WASHINGTON, D.C., January 13, 2011 – International Launch Services (ILS) recently received a peer-reviewed media award for its live launch broadcast from the Television, Internet and Video Association’s Washington, D.C. chapter (TIVA-DC). The award was presented at a ceremony at the National Press Club to ILS’s broadcast company, Interface Media Group (IMG) who produces the broadcast from their Washington, D.C. studio.
ILS won the bronze “Peer” award specifically for the production of the live webcast depicting the launch of the EchoStar XIV satellite which took place on March 20, 2010. ILS has the exclusive rights to launch commercial satellites using the Proton rocket, Russia’s premiere heavy-lift vehicle. For each ILS launch, a live broadcast is produced and aired which includes the liftoff of the rocket, history of the Proton vehicle, mission animation, interviews with key personnel and customers, as well as live commentary with an ILS technical director and professional anchor.
The ILS webcast was judged based on several factors: design and organization; treatment; techniques; writing; directing; editing; creativity; camera work; lighting; audio and talent. The panel of judges included veteran industry professionals who are producers, writers, directors, editors and designers.
ILS President Frank McKenna said, “The live broadcasts of our launches are unique to our business and require a great deal of teamwork and effort to produce. They’ve been very well received by customers and others in our industry, so we appreciate that professionals in the broadcasting community acknowledge this as well. We thank our broadcast company, IMG, for their excellent work and TIVA-DC for recognizing us with this prestigious award.”