Member Article

SIS Live launches new hub at Salford

Satellite technology provider SIS Live has installed a new iDirect hub at MediaCityUK, Salford.

Operating from the company’s Salford base, it will provide IP services to major UK and overseas customers. The new hub will work alongside the existing SIS Live iDirect services which have operated out of their Milton Keynes base since 2007 and will provide greater resilience and the development and expansion of new IP over satellite services.

The iDirect hub, operating on the latest Evolution iDX 3.2 software will run on multiple satellites including a new SIS Ka Band service utilising an 8.1m antenna at SIS Live’s MediaCityUK teleport. