Thomson’s Technicolor Network Services Chooses Pro-Bel to Power ITV Playout
Reading, UK – 2nd January 2008: Pro-Bel today announced that Technicolor Network Services, a business unit in the Technicolor Services division of Thomson (Euronext 18453; NYSE: TMS), has selected automation, ingest and media management technology from Pro-Bel to power the transmission centres that handle the delivery of all of ITV’s analogue and digital channels.
In late 2006, as part of an overall outsourcing agreement, Technicolor Network Services began managing the staff and operations of ITV’s northern and southern playout centres in Leeds and London. These centres handle the playout of the ITV network channels and also delivery of content to other platforms. As part of that contract, Technicolor Network Services was tasked with upgrading and future-proofing these operations and moving them into a fully digital environment.
“ITV has taken the opportunity to focus on its core business, therefore creating the opportunity for us to provide ITV with significantly enhanced technical and operational capabilities,” says Maurizio Cimelli, Senior VP and Head of Global Commercial Services, Technicolor Network Services. “We offer a range of innovations and a huge portfolio of skills and assets to facilitate ITV achieving its objectives.”
Pro-Bel is providing its Morpheus automation system, including ingest and media management capabilities, to enable the transformation of the two playout centres. The southern centre is to be relocated to a brand new site in Chiswick Park, London, while the northern centre in Leeds in being refurbished. The project is well underway.
“The scale and reach of this project is huge and what it will allow ITV to achieve is truly groundbreaking,” says Graham Pitman, CEO, Pro-Bel. “We can enable a seamless transition, in terms of existing workflows, while offering the ability to expand into new platforms, channels and methodologies. Morpheus is right at the heart of this.”
Cimelli adds, “When it comes to technology selection, we are constantly looking not only at today’s requirements but how these technologies will scale and enable customers to move across a sometimes unclear future. With our use of Morpheus in London and Singapore, we know its capabilities. We felt there is a clear commitment from Pro-Bel to continue investing in the future of this product.”
About Pro-Bel:
The Pro-Bel name is synonymous with innovative automation, media management and master control solutions as well as outstanding routing, control and signal distribution systems - all designed to be flexible and scalable, protecting the investment of the customer. With three decades of service to the international broadcast, post-production, cable & satellite communities, Pro-Bel has a unique understanding of broadcast workflow, and is an established leader in the provision of cost-effective solutions that compromise neither performance nor quality.
Contact Information:
Company contact:
Katharine Guy
Pro-Bel Ltd
Tel: +44 1189 214 294
katharine.guy@pro-bel.com
Press contact:
Jennie Evans
Manor Marketing
Tel: +44 1635 44991
jennie@manormarketing.tv
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www.pro-bel.com/news_and_events/c/Press Information/