Rialto Channel

rialtochannel.co.nz

About the client

Rialto Channel is 100% owned by New Zealand businessmen and fully programmed and managed by a team based in Auckland.

Rialto Channel is New Zealand's premiere independent specialist film, documentary and entertainment channel.  Viewers are given a wide choice of diverse and engaging programming that is often not available New Zealand television.

Rialto Channel is proud to remain completely commercial free!

The client requirement

When Rialto Channel first came to us, they had no web presence and required a solution that provided their potential and current subscribers with up-to-date information about the channel and current and upcoming programmes. 

Interactive components were also a key element to better engage with and understand their viewers.

Ongoing communication was to be by way of monthly e-newsletters, with content linking to in-depth information about programmes and the people behind the scenes.

Their biggest requirement was to have the website dynamically capture and display information from their existing programming database in such a way that there would be very little or no involvement from them.

The NZ Internet Services solution

Firstly, a fairly static website was designed that provided general information about the channel and the programmes available.  A Content Management System was used to maintain information.

Since then, many interactive components such as online competitions, polls and surveys and been added, which helps in keeping visitors coming back to the website.

Their offline programming database was used to create a customised solution that dynamically displays all programming information, that requires no input from staff. Video trailers were later added, that are automatically converted into a .flv format and displayed on a per-programme basis.

The results

Interactive components such as online competitions and surveys have helped Rialto Channel staff to develop a greater understanding of viewer demographics and an e-newsletter management system has greatly enhanced communication with their viewers.

A fully customised solution that integrated seamlessly with their programming database, was easy to maintain general content while providing interactive features and automation 24 hours, 7 days a week.

What the client had to say

"The NZIS team were, and continue to be a pleasure to work with on all of our online development. Our first major project involved a complete overhaul and redesign of our current site to provide our customers with a fast, accessible and comprehensive programme schedule facility with increased search functionality, additional content components and automated uploading functionality for content and advertising materials which we could manages ourselves.

In addition we required the development of an e-newsletter template in which content could be posted and edited ourselves, while still linking into key sections of the website.

Since that first major project we have added further improvements with additional visual elements by way of trailers to the site and redesigned our homepage further to improve our customers online experience.

During this period our UV and PI numbers have increased significantly as has our e-newsletter subscription uptake."

Carol White, General Manager