Rupert reports Ron’s talk
By Andy Pearson
An inspirational talk to members of the Swansea business community was given page lead status in the local paper.
Tinopolis founder and CEO Ron Jones was guest speaker at Friday’s Swansea Business Club lunch.
Here’s how South Wales Evening Post business writer Rupert Hall recorded the visit.
TV firm’s chief in rallying call
BUSINESSES in Wales have a unique opportunity to talk directly with Government, according to the boss of a leading media outlet.
Ron Jones launched Tinopolis from Swansea in the late 1980s and now leads the business from its headquarters in Llanelli with a staff of 500 supplying television programmes to broadcasters in the UK and the USA.
Mr Jones is the chair of the Welsh Assembly Government’s Economic Renewal Creative Industries Sector Panel and addressed business leaders in Swansea on Friday at the first monthly lunch of the Swansea Business Club of 2011.
Mr Jones said: “Government has opened the door with the economic renewal programme.
Urge
“To some extent all of us have to try and urge a wider case than just what is of interest to our individual companies,” he said.
“The creative sector is very weak in Wales and I think it is up to us to try and teach government which sub sectors within that have real growth potential so we can concentrate our efforts on helping the companies that have the potential to grow.”
Around 85 per cent of all business conducted by Tinopolis involves its core television contracts and roughly one third of that programming is consumed with sport.
The firm has recently released a film with Channel Four and won a contract to provide coverage of the America’s Cup.
Tinopolis will also cover the London 2012 Paralympic Games for Channel Four.
Significant
Mr Jones said: “Sport is a major part of our business but we are a significant producer of documentary programmes and we do a lot of 3D television.”
The Tinopolis boss said the culture of three dimensional television would not progress unless the output of content increases.
He said: “Equipment manufacturers are finding sales are slow and broadcasters are finding they haven’t got enough content.
“There are about 27 3D channels but they haven’t got enough content.
Take off
“Until you can watch it without special glasses it’s never really going to take off.
“3D only really works on really small screens but if they are going to sell the sets they will need more content.”
Tinopolis is working on a 3D series based on life in the womb.
International business consultant Tim Jones is the next speaker when the Swansea Business Club meets again on Friday March 25 at 12.30pm at Swansea’s Marriott Hotel.
Anyone looking to attend should contact Lisa Williams at Effective Communication on 02920 646 860 or email lwilliams@effcom.co.uk.
Tags: Business Club, Cardiff, Evening Post, PR, PR agency, Ron Jones, Swansea, Tinopolis, Wales
