If you haven’t seen previous blogs, last night saw the launch of a brand new TV programme for all book lovers and writers The Book Channel. Produced by New Edge, and broadcast on Sky channel 166 and Freesat 402, the programme introduces new books. Our presenter, Ecademist Tina Bettison interviews authors to uncover the story behind the book, we hear some readings from books and there are top tips from experts if you have a book inside you and want help with ‘getting it out’

The idea of the programme is to provide you, the audience with access to books that you might not otherwise hear about, and to give authors (also possibly you - there are more than 100,000 books published in the UK every year!) who don’t make it onto Richard & Judy or into the Times Book Review another channel to market their book.

Being on a remote Satellite Channel gives us the challenge of attracting an audience of loyal followers to the programme. Viewers are unlikely to find it by themselves, so we have to build it’s reputation by word of mouth and publicity. We believe we have a strong and interesting programme and want to share it with as many people as possible. Please take a look and if you like it, spread the word

The programme is repeated Wednesday, Friday and Sunday evenings at 7.30, AND if you don’t have access to satellite TV the programme is also now available to view on the website, www.thebookchannel.tv.

Last night was the first programme of many to come, and it’s important to me, as the programme producer to get it right for you, the viewer or the author. I’d really appreciate it if you would take a look at the programme, either on Sky or on the Book Channel website, and let us know what you think here.

• Do you think such a programme has value
• are you likely to watch it regularly
• is the content engaging
• what do we get right
• what could we do better

The first three programmes are complete so it’s a bit late for changes. Moving forwards we really want to make a programme that you want to watch.

We look forward to your comments
best regards

Richard Flewitt
Producer
The Book Channel

TV Book Channel launch - proof that networking works

TV Book Channel launch - who says there's no value in Networking

Do you want to hear a story about networking - working?

We're excited and proud to announce the launch of a new venture, The Book Channel TV show - The place to be for book lovers and writers.

Director, Richard Flewitt came up with the idea along with a networking colleague about a year ago and the first programme airs on Sky channel 166 and Freesat channel 402 next Monday, 20th April at 7.30pm. Video preview can be seen at www.thebookchannel.tv

so why blog about it?

Firstly we're immensely proud of the programme, entirely produced by Richard's production company New Edge - It's great for them to be back to their roots making television programmes.

Secondly, there is no way that we would be here announcing this today if it wasn't for networking, and in particular the Black Star community within Ecademy, , which Richard joined about two and a half years ago.

Let's take you through the chain of events: Richard joins Black Star on the premise that you get out what you put in, and it really is a lifetime membership where relationships are nurtured before any real business takes place. He attends Black Star meetings and starts on a journey of many, many 121 meetings.

Approximately 18 months later He is invited by a Black Star ,who he'd had a 121 with, to attend a VIP networking event on a boat on the Thames. There, as promised, he's introduced to 'someone you need to know', and spent most of the evening talking to this guy over champagne and far too much red wine!! - realising the synergy of our approach to communications, and in particular video. That relationship then developed with a couple of meetings, and more introductions. Meanwhile Richard discovers that within Black Star there is a community of specialists who help people make the most of their expertise by writing books. The problem at this smaller end of publishing is that the best sellers and big publishing houses eat up most of the national promotional opportunities, and it's a real struggle to get books noticed.

He has another meeting with the man from the boat, who also happens to have a past in publishing and they come up with an idea..... to make a specialist programme for all book lovers and writers, uncover the story behind the story in a book and hear some extracts read by the author. Broadcast the programmes on Sky and Freesat, and make all the programmes available to watch online. Additionally allow the authors and publishers to stream the programmes on their own websites providing them with a promotional video for their book.

The result is The Book Channel. The guy on the boat was Fred Perkins, owner of Information TV and a number of Sky channels - now one of the business partners at the Book Channel.

Our three experts who guide viewers through the book writing world from inspiration to publication are Mindy Gibbins-Klein, Sue Richardson and Tom Evans - all Black Stars in Ecademy.

Our presenter is Tina Bettison, another contact who found us through Ecademy.

We have filmed the first three programmes and the launch is on Monday 20th April, to coincide with the opening day of the London Book Fair. Authors and publishers are invited to submit books for selection in future programmes through the website, www.thebookchannel.tv

So there you are. In a nutshell networking contacts have provided the inspiration, the application and a great deal of the content in the pilot shows

Who says Networking isn't worth the investment? Like all good things, it just takes time and energy

The Book Channel Trailer

The book channel trailer can be seen at:

www.thebookchannel.tv

or

http://www.youtube.com/thebookchanneltv

The Book Channel

The UK TV show for author interviews, book excerpts and reviews
http://www.thebookchannel.tv/


New UK TV show opens up marketing channel for authors

The Book Channel, which launches on 20 April 2009 with its debut programme on Sky 166 and Freesat 402 at 7.30 pm, is creating a new medium for authors wishing to market their books. The programme is the brainchild of ex-ITV programme-maker, Richard Flewitt, Fred Perkins, CEO of Information TV, and Paul Hammond, entrepreneur.

Each 30 minute programme carries three author interviews plus an ‘expert advice’ slot to guide budding authors through the process of writing a book and getting published. As well as being broadcast three times on Sky 166 and Freesat 402 the programmes are also available on The Book Channel website: http://www.thebookchannel.tv/, where viewers can get more information about the authors and books and can purchase the books if desired. Authors can also embed the programmes into their own websites for marketing purposes.

Programme producer Richard Flewitt says, ‘Our intention is to make The Book Channel a high quality programme that book lovers will use as a source of inspiration and information, and authors will want to be on. Some very good quality and interesting books are being published but because they don’t have a celebrity name on them, they don’t get the publicity or marketing budgets behind them to help sales or even just raise awareness. The Book Channel is going to change this and provide a marketing channel for all books’

Presenter of The Book Channel programme is Tina Bettison. Author of three books of humour published by Hodder and Stoughton, including the bestseller 100 Ways for a Horse to train its Human, she also co-presents the Saturday morning ‘Girls on Top’ show on commercial radio station Boundary Sound.

‘The Book Channel is an absolutely dream show for me’, she says. ‘Having been through the book publishing process myself three times, and having a general background in publishing, I really understand what these authors are going through. The programme brings together three of my favourite pastimes: books, presenting and interviewing interesting people with great stories.’

Ends

Contacts:
Press relations – June Rowlands: 07850 845351
Programme Producer – Richard Flewitt: 01949 861848 M. 07836 523765