Reuters Television Starts Distribution via Digital Files

Philip Stone August 16, 2004

Reuters Television has begun delivering its television product via digital files over its satellite system. Reuters hopes to convert all of its television clients to the new delivery system by early 2005.

The system, called Reuters World News Express, sends a single integrated digital file containing the video, script information and story information. It also eliminates the need for a fixed daily schedule of transmissions, making it far easier at the Reuters production end to send out material as it comes to hand. Subscribers will no longer need to tape feeds or employ staff to oversee recording, transfering or separating video from scripts.

There had been internal debates within the company whether to charge additionally for the new delivery system, but it was finally agreed to offer the service at no additional charge -- partly because of added value to the subscriber, but also because it is in Reuters own best interests to be able to convert subscribers to the new system as quickly as possible.

More information available from tony.donovan@reuters.com

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