Cube Interactive
Encyclopedia
Cube Interactive ltd. is a privately owned interactive media company based in the Cardiff Bay
area of Cardiff, Wales. It was established in 2006 by Wil Stephens.
Cube Interactive works primarily with broadcasters and has produced for BBC
, Boomerang Plus, Channel 4
and S4C
. In 2008, Cube Interactive won the Best New Media TV or Film Related BAFTA Cymru
award for its work on S4C’s youth orientated Planed Plant Bach
website.
Cube Interactive owns a license, granted by Ofcom
, to operate on the 8 MHz (542-550Mhz) interleaved spectrum in the Cardiff
, Newport
, parts of Bristol
and Weston-super-Mare
. Cube Interactive emerged as the only bidder for the spectrum, for which the company paid a fee of just £10,000. The licence is only the second of its kind that has been auctioned off by Ofcom, the first in Manchester was awarded to sole bidder Channel M
. The licence is indefinite and tradeable, and will not come up for review until at least 2026 unless the conditions of the licence are breached or the licence is surrendered.
The interleaved spectrum offers multiple possibilities such as mobile television, mobile broadband
, a digital terrestrial television
services covering the local area or services in support of programme-making and special events. Although, the company believes it offers greater commercial opportunities through provision of television via mobile phones and opportunities to provide content relating to specific events in the spectrum’s territory, like the Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Urdd Gobaith Cymru
and the 2010 Ryder Cup
held at the Celtic Manor Resort
in Newport. , the company has not used the spectrum.
The company was part of the Taliesin News consortium's failed bid for the Independently Funded News Consortia
pilot for Wales, losing to a joint bid from NWN Media and UTV
for Wales Live
, before the entire scheme was scrapped by Secretary of State for Culture, Jeremy Hunt.
In 2010, Cube Interactive created Double Six Club, a site for bands that are signed to the Domino Records label where they can play live gigs and have sessions recorded for them.
On 1 March 2011, Cube Interactive joined the bidders for the Channel 6 national television network of local TV services. Cube propose launching a Welsh TV network extending possibly into Bristol, with opt out programmes in English and Welsh as appropriate.
In May 2011, Wil Stephens was appointed as vice president
of international business development at Boxee
, leaving his role as CEO
of Cube Interactive.
Cardiff Bay
Cardiff Bay is the area created by the Cardiff Barrage in South Cardiff, the capital of Wales. The regeneration of Cardiff Bay is now widely regarded as one of the most successful regeneration projects in the United Kingdom. The Bay is supplied by two rivers to form a freshwater lake round the...
area of Cardiff, Wales. It was established in 2006 by Wil Stephens.
Cube Interactive works primarily with broadcasters and has produced for BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
, Boomerang Plus, Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
and S4C
S4C
S4C , currently branded as S4/C, is a Welsh television channel broadcast from the capital, Cardiff. The first television channel to be aimed specifically at a Welsh-speaking audience, it is the fifth oldest British television channel .The channel - initially broadcast on...
. In 2008, Cube Interactive won the Best New Media TV or Film Related BAFTA Cymru
BAFTA Cymru
BAFTA Cymru is the Welsh branch of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts.Formed in 1991, they hold an annual awards ceremony to recognise achievement by performers and production staff in Welsh-made films and television programmes...
award for its work on S4C’s youth orientated Planed Plant Bach
Cyw
Cyw is the name of a Welsh language Children's television block from S4C , which launched on 23 June 2008....
website.
Cube Interactive owns a license, granted by Ofcom
Ofcom
Ofcom is the government-approved regulatory authority for the broadcasting and telecommunications industries in the United Kingdom. Ofcom was initially established by the Office of Communications Act 2002. It received its full authority from the Communications Act 2003...
, to operate on the 8 MHz (542-550Mhz) interleaved spectrum in the Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
, Newport
Newport
Newport is a city and unitary authority area in Wales. Standing on the banks of the River Usk, it is located about east of Cardiff and is the largest urban area within the historic county boundaries of Monmouthshire and the preserved county of Gwent...
