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Gigatel is proud to have taken part in a new, highly innovative and ambitious travel-themed quiz series for Welsh television.

The programme ‘Dim Ond Un’ (Only One) is produced by the Boomerang+ group and is currently being aired on the Welsh fourth channel, S4C.

Each programme sees sixteen contestants compete in a series of rounds to win a cash prize and a memorable travel experience. The ‘twist’ in the programme sees the final successful competitor go head-to-head with a Welsh expatriate live by satellite from various worldwide locations. Should the expatriate win, then he or she wins a return flight back home with the other competitor leaving empty handed!

The initial series of ten programmes was recorded over four demanding days in Cardiff with a world-beating studio set. Gigatel was involved from the conceptual stages onwards to provide budgetary advice as well as helping to de-mystify the satellite communications infrastructure required. Another requirement was to provide consultation on technical risk management, bearing in mind the budgets involved and the project complexity.

Gigatel’s Robert Law explained: “Our clear aim was to technically simplify the process as far as possible to ensure reliability during a demanding schedule. From conception, through to planning and execution, we needed to guarantee reliable two-way broadcast-quality links with remote locations including Colombia, Hong Kong, New Zealand and several European countries. Scheduling, first-class operational margins and good communications skills were of the essence.”

We are grateful to Globecast Northern Europe and their worldwide offices in helping source many of the local SNG facilities needed. They also provided a combination of long-haul satellite and fibre solutions. We also used ad-hoc and leased capacity from Telenor UK, including turn-round facilities for part of the system. All outgoing and return paths were routed via Gigatel UKI760, acting as the satellite ‘hub’. There were not only incoming circuits for recorded material to be sent and the ‘head-to-head’ contests, but also outgoing programme and IFB circuits, enabling the remote contestant to follow, and comment on, the development of entire show. Integration with Omni TV’s highly professional team was a delight and was key to a successful programme for the customer.

Ronw Protheroe, series Executive Producer said: "The show's format, developed in-house, is exciting, innovative and ambitious. In order to maximise the high production values we set ourselves we had to maintain the target of recording ten hour-long shows as live over four days. This gave Rob and Gigatel quite a challenge since the ex-pat players came from the four corners of the globe and took part from their own homes which varied from a farm in Western Australia to an apartment in Colombia. To have Rob in from the very start was crucial and the satellite links worked like a dream. The series has started to air in a peak time slot on Friday nights on S4C and has been well received with high ratings."

If you are interested or inspired by this project, please do not hesitate to contact us to discuss your ideas. Boomerang+ are confident that this new, exciting programme format will be be of great interest to other broadcasters in the UK and worldwide. If you are a television producer and wish to know more, please contact us and we’d be very happy to put you in touch with the production team directly.