INland Magazine recently conducted an exclusive interview with George Bayer, Managing Director of Majestic Television, at their offices in San Pedro.
Those readers who ‘channel hop’ may, like us, have come across Majestic Television on Sky Channel 238 by accident and become regular viewers – if not, take a look, you won’t be disappointed.
The ‘soft launch’ began early this year after a twelve month planning period. This phase, which usually involves the testing of all facilities, broadcast of a test pattern and no advertising, took a slightly different form with Majestic, who chose to show original programming along with shopping channel blocks which were sold to subsidise the station.
On the 14th March, Majestic TV re-launched and now broadcasts all its own programming between the hours of 8.30am and 1.00am which includes sixty hours of locally produced, original material.
The Majestic Group, which is comprised of a real estate and construction company, security company, a radio station and magazines, has become recognised as lifestyle related, the television station itself “focuses the interests, concerns and dreams of the viewers, we are the self-ordained ambassadors to Spain, we are selling the reality of life in Spain.”
Aimed at viewers who have an interest in Iberia, whether generally or for potential relocation, there is a wealth of information within the programmes. ‘Kevin’s Spanish Capers’ follows former ‘Coronation Street’ star and local resident Kevin Kennedy as he travels throughout the region and beyond taking a look at the outdoor life. ‘A Round with Pace’ sees comedian Norman Pace playing golf with the pros on courses in the area. It also includes tips and advice. The magazine programme ‘Vista’ introduces professionals from all walks of life exchanging information on many aspects of living in Spain, from legal guidance to local cookery. Eight more series are currently in production and will include more locations, state of the art graphics and coverage of sports events, festivals and live music.
George, originally from the U.S.A., has twenty seven year’s experience in television. Trained as a fine artist, he became involved in the entertainment industry when a piece of his video art won multiple prestigious awards. On submitting his piece, George omitted to tell anyone that he was still a student which reinforced his view that raw talent and experience counts for more than training. He carries this theory into his recruitment techniques – although many of the staff at Majestic have been ‘headhunted’ from the BBC, Channel Four, Five and GMTV, one of their top cameramen was originally a London cab driver with some flair who was originally hired a as a runner and worked his way up through the ranks. (!) A third of the staff is native Spanish mixed with ex-pats and other nationalities, some of whom began with very little knowledge of the processes involved in television production, but George feels that the best training takes place ‘on the ground’. He places his experienced staff alongside the newcomers to give them support.
George’s work within the industry has taken him all around the world including stints in Japan, the Far East and the United States, working with such talented artistes as Mick Jagger and Brian May. He has some great tales to tell, including the Saudi Prince who, as the financier of an Italian network, watched an episode of his favourite series and called George in the early hours of the morning and demanded the immediate transmission of the next instalment! He was also directing one of the largest Saint Patrick’s parades in the world for television, involving three hundred floats and eight thousand marchers, when the white mustang pulling a three storey leprechaun ran amok. Also, the Malaysian film studio, built from scratch and among the largest in the world, whose entrance was an inch and a half too low to allow access to the transportation lorries… as he says “In television anything that can go wrong will go wrong. The people who make up this industry have to be flexible, intuitive and be able to think on their feet.”
The services available at Majestic Television include brand new, state of the art digital production facilities: four fully equipped editing suites, broadcast quality cameras and a range of high quality equipment which opens the field to companies who wish to produce commercials or other programmes locally at roughly half the cost of the London equivalent. Add the advantage of the lower cost of living and you are looking at an extremely attractive package which will doubtlessly draw business to the Costa del Sol.
George also played an integral part in the broadcasting-related negotiations which resulted in British Telecom opening the satellite market to ‘short term’ contracts. This has made satellite television an affordable and available medium which continues to grow at an incredible rate. This exceptionally experienced and talented Managing Director intends to stay at Majestic “For as long as the channel needs me.”
We have a feeling he’ll be there for some time.
Our thanks to George Bayer. Tracy Banks.
Attributed to http://www.inlandmagazine.com
