When you’re a TV animation talking in real-time—to real people—you need things to go smoothly.

And when that dialogue forms the basis of a televised interactive quiz show, the lines of communication need to be crystal clear.

Add to that the issue of hosting contestants who are playing the game via computers in their own home—in completely different parts of the country—and you’ve got the need for connection-perfection.
That’s why Kordia ended up with a key role on the Simon Eliot show in 2008.

A weekly animated children’s programme that screened after school on TV3, the Simon Eliot show selected four kids from around New Zealand to participate in an interactive quiz. Each contestant appeared on-screen via Apple iChat webcams set up on computers in their own homes.

In order for the show to work effectively, independent production company, the Gibson Group, needed a consistently reliable broadband network that would work perfectly—no matter where contestants were located.
“DSL was just not working for us,” said Gibson Group’s managing director, Dave Gibson. “The speeds kept changing—which affected quality—and we lost connections regularly during shooting.”

Kordia provided broadband wireless access technology that linked the players to Simon’s show. Its reliable high-speed, low-contention wireless access services delivered by the Extend network enabled a seamless, real-time interface between Simon and his webcam contestants.

Kordia Content Services technicians visit each contestant, setting up mobile wireless access at their homes and ensuring connectivity ran smoothly throughout the filming process.

“We are thrilled that Kordia came to the party with Extend,” says Gibson. “It was the perfect solution for our connection headaches.”

The Simon Eliot Show is an ideal vehicle for showcasing the possibilities offered by broadband, says Kordia CEO, Geoff Hunt.

“Our focus is on better broadband for rural communities and ‘Simon’ is proof that Kordia’s network can provide a superior broadband service where it’s most needed.”