Having built a reputation as a hub for everything from video production to live-streaming and events, SpaceTo is looking forward to 2023 from a position of strength.

Established at DMG Media Ireland's offices on Haddington Road in 2021, the multi-purpose studio and event space has gone from strength to strength over the past 18 months, attracting high-end clients and repeat business.

Rebecca Horan, head of production at SpaceTo, says the idea for a state-of-the-art media production suite sprung out of the pandemic amid growing demand for live streaming and remote events

The studio now offers broadcast commercial production, live-streaming, videography, on-location shooting, live events and webinars, conferences, podcasts, voiceovers, as well as premium client hospitality, boardroom and hub facilities, catering, professional hair and make-up and transport.

Clients can use the boardroom to watch a webinar that is being broadcast from the studio next door, or use the hub to interface with colleagues and clients -- all from a convenient location in the city centre.

The studio also boasts a floor-to-ceiling high-resolution digital LED screen, which Horan describes as having a "wow factor," and programmable mood lighting, which combine to make the space malleable and versatile for clients.

Horan says SpaceTo has "grown exponentially" since launch, and that she didn't think it would become so successful so quickly, with Bank of Ireland, Virgin Media, Mason Hayes Curran, Calpol, Sky, Oxendales and the PRII now among the studio's clients.

Ultimately, Horan believes SpaceTo's status as a "one-stop shop" for events, production and auxiliary services makes the studio more appealing than more conventional competitors.

"People feel they can trust us, that they are in good hands. When we got to market, [SpaceTo] stands out as a hybrid events-production space," she says, adding that the difference between SpaceTo and a normal studio is "night and day".

"There's no 'no' for us -- we'll do anything we can do for clients. We're already doing things that are hugely exciting, and we always say SpaceTo is a place to create, a place to record, to dream.

Along with studio manager Barry Finnegan, DMG Media Ireland CEO Paul Henderson and head of B2B content Cormac Cahill, Horan says she is fortunate to work with a dedicated, passionate team with a great work ethic.

Horan can also call on an array of presenters, emcees, moderators and journalists as well as broadcast technicians, videographers, producers, creative directors and sound engineers.

"Pitching ourselves to the market coming out of the pandemic at a tricky time, we got the chance to really bed in, create the space we wanted to build, learn from that and make sure everything was where we wanted it to be. Now we’re in huge demand, and we’re always having to grow to meet that demand," Horan explains.

"We learned from what we did in 2022, and we're growing and improving and bringing even more to the table in 2023," she says, adding that bookings have already been made for January and further into 2023.

Clients who are unsure of what they want to do in terms of content production or events hosting can also engage with the DMG commercial team and content creators to figure out what would work best for them.

"We ask 'How can we bring life to this, but also do a wonderful job of it?' and that’s when I get excited."

Aditya Joshi (15) and Aditya Kumar (16) have been awarded the top prize at the 58th BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition.

The third year students at Synge Street, Dublin, won the award for a project entitled ‘A New Method of Solving the Bernoulli Quadrisection Problem’.

The students presented their project in the Intermediate section in the Chemical, Physical & Mathematical Sciences category.

Prof.Pat Guiry, chair of the judging panel, commented: “The students presented a new approach to a problem that dates back to 1687, while also identifying areas of possible application in contemporary engineering. They tackled the problem using the technique of particle swarm optimisation, an algorithmic approach inspired by the biological phenomena of the behaviour of individuals within flocks or swarms. The judges were highly impressed by their elegant work, their creative ideas and their excellent presentation skills.”

The 2022 BT Young Scientist & Technology winners received the BTYSTE perpetual trophy and the top prize of €7,500. They will represent Ireland at the European Union contest for Young Scientists in September 2022.

The Individual winner award went to Ross O’Boyle (16), a transition year student from Portmarnock Community College, Dublin.

His project was ‘An investigation into the effectiveness of various ventilation methods using CO2 as a proxy for the spread of Covid-19 in both controlled and real-life scenarios’.

Panel judge Prof.Orla Feely commented: “Ross used experiments and mathematical models to investigate the effectiveness of different ventilation methods at maintaining safe CO2 levels, with a view to preventing the spread of Covid-19. The judges were very impressed by the breadth of the project, and also by the way in which the student applied scientific principles to a problem of great current interest.”

Shay Walsh, Managing Director, BT Ireland, stated: “The students at the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition did a remarkable job this week, and have shown huge diversity of thought in actively seeking out solutions to some of the biggest challenges that humanity faces.”

This year’s BTYSTE was organised online by the SpaceTo studio in central Dublin, which handled video connections to 400  participating schools.

Roisín Ní Thomain and Aidan Power made the move from the stage in the RDS to the SpaceTo studio (above) to present the event and interview participating experts.

SpaceTo’s Fintan Gavigan commented: “Since opening last year SpaceTo has been the venue of choice for organisations and trade associations looking to create great content and communicate with stakeholders in a professional manner.

“We have produced some really great content and hosted some great events, and BT Young Scientist has brought us to a new level. To be selected to broadcast such a high-profile national event was a privilege, and we are delighted that it was such a huge success.”

Content and shows delivered throughout the week and the videos submitted by participants about their projects will remain online until the end of January.

• To view the BTYSTE content, go to https://portal.btyoungscientist.com/

Photo: Roisín Ní Thomain and Aidan Power announcing the BT Young Scientist award to Aditya Joshi and Aditya Kumar. (Pix: Brian McEvoy)

 

Olympic gold medallist Kellie Harrington has been named Ireland’s most marketable athlete in a survey of members of the Marketing Institute of Ireland.

Harrington is one of five female athletes in the top six most marketable sports stars, alongside Solheim Cup star Leona Maguire, Paralympic gold medallist Ellen Keane, Grand National winner Rachael Blackmore and boxer Katie Taylor. 

The only male athlete in the top six is golfer Shane Lowry.

Sponsorship consultants ONSIDE and the MII say the survey shows the marketing industry’s growing enthusiasm for women’s sport, a conclusion evidenced by Onside announcing that the Ladies Gaelic Football Association partnership with Lidl was ‘best overall sports sponsorship’ last year.

Onside chief executive John Trainor commented: “Momentum has been building around women’s sport in Ireland, with Katie Taylor and the women’s hockey team blazing a trail.

“What we’ve seen for the first time in 2021 is female athletes dominate the news agenda for a sustained period, from Rachael Blackmore’s ground-breaking successes at Cheltenham and Aintree, through to Leona Maguire’s inspirational performances at the Inverness Club in September.

“In the middle of all that were the Olympic and Paralympic Games and, again, it was the female stars that shone brightest. Kellie Harrington’s boxing gold medal has catapulted her to the top of the most marketable athletes in the minds of key marketing budget holders for 2022.”

MII chief executive David Field added: “Many of the most effective sponsorships in the eyes of Ireland’s marketing industry were in place pre-pandemic and remained in place over the last 18 months. This has seen brands and rights holders maintain relationships during tough times, and they are now seeing the benefits of the sponsorship — which is ultimately long-term brand building.”

There’s more detail from the Onside/MII survey here.

Photo: RTE's Darragh Moloney (left) discussing sports sponsorship trends with Jo Harrington of Live Nation Ireland and Paul Dermody, CEO of Horse Racing Ireland, at the SpaceTo studio in Dublin.