Taff Media (2004-2008)

''Taff Media" was previously a large media company active until 2008. Services were suspended due to the recession. Services will be resumed in Summer 2010 with a vastly scaled down service see Taff Media. This Page documents the companies past services inculding:
 * The NetworkSix National News and Breakfast Franchise
 * The NetworkSix Second Channel Franchise (as SixFlix)
 * The Welsh franchise
 * The London Weekday franchise

History
This history of Taff Media can be broken down into three sections. Pre 6-Net, 6-Net and Post 6-Net.

Pre 6-Net: APFS Years
Taff Media started life as CardTV and independent producer for APFS (now NetworkSix), the first programme by CardTV was tf:tv the Saturday morning children’s program broadcast across the network. CardTV has continued success with programmes including FIRE and Out of the box. CardTV then launched its sister company, a name now infamous with news production PGM. PGM produced news and current affairs programming, it also launched an unsuccessful bid for the APFS National News Licence held by ANN. Then in 2004 PGM launched the PGM NEWS CHANNEL APFS' first and only 24 Hour news channel. PGM NC was shown overnights on many franchises and was slowly becoming a force in news production. Later that year they moved into the Cardiff Television Studios a purpose built studio complex in Central Cardiff, home to CardTV and PGM (and later Dragon, RTeC. CardTV and PGM then amalgamated into The Cardiff Television Network (aka CTVN). CTVN then gained its first franchise the APFS Wales franchise through ParkTV. Dragon Television Wales was refreshed and offered a Welsh language segment, Dragon Gwasanaeth Iaith Cymreag (English: Dragon Welsh Language Service)produced by RTeC,(CTVN in Welsh).CTVN latter offered PGM local a new production service for local franchises, PGM Local at its height produced local news for more than 60% of the network, making it the one of the largest news companies in the UK. Around the same time CTVN won the APFS London Weekday franchise, with Lontel. Lontel was also given a radical make over and had a good success in ratings to begin with. Unfortunately Lontel was failing both in ratings and income by the middle of 2005.

At its height The Cardiff Television Network owned : and finally
 * CardTV
 * PGM National (News Channel)
 * PGM Local (Local News)
 * Dragon Television Wales
 * Lontel
 * RTeC
 * APFS Cymru (Welsh Digital Channel)

Then in 2005 APFS underwent a massive restructuring bringing in one of the biggest crisis' to hit UK Television. 6-Net.

The 6-Net Year
The APFS administration brought in news sets of rules that crippled CTVN. That year they also lost there APFS Wales franchise and handed back the Lontel Franchise through forfeit.

The new rules included that all franchises must produce their own news output. Therefore PGM Local one of the biggest assets was lost. Only 6-Net approved channels could be used in any out-puts. Therefore the PGM News Channel was never to be shown on APFS/6-Net again. The Channel closed in late 2005.In protest of the new rules. CTVN took Dragon Television Wales and Lontel off-air in a three day strike and also staged a Lock In at all its PGM Local Studios, causing disruption to news output in many regions. Rhys O'Sullivan the Director of Television who resigned from his job, threatened to leave the network and apply for a rival network to be set up. In the end CTVN lost its battle against 6-Net and conceded defeat. By the end of the regulation period CTVN was merely a independent producer in contrast to the large company it was before and sold off many of its assets including its Westminster Studios and the Cardiff Television Studios complex. The company was then bought out by the French Network, Canal Group and became Canal News UK. In late 2005 Canal UK News after countless months of zero productivity, Canal UK News won the 6-Net National News Franchise and moved into new premises on the Taff Embankment in Cardiff. This was the turning point in the companies fortunes, for legal reasons Canal UK News had to under go a re-brand, the name was then changed back to CTVN, but now under the form Cardiff Television News. CTVN Then re-opened the PGM News Channel as 6NC.

6-Net's life was not long, falling viewing figures and profits lead to 6-Net collapsing and ownership being handed over to Phil England.

Post 6-Net: Birth of Taff Media
When 6-Net was finally handed over for a period of time it was run by Phil England a long-time server of APFS and a founding member. The company was then handed over to Orry Verducci and the network we see today was born. Network Six. CTVN then won the NetworkSix Second Channel franchise and as it was re-expanding its operations the use of just Cardiff Television News, became inappropriate and the current name Taff Media was born after a merger with the Irish producer theTVgroup. For one year Taff operated the Welsh franchise under Dragon, until electing not to re-bid for any of its services in the 2009 round.

