 / 07973 342580
