Wednesday 20th September 2006
VT Communications has been awarded a £1.4M contract with BBC World Service for the deployment of their new Satellite Media Distribution System (SMDS).
The SMDS system replaces the current satellite based Global Delivery System (GDS), with DVB based technology. As the BBC addresses the challenges of the global media environment, this technology gives them greater flexibility and better management of their programme content and distribution.
The contract covers the migration of GDS to the SMDS system globally, over a 2-year period, including the shipping and installation of over 1000 new satellite receivers to BBC partner sites worldwide, as well as the re engineering of programme feeds at their shortwave, medium wave and FM relays and programme distribution hubs.
Doug Umbers, VT Communications Managing Director, said: “We are delighted to be working with the World Service to deliver and support its next generation content distribution system. This also underlines our confidence in being able to provide managed distribution and transmission services to our customers, who are moving rapidly into the digital world.”
BBC World Service radio programmes are transmitted in 33 languages to around
163 million weekly listeners throughout the world, with the English and Arabic services broadcast 24 hours a day. VT Communications provides 24/7 operations, scheduling and support to BBC World Service, and is responsible for distributing their programmes globally to the BBC’s overseas relays and partners, as well as to the 10 VT Communications operated and maintained shortwave and medium wave transmission sites in the UK and throughout the world.
Award of this contract is recognition of VT Communications' unique expertise and track record in providing programme delivery services to the BBC World Service over the last 9 years, and in managing innovative end-to-end solutions and system integration in over 100 countries from 29 locations around the world.
Nigel Fry, Head of Transmission & Distribution, BBC World Service, commented: “This contract builds on the very successful partnership between BBC World Service and VT Communications. The SMDS system enables us to meet the exacting standards for coverage and dependability that will result in an overall better service for all our listeners.”