Since then Taff Media has had continued success and now operates many services:

TAFF MEDIA TELEVISION
 * Taff Media News - National News in the UK
 * TeleÉire News - National News in Eire
 * Taff Media News Channel - 24 Hour News Channel
 * SNN News - Sports News for SNN
 * TMN Local - Local News service (like PGM Local)

TAFF MEDIA RADIO
 * SBC 96.5 News

TAFF MEDIA PRODUCTIONS
 * Six:Am - Breakfast Franchise

SIXFLIX
 * SixFlix - FTA Movie Channel
 * Film Productions

SPECIAL SERVICES
 * Taff Media Creative Department - GFX and Advertising

Taff Media Television News



 * Taff Media News
 * TeleÉire News
 * Taff Media News Channel
 * SNN News
 * Taff Media Local News

TMN Local (Taff Media News Local)is a news production service that has its roots in PGM LNP. TMN Local currently produce news for:


 * Clydern Television - Clydren News
 * TVB - TVB News
 * White Rose - WRTV News
 * Rowby Television - Journal
 * ScoTV Newshour

Our studios are located in the main studios of the different franchises (with exception to Journal which broadcasts from The St. Stephens Newsroom.

Website

Taff Media Radio News


A new service from Taff Media. Broadcast news for radio, starts on the 28th of May. Our first customers are SBC 96.5

Taff Media Productions

 * Six:Am - Breakfast Franchise

Taff Media Productions, is the general production arm of Taff Media, producing a wide variety of programs including, tf:tv, Hidden World and the lasest venture that may be coming to NetworkSix in September Survivor Nations

SixFlix



 * SixFlix The FTA Flim and FLP Channel
 * Film Production Unit

SixFlix is the department that runs SixFlix the free-to-air Film and FLP Channel and The film production unit of Taff Media

Taff Media Creative Department


Taff Media Creative Department is as the name suggest the creative media department for Taff Media, they produce all websites and web content, on-screen promotions, idents, on-screen graphics, advertisements and all other major post-production work for Taff Media. All these services are available for use by other companies and free to all companies which Taff Media has ownership over.

Website

The Taff Media Centre - Canolfan Taff Media
The Taff Media Centre has been home to Taff Media Since existence. The Studios were porously built for the company when under the name of Canal UK News. Previously the company under the Cardiff Television Network was on the other side of the Taff at the Cardiff Television Studios. These have since been made into office blocks as part of the Callahan Square Project.

The purpose built studios contain Admin Block 2 the Main Entrance and also the External Media offices and conference rooms. A futuristic sky bridge connects you to Admin Block 1, the main Offices, small studios and storage/play out capacity for Taff Media Plc Also home of Taff Media Creative Department.

The centrepiece is the giant "News Centre" this is one of the worlds largest Live Newsrooms witch includes the studio for Taff Media News and the News Channel.


 * 2 Small / Medium Studios
 * 1 Large Newsroom/Studio
 * 2 CSO Studios
 * 1 Conference Studio

Playout:


 * Access to most forms of broadcast, High Speed Satellite and Cable, Local Analogue via Wenvo / CDF Bay.

Extra:


 * Studio Tours (Contact for more info)
 * Taff Media Creative Department
 * Main Offices of Taff Media Plc

Knightsbridge Studios / St. Stephens Newsroom
As of the 22nd of May 2007, Taff Media is to ceased operations at the Knightsbridge Studios We are now in the process of moving newsroom staff into the St. Stephens Newsroom in East London

Dublin Studios
The Dublin Studios are jointly owned by SBC and Taff Media, All of Taff Media's Irish broadcasts are from these studios. The TeleEire News headquarters are here.

The studios are made up of both old Office blocks and new studios. Taff Media mainly use Studio 3 sections which are accessible from Studio 1. The building will be fully functional in 2007 when Studio 2 is complete.

The Newsroom in Dublin is the largest in Eire and is also used by Taff Media Partners including Canal + and CNN


 * 2(5) Small / Medium Studios
 * 1(2) Newsroom
 * 1(2) CSO Studios
 * 2(4) Large Studio

(in total)

Play out:


 * Contact SBC for more information on Playout

Assets
Taff Media owns the following shares:


 * 20% in CTV and scoTV (through Aquidia Holdings)
 * 15% in SBC (from theTVgroup)
 * 15% in V Group
 * 10% in Emoa Television

Therefore, Taff Media owns (at least in part) 10 franchises (although a majority in minority shares).

2007 Franchise round
Here is Taff Media's manifesto

PDF Format

Closure
Taff Media, decreased output after the affects of the recent recession. After reducing its output significantly the last statement to the Network was made on November 28th 2007

After a long spell of inactivity and decreased output, Taff Media announces the outcome of its Strategic review. Most of the companies assets were sold off. All of the Taff Media Local News services were suspended with the exception of the ScoTV Newshour. All studios bar The Taffs Mead Embankment Studios were closed and by January 2008 the company had reduced its staffing levels by 70%.

Taff Media did not re-bid for any of its franchises and suspended all operations after the final Taff Media Nightly News. The Taff Media News Channel broadcast a special program featuring clips from services past and ended with the Nightly News.