Easter Stages Goes Global – On Event Live Stream!

Minister Stephen Farry joined film students at South Eastern Regional College’s Ballynahinch campus today to celebrate the launch of the groundbreaking internet television channel Circuitofireland.tv.

The brainchild of Bobby Willis (Event Director of the Circuit of Ireland Rally), and with the help of Tyndall Productions and students of NI Film School have played a pivotal role in the development of the innovative channel which will stream live footage and programming from the Easter Stages Rally in real time, across the world, on Saturday 30th March.

The concept is a significant development for motorsport and will enable unrestricted opportunities to watch the live rally action as it unfolds, while projecting images of Northern Ireland’s stunning countryside all around the globe.

The channel will be aired for 12 hours from 9am until 9pm on www.circuitofireland.tv from a purpose-built, industry-standard studio at the Millbrook Lodge Hotel in Ballynahinch. Broadcasters Alan Tyndall and Pamela Ballantine will anchor the programme.

The students have been involved in the project since its inception, gaining invaluable experience in a wide range of roles, including interviewing, presenting, camera work and sound and studio engineering.

Speaking at the launch event, Minister for Employment and Learning, Dr Stephen Farry said, “The development of this innovative internet television channel will provide the film students of South Eastern Regional College, who are aiming to enter the creative industries, with real life, hands-on experience in media planning and production. The initiative will continue to support film and media technology skills and provide industry experience to emerging creative talent.”

Campbell Miller, Assistant Head of School, said: “SERC’s Northern Ireland Film School is the first of its kind in Northern Ireland. Our students are among the best equipped to take on this challenge. The Triton Showers Easter Stages Rally will provide a great opportunity for them to showcase their ability, and the experience will serve them well when they enter the working world.”

Programming will include live-streamed footage from the rally stages including ‘on location’ reportage from the start in Lisburn, and the finish in Ballynahinch; capturing and transmitting all the energy of the event along with highlights like the ceremonial spraying of champagne.

An additional six cameras will be located within one of the stages, providing almost one mile of live coverage from a specially selected stretch of road. Viewers will be in for a real treat with the opportunity to see competitors tackle four massive jumps, a tight hairpin, as well as a mixture of other challenges; all set against Northern Ireland’s lush and dramatic landscape.

Rally result updates will also be broadcast every 30 minutes on the channel. Interviews and other event features will also be aired throughout the day.

The Easter Stages Rally replaces the Circuit of Ireland International Rally, which was postponed for 2013.

“Coverage of the 2012 Circuit of Ireland Rally netted 9 million television viewers worldwide. That’s 9 million people who witnessed the beauty of our Province within a sporting event. It was unbelievable success,” said Bobby Willis.

“When it became clear that Circuit of Ireland would not run this year as a round of the FIA European Rally Championship, there was a huge demand for an Easter event, and whetted by 2012, there was also a great appetite worldwide to see more rallying from Northern Ireland. And that inspired this project.”

He added: “I’m really grateful for all the support we’ve had, and especially from Alan (Plum) Tyndall, Campbell Miller and the students here at SERC.”

And he has more good news for rally fans: “I’m working hard to bring the Circuit of Ireland back as a European Rally Championship event in 2014. Our vision for circuitofireland.tv is long-term so I’m delighted at this opportunity to work alongside our sister event the Triton Showers Easter Stages. It’s a very exciting concept with far reaching benefits for both rallying, and Northern Ireland, on the world stage!”