BBC Technology install huge remote broadcast monitoring system

BBC Technology have announced a significant contract with DIRECTV, a leading digital multichannel television service provider in the US.
According to the terms of the agreement, BBC Technology will provide monitoring software, Colledia Control, for remote management of the broadcast infrastructure that will span DIRECTV's two new remote uplink facilities being built in Oakdale, Minn. and Winchester, Va.
The new Colledia Control sale follows DIRECTV's recent installation of Colledia Control announced in April. The implementation of BBC Technology's broadcast control product will help increase DIRECTV's audience reach, and expand its local channel distribution from 61 cities in the U.S. to more than 100 by year end. The project is due for completion by the end of 2003.
The two new uplink facilities will be an extension of DIRECTV's existing up-link infrastructure, currently co-located at broadcast facilities in Castle Rock, Colo. and Los Angeles, Calif. While the two new facilities will be managed remotely from the Castle Rock broadcast facility, the Minnesota-based and Virginia-based uplink facilities will enable the service provider to reach cities such as Rochester, N.Y.; Santa Barbara, Calif.; Tulsa, Okla. and Wilmington, N.C. Colledia Control will allow DIRECTV to cost-effectively monitor the health of the remote facilities as well as the quality of the signals being received and transmitted across DIRECTV's more widely distributed market.
The new deal extends the scale of the installation to one of the most complex and comprehensive monitoring and control systems yet implemented by any broadcaster.
"We are delighted that Colledia Control continues to support DIRECTV's expansion plans while helping them to generate cost savings and ultimately improve their audience experience," said Ann Wilson, president, BBC Technology.
Dave Baylor, executive vice president, DIRECTV, Inc. commented: "DIRECTV and BBC Technology's work to date has been a technical feat of which we are all extremely proud. We are delighted to be able to expand our network across the two new uplink facilities. BBC Technology has played a vital role in assisting us to increase our competitive advantage and improve the services we offer our customers, as well as helping us make operations more efficient and less complex for our team."
(GB)