Success is in the family for TVM
Tom Leahy (centre), Regional Director with Ulster Bank, presents the Family Run Business award for Munster to Trisha and Batt Arnold of Bartlemy based broadcasting company TVM, at Thomond Park. The company have been hotly tipped to win the bank's...
Thursday March 11 2010
A BARTLEMY based company that broadcasts footage from sporting and music events to TV stations across Europe has been shortlisted for a major national award.
Having already scooped the prestigious Ulster Bank Family Run Business award, TVM will this week go head to head with companies from across Ireland for the coveted Ulster Bank Business Achievers Award.
Established in 1986 by husband and wife team Bart and Helen Arnold, TVM has grown into arguably the most successful independent outside broadcast company in Ireland.
With a client list that reads like a 'who's who' of the European broadcasting world, TVM has established an enviable reputation for its coverage of countless sporting and cultural events over the past quarter of a century.
In addition to covering events for RTE, TV3 and TG4, the company has secured contracts with the BBC, Sky Sports, Setanta Sports, Channel 4, Canal +, ESPN. ITV and Euro Sport.
Their cameras have covered a plethora of sporting events including RBS 6-Nations matches at Croke Park and Twickenham, FA Cup fixtures in the UK, Irish international soccer matches and numerous racing meetings across Ireland and the UK.
The company has also been on hand to provide coverage for a host of other high-profile outdoor cultural and entertainment events including the visit of former US President Bill Clinton to Ireland, the Oxegen music festival and the recent Guinness 250th anniversary celebrations.
The ongoing success has seen the company expand its operations in recent years to the point where it currently employs 30 full-time staff and up to 200 freelance camera, sound and rigging crew personnel at any one time.
Speaking ahead of this week's prizegiving ceremony, Batt Arnold said the family-oriented ethos of the company has been one of the key factors behind its ongoing success.
"Running a family business is no different to any other enterprise in that it has its challenges, but we are like one big happy family here. If fact more than half the team here have been with us for more than a decade," said Mr Arnold.
"I'm even more proud of the fact that a second generation of Arnold's, including my daughters Trisha and Marie, are now working with the company," he added.
Helen Arnold said everyone at TVM was thrilled to be nominated for the award.
"We are a high-tech company based in rural Ireland with numerous well-known national and international clients. A lot of our staff live within the north Cork area and it is a great boost for them to know that all their hard work is being recognised on the national stage," she added.
- BILL BROWNE bbrowne@corkman.ie
