Open Student Television Network
To Showcase Talent of
European Students
GÉANT2 provides
essential network link between United States and Europe
19 July 2006: Cambridge,
United Kingdom and Cleveland, USA - Open Student Television Network
(OSTN), the only 24-hour, 7-day global channel exclusively devoted
to student-produced programming, today takes the first step towards
expansion within the European Union (EU). Supported via the GÉANT2
network, which is managed by research networking organisation DANTE,
the expansion will help meet EU students’ demand for the channel.
GÉANT2 is the world’s
most advanced research and education network, co-funded by Europe's
National Research and Education Networks (NRENs) and the European
Commission. DANTE manages the network.
OSTN features diverse
student-produced programming ranging from short- and feature-length
films, documentaries and performing arts, to news and cultural programming.
Currently reaching more than three million users in the United States
via Internet2’s network, which connects 208 U.S. research
and education institutions and 35 U.S. state education networks,
the channel can be viewed on both televisions and personal computers.
At OSTN, students create
content and make the programming decisions necessary for the network
to appeal to its peer-viewing audience. OSTN provides opportunities
for students through resources, community, exposure and experience.
OSTN is an initiative of the CampusEAI Consortium, a non-profit
organisation dedicated to facilitating development and exchange
of community-source software and digital content.
“Seen as the minor
league of Hollywood, OSTN is a showcase for the best student talent,”
said Prashant Chopra, Chief Executive Officer of OSTN. “By
using GÉANT2 we will be able to satisfy and cater to rapidly
growing demand for the channel outside of the United States. We
already receive daily contributions from students at universities
in the EU and these new links will help to promote an ongoing programme
of cultural exchange.”
Dai Davies, General Manager
of DANTE, said: “The GÉANT2 network will provide students
throughout Europe with access to a platform where they can display
their talents. We’re also pleased to announce that footage
of work undertaken by GÉANT2 premieres on OSTN next month.”
The footage broadcast
on OSTN will provide an overview of GÉANT2’s benefits
and achievements resulting from the collaborative approach taken
by the project partners by featuring interviews with GÉANT2
network users, the European Commission, European Parliament and
engineers from DANTE.
“By giving students
a means for disseminating their creations, talents and research
results to everyone worldwide, GÉANT2 and OSTN are taking
a pioneering step along the road to empowering students and academia
at large,” said Latif Ladid, President of IPv6 Forum and Chair,
European IPv6 Task Force.
-end-
About DANTE:
DANTE is a non-profit
organisation whose primary mission is to plan, build and manage
research and education networks. Established in 1993, DANTE has
been fundamental to the success of pan-European research and education
networking. DANTE has built and operates GÉANT2, the most
advanced research and education network in the world. GÉANT2
provides the data communications infrastructure essential to the
success of many research projects in Europe.
DANTE is involved in worldwide
initiatives to interconnect countries in other regions to one another
and to GÉANT2. DANTE currently manages initiatives focused
on the Mediterranean, Latin American and Asia-Pacific regions through
the EUMEDCONNECT, ALICE-RedCLARA and TEIN2 (Trans-Eurasia Information
Network) projects respectively. For more information, please visit
www.dante.net
About GÉANT2
GÉANT2 delivers
the next generation research and education network for Europe. With
over 30 million users in 34 countries across the continent, GÉANT2
offers unrivalled geographical coverage, high bandwidth, innovative
hybrid networking technology and a range of user-focused services.
Its network footprint maps more than 50,000 km and its extensive
geographical reach interconnects with other world regions, enabling
global research collaboration. GÉANT2’s comprehensive
programme of research and service development keeps Europe at the
forefront of global research.
GÉANT2 is co-funded
by the European Commission under the Sixth Research and Development
Framework Programme. The project partners are 30 European National
Research and Education Networks (NRENs), TERENA and DANTE. It is
co-ordinated by DANTE, the research networking organisation that
plans, manages and builds research networks all over the world.
For more information visit: www.geant2.net
About Internet2:
Led by more than 200
U.S. universities working with industry and government, Internet2
develops and deploys advanced network applications and technologies
for research and higher education, accelerating the creation of
tomorrow's Internet. Internet2 recreates the partnerships among
academia, industry, and government that helped foster today's Internet
in its infancy. For more information, visit: www.internet2.edu.
About OSTN:
OSTN is the only 24-hour, 7-day global channel devoted
exclusively to student-produced programming. For more information,
visit <http://www.ostn.tv>
OSTN is based in Cleveland, Ohio. For more information, visit https://ceai1.campuseai.org/portal/page?_pageid=233,7531028&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL
Editorial contacts:
Emma Ballard/Chris Measures
Rainier PR (on behalf of DANTE)
+44(0)20 7494 6581
eballard@rainierpr.co.uk
cmeasures@rainierpr.co.uk
Joann Rasmussen
joann_rasmussen@campuseai.org
440.522.8304
Emma Ballard
eballard@rainierpr.co.uk
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7 494 6570
Mobile: +44 (0) 7979 802387
www.rainierpr.co.uk
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