Ticker Communications Inc. (T4R)

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Tickercom sets pace for millions of eyes

Canucks are just the ticker for Langford outfit

By Andrew A. Duffy, Times Colonist June 4, 2011 2:08 AM

More than six million Canadians could watch the Vancouver Canucks play the Boston Bruins in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup final on Hockey Night in Canada, starting at 5 p.m. And many of those eyes will also catch a glimpse of a Langford company's handiwork.

The Tickercom Group will be on show when the Hockey Night in Canada broadcast throws to its Chevrolet iDesk pre-game, post-game and in-between periods.

The company designed and provides running content for the iDesk's colour sports ticker that streams across a curved LED (light emitting diode) display at the back of the set.

"That's a lot of eyeballs," said Tickercom co-founder David Frederickson, noting in Canada it's as high-exposure as anyone is likely to get.

"We have [a ticker] on CNN but, as a Canadian, it doesn't get much better than Hockey Night in Canada, it would be like Monday Night Football in the U.S."

The ticker was installed just before the playoffs and was made to the exacting requirements of the curved set. Tickercom spokeswoman Heather Kohler said it had to be done quickly and in concert with the CBC's set and graphic designers.

As for the content, staff put together streams of information such as scores, scorers, injury updates and roster moves - and send it to the sign.

"That's what makes us unique," said Kohler. "We are staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week."

Kohler said clients, such as CBC, CNN, sports bars and restaurants, can have feeds custom designed for their needs or may have other feeds they subscribe to streamed through the LED signs.

"We also have software, a content engine that drives any kind of messaging they want and can be sent to the signs from any wireless device, a phone, computer, anything," she said.

The company, which started 14 years ago in Winnipeg and moved to the Island six years ago, is split into three divisions - lottery, gaming and the digital signs which are manufactured in China and shipped to Tickercom's warehouse in Las Vegas for testing.

There are more than 10,000 Tickercom signs streaming information around the world.

The company grew from a hole in the market as brothers Ron and David Frederickson, who had been planning to open a sports bar in Winnipeg complete with a sports ticker, couldn't find anyone to sell them the kind of sign and ticker feed they wanted.

"We tried to buy the signs but there weren't any," David recalled.

"So instead of the bar, we poured our heart and soul into this."

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