Ten News has launched a new interactive service that enables viewers to SMS, MMS or email live video footage, pictures and text messages direct to its newsroom.
This multimedia gateway allows members of the public to send still images and video of breaking news stories from their mobile phone to the dedicated newsroom number 0405 101010, or via email to yourpics@newspics.ten.com.au.
The content will then be viewed, sorted and downloaded by news staff for editing, packaging and broadcast.
Ten’s head of news Jim Carroll said he was “very excited about the gateway’s potential”.
“This is yet another example of Ten being at the forefront of news gathering technology. Witnesses often reach the scene of major news stories before our camera crews and with so many people carrying mobile phones with photographic or video capacity it’s a smart strategic move to offer them the opportunity to contribute to Ten News,” Carroll explained.
“We gave the multimedia gateway its first trial run with the North Queensland cyclone and received half a dozen images which were of broadcast quality.”
The platform operates on Legion Interactive’s Mediacast mobile media gateway.
Legion Interactive’s system also provides the platform for Ten’s Big Brother and Australian Idol.
Legion Interactive’s CEO David Burden commented: “This is the cutting edge of viewer involvement in news broadcasting and as everyone with a mobile phone is a potential reporter, Ten is ensured of being the first at the scene wherever news breaks”.
