Megahertz Celebrates Successful Year

Megahertz Ltd is celebrating a successful 12 months in truck build, with more than 45 links vehicles on order from broadcasters in the UK and Ireland. The company has overseen the design and production on all of the vehicles – some of which are equipped for UHD – at its Ely facility since January of this year.

Of these orders, are 37 vehicles for the BBC and include both regional TV newsgathering VSAT trucks and SNG trucks that will handle network news coverage from across the 15 regional channels in the UK.

The VSAT vehicles are designed to provide simple and reliable newsgathering facilities. A shoot edit operator will be able to gather live video, edit the video in the vehicle and be able to work remotely from the vehicle for a live TV contribution. Connectivity is via VSAT, bonded cellular or WiBE. The vehicles are intended primarily for news and live outside broadcast events. Some of the regional news vehicles require simultaneous HD contribution to multiple destinations, while other feeds from the SNG trucks will go directly into London and are distributed across the six platforms including the SD and HD channels, mobile and online.

In addition to the above, Megahertz has received an order for five new fibre vehicles and one hybrid fibre UHD uplink vehicle from BT TV Outside Broadcast (TVOB), the service provider arm of BT Media and Broadcast (M&B). This will refresh over 20% of BT M&Bs fleet of trucks. Megahertz has also upgraded two existing BT TVOB vehicles to UHD. The trucks, which are already in use by BT's base of international broadcasters, are part of a fleet designed and operated as fibre only. Hybrid fibre and satellite vans support the main production OB and send pictures back via fibre to BT Tower. They are used to cover HD and UHD sports productions, including the Premier League football, rugby and cricket.

"We have had a fantastic 12 months designing, building and delivering various DSNG vehicles to key customers such as the BBC and BT," said Jon Flay, Managing Director, Megahertz. "To maintain a leadership position in advanced systems integration and to meet the ever-changing demands of today's market you need a broad and current skillset in your design and engineering teams, and a versatile and creative approach. Our team's vast experience and our deep understanding of broadcasters' mobile requirements have enabled us to stay ahead of the game and deliver these new vehicles."

Mark Wilson-Dunn, BT Media & Broadcast Global VP, added: "We are delighted to continue a long relationship with Megahertz as we take the delivery of live events forward with our pioneering work around 4K Ultra High Definition."

www.megahertz.co.uk

(JP/LM)