Case Studies - SCI FI Channel

Background

Reaching around 3 million people each week, SCI FI features a continuous stream of cinematic hits, British TV premiere series and special events, bringing viewers the best content from the worlds of the fantasy, paranormal and horror programming. SCI FI is a channel service of NBC Universal Global Networks, the international television division of NBC Universal.

Requirements and Solutions

As one of EBS's oldest clients we have been developing our skills and product base with the SCI FI Channel for many years offering them an integrated solution of EPG, Listings Distribution, Creative Writing, Teletext and Website.

EBS has worked alongside the SCI FI Channel over the years to mould our systems to its requirements, stepping in to help them through staffing issues and busy periods whenever required. As a very 'brand conscious' client EBS must always pay careful attention to every detail of everything we produce for SCI FI.

Using the Digigate software the SCI FI Channel maintains its Sky EPG which also serves to populate TV Listings pages on Teletext and its website. Also through Digigate the channel distributes their listings to all manner of printed media companies and the other television platforms.

On Teletext EBS creates and maintains many bespoke pages aside from the database driven listings, producing and editing copy to fit the laid back, conversational tone of the channel.

EBS handles every aspect of the SCI FI Channel's web presence from the design, to build, to hosting and on-going maintenance.

Features of the online service EBS provides the SCI FI Channel are:

• TV Listings driven direct from the same database that powers the Sky EPG.
• Online content management tool for every regularly updated section of the site.
• Site-wide, flexible advertising options, also driven from an online content management tool.
• User registration function, in order to give 'exclusive' access to certain areas of the website.
• Interactive vote poll.
• Dynamic design elements using the latest Flash technology.

In addition to the 'everyday' features listed above EBS also provides many bespoke services to the channel such as creatives for specific promotions with 3rd party clients and html email newsletter campaigns to their user database.

Launching in the first quarter of 2006 was EBS and SCI FI's latest exciting venture, an online forum to tie in to the SCI FI channel website and give their users a further sense of ownership and involvement in the SCI FI brand; it promises to be a great success.

Aside from the main SCI FI Channel Website EBS has also produced several additional microsites to cater for numerous promotions and events. One such site is Media GEEK and the associated MediaGEEK Awards, a website aimed purely at the channels' trade clients, to convey the sense of well-informed fun that SCI FI prides itself on.

EBS's creative skills are not just limited to the SCI FI Channels' online presence; we also worked very closely with them to create branded postcards for mass distribution when the channel moved offices in summer 2005.

Testimonial

Sally Henley, Senior Marketing Executive, SCI FI

"The great thing about working with EBS is their ability to turn around high quality work to short deadlines. We often require projects to be turned around at short notice and can always count on EBS to deliver despite juggling different requests. In the 4 years that I have worked with EBS I am proud of the relationship we have and their approach to working with SCI FI. If a request can not be answered immediately, I will always get a response/solution in a timely manner. Over and above all, the fact that the company enjoy working with SCI FI and demonstrate a high level of understanding and passion about the channel is reassuring that they will always endeavour to deliver to a high level. I look forward to continuing this relationship with EBS in 2006 and producing further high quality and interesting work."

Examples

Links

www.scifi.co.uk
www.forum.scifiuk.com