AIRIA appoints Emerald Media Worldwide to handle PR

AIRIA Limited, the UK and US-based joint venture company of Inmarsat Ventures plc, which plans to launch Live Inflight Television globally, has appointed aviation consultancy Emerald Media Worldwide to handle its public relations effective December 2002. Australia's Asia Pacific Public Relations is the Australasian partner for Emerald Worldwide.

AIRIA is in dialogue with several of the world's leading airlines as it pioneers high-speed time sensitive multi-media delivery aboard the cabins of commercial aircraft. It is offering the airlines a cost-effective solution in delivering Live TV using existing infrastructure and will be making some important partner and supplier announcements from early 2003.

The AIRIA television system is unique in that it uses the existing Inmarsat Aero H/H+ antenna already installed on some 80% of modern long-haul commercial aircraft flying worldwide today. AIRIA offers the airlines a simple solution, without any modification to the airframe, as no new antenna is required. And, because AIRIA will use the existing Inmarsat satellite network, it offers global service, including over the oceans. Furthermore, the AIRIA system will interface with and complement existing Inflight Entertainment Systems onboard.

AIRIA will offer live international news from BBC World when initial inflight trials commence from next summer. The system will be capable of providing two channels of television and multimedia broadcasts.

AIRIA is headquartered in London, UK and Annapolis, Maryland. Its main shareholder is Inmarsat Ventures plc, which owns and operates a global satellite network, distributing solutions through a worldwide group of partners to end users in the aeronautical, maritime and multi-national corporate sectors. The Group's principal operational areas are: Global mobile satellite communications, transportable broadband communications solutions, and provision of content and applications to key markets.

Emerald Media Worldwide embraces Emerald Media, Emerald Media US and Asia Pacific Public Relations and has offices in Berkshire, UK; Vienna, Virginia, US and Melbourne and Sydney, Australia. Providing PR, event management, 24-hour crisis cover and editorial services, Emerald Media Worldwide marks its 10th year in 2003.