The web video platform will be an appetiser for Mustard’s new Norwich local TV service, expected to start broadcasting on Freeview channel 8 in late 2013.
Mustard TV is community media publisher Archant’s latest venture. Last September Mustard TV was awarded a new local TV licence by Ofcom to run a new local TV channel broadcasting to quarter of a million people in the greater Norwich area.
Mustard MD, Fiona Ryder, said: “Mustard Online will feature local news, weather and sports clips - along with entertainment shorts and property mini-features. Full length programmes will be produced later in the year.
“Over the next few months, Mustard Online will add new channels and content features as it approaches the on-air date for digital terrestrial TV.
“Our vision is for Mustard to be seen as a community asset: a local broadcast service that reflects life and champions community concerns and gives viewers a new voice. Mustard Online is the first step in that journey. Our partnership with academic institutions, local businesses and production companies will ensure that Mustard is an authentic local service made by and for the people of Norwich,” said Fiona.
Mustard Chairman and Archant Anglia MD, Johnny Hustler, said: “Mustard Online is the next stage in extending the valuable service we have been providing to the people of Norwich and Norfolk for the past 160 years through our printed and digital publications such as the Eastern Daily Press and Evening News.
“It will give people a taste of what they can expect from Mustard TV later this year.”
Mustard has implemented a news presenter training programme for Archant Anglia journalists over the past few months and over 30 are now trained in news presenting and iPhone video to work alongside experienced videographers to produce news feature packages for the online TV channel.
The training programme comprised scripting and presenting modules and an iPhone training session for Mustard’s new mobile shooting kits which transform smart phones into broadcast news capture devices. Mustard’s iPhone shooting kits will be rolled out to Archant Norfolk’s news rooms in 10 towns across the region from early February.
Archant Anglia publishing director, Bob Crawley, said: “Seeing our journalists rise to the challenge of telling stories through video, as well as the written word, has been very exciting. Already more than 30 of our team have been through a TV news presenting training course and the results have been first class, with some great video shot in Norwich and Norfolk.
“There has been a great deal of enthusiasm from the EDP and Evening News teams and I am looking forward to seeing Mustard TV online becoming an important part of local people’s news and entertainment viewing habit.”
Mustard news videos will be embedded within relevant pages of the EDP and Evening News websites as well as appearing at www.mustardtv.co.uk