, parts of Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
and Weston-super-Mare
Weston-super-Mare
Weston-super-Mare is a seaside resort, town and civil parish in the unitary authority of North Somerset, which is within the ceremonial county of Somerset, England. It is located on the Bristol Channel coast, south west of Bristol, spanning the coast between the bounding high ground of Worlebury...
. Cube Interactive emerged as the only bidder for the spectrum, for which the company paid a fee of just £10,000. The licence is only the second of its kind that has been auctioned off by Ofcom, the first in Manchester was awarded to sole bidder Channel M
Channel m
Channel M is a regional television station, based in Manchester, England. It began broadcasting on 14 February 2000 as Manchester Student Television and is owned and operated by the Guardian Media Group.-Coverage:...
. The licence is indefinite and tradeable, and will not come up for review until at least 2026 unless the conditions of the licence are breached or the licence is surrendered.
The interleaved spectrum offers multiple possibilities such as mobile television, mobile broadband
Mobile Broadband
Mobile broadband is the marketing term for wireless Internet access through a portable modem, mobile phone or other mobile device.-Description:...
, a digital terrestrial television
Digital terrestrial television
Digital terrestrial television is the technological evolution of broadcast television and advance from analog television, which broadcasts land-based signals...
services covering the local area or services in support of programme-making and special events. Although, the company believes it offers greater commercial opportunities through provision of television via mobile phones and opportunities to provide content relating to specific events in the spectrum’s territory, like the Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Urdd Gobaith Cymru
Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Urdd Gobaith Cymru
Thr Urdd National Eisteddfod is an annual Welsh-language youth festival of literature, music and performing arts organised by Urdd Gobaith Cymru. Arguably Europe's largest youth festival, it is usually held during the first week of May. Locations alternate between north and south Wales and the...
and the 2010 Ryder Cup
2010 Ryder Cup
The 38th Ryder Cup matches were held 2010 at the Celtic Manor Resort in the city of Newport, Wales. It was the first time the competition was staged in Wales. With the USA as the defending Cup holder the event was played on the newly-constructed Twenty 10 course, specifically designed for the...
held at the Celtic Manor Resort
Celtic Manor Resort
The Celtic Manor Resort is a golf-centric hotel and leisure resort in Newport, south Wales. It consists of two adjoining hotels, a country inn, two golf and country clubs, and a multi-purpose conference centre...
in Newport. , the company has not used the spectrum.
The company was part of the Taliesin News consortium's failed bid for the Independently Funded News Consortia
Independently Funded News Consortia
Independently Funded News Consortia were proposed as independently set-up groups providing local and regional news within various regions of the United Kingdom. The structure was proposed by Ofcom in January 2009 to respond to the reduction in provision of regional news programming by the existing...
pilot for Wales, losing to a joint bid from NWN Media and UTV
UTV
UTV is a television channel based in the UK region of Northern Ireland. The channel is the Channel 3 or Independent Television licensee for Northern Ireland and is operated by UTV Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of UTV Media.- Terrestrial :* Analogue: Normally tuned to 3 * Freeview : 3...
for Wales Live
Wales Live
Wales Live was to be the new provider of regional news on ITV Wales. It is a part of UTV and NWN Media's successful IFNC bid to provide regional news in Wales that was accepted by the Culture Secretary, Ben Bradshaw. The news would be issued across all mediums, including television, newspaper,...
, before the entire scheme was scrapped by Secretary of State for Culture, Jeremy Hunt.
In 2010, Cube Interactive created Double Six Club, a site for bands that are signed to the Domino Records label where they can play live gigs and have sessions recorded for them.
On 1 March 2011, Cube Interactive joined the bidders for the Channel 6 national television network of local TV services. Cube propose launching a Welsh TV network extending possibly into Bristol, with opt out programmes in English and Welsh as appropriate.
In May 2011, Wil Stephens was appointed as vice president
Vice president
A vice president is an officer in government or business who is below a president in rank. The name comes from the Latin vice meaning 'in place of'. In some countries, the vice president is called the deputy president...
of international business development at Boxee
BOXEE
Boxee is a cross-platform freeware HTPC software application with a 10-foot user interface and social networking features designed for the living-room TV...
, leaving his role as CEO
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
of Cube Interactive.