OB Company Arena Television ceases trading.

[Inspector Sands]

The OB company Arena Television has ceased trading today.

https://twitter.com/InstOfProSound/statu...k27Qg&s=19

They provided the OB facilities for a lots of TV football coverage including the FA Cup and it seems the England match on Friday. I've seen a mention that they've stopped rigging the OB there

Incidently they also provided the helicopters for BBC and Sky News

[Markymark]

The OB company Arena Television has ceased trading today.

https://twitter.com/InstOfProSound/statu...k27Qg&s=19

They provided the OB facilities for a lots of TV football coverage including the FA Cup and it seems the England match on Friday. I've seen a mention that they've stopped rigging the OB there

Incidently they also provided the helicopters for BBC and Sky News

Yes. I hear the first sign of something happening was yesterday, when all the staff were suddenly paid mid month!

[thegeek]

Incidently they also provided the helicopters for BBC and Sky News

I noticed the other day that a non-Arena helicopter was up over Heathrow providing pictures for Sky News, which struck me at the time as a little unusual.

Yes. I hear the first sign of something happening was yesterday, when all the staff were suddenly paid mid month!

Pleased to hear they've actually been paid! I hope they're not out of work for too long - there's certainly demand for their services (such as at Wembley this weekend and the FA Cup next...)

[Markymark]

Incidently they also provided the helicopters for BBC and Sky News

I noticed the other day that a non-Arena helicopter was up over Heathrow providing pictures for Sky News, which struck me at the time as a little unusual.

Yes. I hear the first sign of something happening was yesterday, when all the staff were suddenly paid mid month!

Pleased to hear they've actually been paid! I hope they're not out of work for too long - there's certainly demand for their services (such as at Wembley this weekend and the FA Cup next...)

As Mr Sands says, I gather also the rig at Wembley is being pulled. Presumably ITV have someone else lined up, though I don't think anybody knew anything until lunchtime today

[Newshound47]

How easy through is it to arrange someone else at this short notice?

[Brekkie]

Who is their main rival provider?

[thegeek]

How easy through is it to arrange someone else at this short notice?

I'm sure some combination of the CTV/Telegenic/NEP facilities that normally do the Premier League will be available this weekend, though crewing it at short notice might be a challenge.

[Markymark]

Who is their main rival provider?

Well, the main UK gang of OB companies was Arena, NEP, CTV, Telegenic, Timeline, and Cloudbass.

NEP are a huge US company, who have snapped up lots of OB companies all over Europe over the last few years. CTV and Telegenic are both owned by Euromedia, another large outfit.

I suppose NEP or Euromedia might buy Arena, if the price is right

[eladkse]

Very suprised to hear about Arena… they did all but one of the FA Cup OBs last weekend and all still seemed well.

Facilities for Round 2 will certainly be interesting… if not the replays next week!

[Markymark]

Very suprised to hear about Arena… they did all but one of the FA Cup OBs last weekend and all still seemed well.

Take a look at their Companies House data, they've struggled for a while with cash

[Inspector Sands]

I suppose NEP or Euromedia might buy Arena, if the price is right

Depends what state the company is in, it might well be that the assets will be sold and the other OB companies will take over the work.

It might be that NEP or Euromedia already have the capacity to take on the work without buying any of Arena's facilities. That said I was just reading about their work on remote production during covid and system and setup at their place in Redhill, I imagine someone will want to take on that

[Brekkie]

For them to cease trading rather than go into administration suggests it might not be sold as a going concern and it'll basically be asset stripped instead.

[Inspector Sands]

How easy through is it to arrange someone else at this short notice?

I'm sure some combination of the CTV/Telegenic/NEP facilities that normally do the Premier League will be available this weekend, though crewing it at short notice might be a challenge.

Presumably the crew that were meant to be doing it for Arena will still be available. The bigger issue would probably be lack of time to rig the OB before Friday depending on when any replacement starts work. Presumably someone will still have the paperwork detailing what's required and how it was going to be rigged

[valley]

Incidently they also provided the helicopters for BBC and Sky News

I noticed the other day that a non-Arena helicopter was up over Heathrow providing pictures for Sky News, which struck me at the time as a little unusual.

Just to clarify, it was a Arena-operated helicopter. Leased from another provider, however, presumably as a replacement for G-UKTV which hasn't been seen in the air recently.

A massive shame to see Arena go. I haven't worked for them much in the last year or two but they were always lovely to work with and good facilities - good luck to all the staff and to everyone who is now picking up the slack.

[commseng]

Very sad to hear about Arena, they had some very good people working for them, and some excellent facilities, including the aviation side of the business.
I hope that the business will continue as a going concern with new owners, but even if it doesn't, all those who worked for them will find plenty of work throughout the industry.
I wish them all well.