Made TV Signs Agreement With Megahertz

Made TV has signed a systems integration contract with Megahertz.

The agreement sees Megahertz designing and implementing complete production, news and ENG kits for five new stations, together with a centralised playout facility.
Made TV was formed to win and operate city TV licences, and is the largest operator in terms of number of stations. Its plans include stations for Bristol, Cardiff, Leeds and Tyne & Wear, with a fifth station covering Tees-side to follow shortly. This gives it a reach of more than 11 million people, via Freeview digital terrestrial transmission, Sky satellite and Virgin cable.
"Good partnerships are always journeys but in this case it has been an odyssey," said Jamie Conway, Made TV CEO. "Megahertz was with us when we lobbied for these licences and supported our effort to reassure the British government that city TV was sustainable. They were with us when we won our licences, and they are still a valued and integral part of the company as we count down to the first station going on air."
Each station will have a production studio with three robotic cameras and the capability to add two additional cameras as required. The Leeds site also includes the playout, master control, distribution and asset management operations. In addition to studio production, each station will produce news and programmes 'out and about' using ENG equipment with live contribution capability when required.
The channels will initially be broadcast in SD but all production will be carried out in HD to permit resale of content and allow easy future upgrades. The channels will be broadcasting pre-recorded, live-studio and live on-location material and all sites are networked together, allowing broadcasters to share content and facilities as required.
City TV in the UK was first proposed in 2012 and 13 companies were awarded 19 licences, of which Made TV is the largest. Six stations are already on air in Grimsby, London, Norwich, Glasgow, Nottingham and Brighton.cMade TV will launch in Bristol in October with three other services coming on air before Christmas.
Megahertz will be discussing its systems integration and build capabilities at IBC2014 (12 – 16 September) on stand 11.F20.

(CD)