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• GLOBAL DIGITAL BROADCAST NEWS

Press Release

28 August 2008 (Brighton, UK): Whilst continuing to expand its international acquisitions, Global Digital Broadcast (GDBTV) also continues to prove it retains a strong bond with its local community. Nominated for Sussex Company of the Year and Entrepreneur of the Year in the forthcoming 2008/2009 Sussex Business Awards, GDBTV is launching its Educast educational project in the south of England, with support from the East Sussex Enterprise Hub (the Hub); and partnering with another Hub-supported and Brighton-based business, Use8 - The User Experience Society, for both its pending ‘Play’ game design fixture on 29 August and to host its new television channel on the GDBTV platform.

Rhodri Alexander, creative sector advisor for the East Sussex Enterprise Hub and who is developing the new Digital Powerhouse Project in Brighton, comments: “The Hub met GDB directors Jim Deans and David Wray earlier this year and we were very impressed with the activities of GDBTV. We were particularly interested in the Educast system and, following the first meeting, the Hub provided GDB with a list of contacts for universities across the UK, in addition to introducing Jim and David to staff from the creative technologies department at the University of Portsmouth, who are very keen to put out a channel on GDBTV's IPTV platform.”

The Educast project, which complements existing media courses in schools, colleges and universities around the UK and facilitates live production, live learning, international collaboration, on-demand education and live television, has already attracted the attention of Hove MP, Celia Barlow; John Denham, Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills; and Prime Minister Gordon Brown.*

Rhodri continues: “David Wray was also a speaker at Use8’s 'Broadband TV 2.0' event in Brighton in May. This event was run in conjunction with support from the East Sussex Enterprise Hub and I was happy to hear that GDBTV and Use8 are continuing to work together. The Hub is incredibly excited by the work of GDBTV and will be looking to support the company as it grows and develops in the future.”

Use8 promotes engagement through a variety of events; some are informal in nature with the focus of connecting people in a networking environment. Others events are workshop based aimed to address specific themes and topics with the purpose of sharing and stimulating dialogue. Besides occasional initiatives, Use8 also organises an annual one-day conference, where key user experience professionals and companies are invited to present current ideas in the field and industry.

Shawn de Freitas, events and sponsorship manager for Use8, explains: “David spoke at our last event, Broadband 2.0, so it was a great opportunity for us to understand exactly what GDBTV does. We were particularly impressed with how open the system was and how easy it was for virtually anyone to set up a TV channel using the technologies. We immediately saw the benefits of working together and, after a few meetings, we began laying down the plans to develop Use8 TV.

He adds: “Both Jim and David have been remarkable in their support; and GDBTV has been forthright in promoting our society, now becoming our media partner. Open technology ... open approach; I see lots of scope for us to continue working together in the future.”

Use8 TV, which is currently pre-launch, will be the first television channel targeted to user experience (UX) professionals and the creative industry as a whole.

GDBTV co-founder and CEO, David Wray, concludes: “No matter how far our international reach stretches, we pride ourselves on continuing to promote and support local business.”

The pending ‘Play’ fixture explores the UX dimensions of game design and will be held at Jurys Inn, Brighton, 17:30 on Friday 29 August. For further information on Use8 fixtures and activities, please visit http://www.use8.net

* http://www.globaldigitalbroadcast.com/downingstreet.php

ENDS

Notes to editors:

About the East Sussex Enterprise Hub:
The East Sussex Enterprise Hub is part of the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) Hub network which focuses on entrepreneurial individuals and companies, helping them to bring ideas to market quickly and profitably. The East Sussex Enterprise Hub is essentially funded by SEEDA as part of its business support initiative for the south east and focuses primarily on businesses which it believes have the potential to become high growth companies and which are often developing a new, innovative product or service.

For further information on the East Sussex Enterprise Hub, please visit http://www.eastsussexhub.com

For further information on SEEDA, please visit http://www.seeda.co.uk

About Use8:
Use8 - The User Experience society, is a joint initiative between di8it ltd, the University of Brighton and the East Sussex Enterprise Hub. It aims is to bring together students, professionals, academics and industry who are interested in the User Experience (UX) design discipline. Its mission is to promote UX education and best practice as a strategic priority - translating that knowledge into innovation and the development of better products, services and businesses.

For further information about Use8, please visit http://www.use8.net


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