CCN the UK Government and Public Information network has sold its digital signage network to Life Channel owners CanMedia.

CCN had been toiling away in the sector for almost 5 years, and over that time have built an impressive network of connections (Tony Blair launched their first network in the North East of England), but the deals have been painfully slow to come on-line. The CCN concept is that in a world of negative media attention, local councils needed their own way to promote their agendas and report their progress in a more positive way.

The networks were to be funded by the councils themselves and no 3rd party advertising. All the results from independent research showed excellent results from campaigns (such as reducing the fear of crime) and although it seemed as almost every council in the country had in principle agreed to roll out, the red tape made progress impossibly slow.

Meanwhile CanMedia have been steadily building their own presence in the public sector, with a growing collection of networks covering public health, local councils and education. With a model more based on media sales revenues, they have been able to find willing sponsors and to roll out without waiting for official local government backing. Once the networks are in place, they have councils quite willing to use them.

CCN will continue to operate its networks in the USA.