News: 2010-02-15 to overview

Sybit implements ARD Olympia portal

For the first time, MDR has taken the lead for the national television network ARD with regard to television, radio and online reporting for the Winter Olympics. "This large project represents the greatest challenge to the MDR since its foundation", said the Chairman of MDR, Prof. Dr. Udo Reiter.

The basis for the ARD Olympia Portal is formed by Sophora, the CMS product from the Hamburg-based company, subshell, which guarantees consistent performance even under peak load. In selecting and adapting the system for MDR, Sybit, who had overall responsibility as project partner, paid particular attention to simple and above all efficient editorial usability. With a view to the Olympia Portal, the editorial department is now able to publish sport results and news coverage immediately without any time delay.

On the basis of its wide range of experience in planning and realizing extensive internet presences in the media sector, incl. ARD.de, SWR, ARTE and the Swiss broadcasting company, Sybit was able to prevail within an EU negotiated procedure as a partner for the implementation of the portal. Wolfgang Merkel, Head of the Division CMS and Media Portals at Sybit, on other factors contributing to the success of the project: "In order to be able to implement all MDR's objectives on schedule, we decided on an agile project procedure, enabling a high degree of transparency to be created for the customer. Close coordination with each other and uncomplicated decision processes at MDR gave the project implementation additional impetus. Transition to live operation of a newly implemented CMS in this dimension went completely smoothly."

Users of the portal benefit from customized information around the clock: Depending on personal preferences, favored topics can be freely arranged directly on the homepage. Users can make a note of Olympic broadcasts, and if required, add them to electronic diaries such as e.g. Outlook or iCal. Video streams and a live ticker provide information in real time. Past competitions can be viewed on demand in the "media box" as a slide show or video. And even on the move, Olympic fans can catch up live with the optimal display of up-to-date reports, medal table info, and the latest live ticker news from the online content on their mobiles. A discussion forum on Facebook and a Twitter feed directly on the homepage round up the online content.

Sybit's expertise can be clearly seen from some of the recently completed projects, for example the video portal of the Swiss broadcasting company that went online in summer 2009, or the BIENE Award in silver which was awarded by the Aktion Mensch and the Stiftung Digital Chances to SWR in December 2009. SWR received this coveted award in the category of up-to-minute research and service portals for its high quality, accessible web portal which was implemented by Sybit.