VNU has unveiled a plan to build a dedicated in-house studio and theatre to add audio and video content to its stable of B2B publications.
The company has invested “a six-figure sum” in an internet TV service, VNU On Air, which will allow the company to produce vodcasts, podcasts, news broadcasts, seminars, conference reports and video product reviews.
The studio complex at VNU’s Soho offices includes four studios and theatre space to stage events for later broadcast.
The Dutch company’s 20 on- and offline brands in the UK include The Inquirer, vnunet.com, Computing, IT Week, Accountancy Age, Computeractive and CRN.
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The publisher said its work on video on audio events in the past two years had driven investment in the facilities, which are part of an ambition “to exploit every media platform”.
John Barnes, publishing director of VNU’s business technology group, said it was another significant move by the company into being more a digital
proposition. But he added: “The acquisition of websites in the last few months are more significant acknowledgments of that, because we’re buying sites in the way we previously would have bought magazine property.
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“There’s absolutely no doubt that the future, for a publisher like us, lies in the balance between controlled circulation and distribution of content to those people, whether that’s through print, digital, audio or video.” The company is using experienced broadcasters to help with training, but
hasn’t formally appointed any broadcasters to a specific role.
“The reason for that,” explained Barnes, “is that the internet isn’t a formal broadcast medium, and by having some formal broadcasters involved, they’ve got some preconceptions that aren’t always helpful.” The company has also announced that Bryan Glick, managing editor of VNU’s flagship weekly Computing, has been promoted to editor of Computing.co.uk
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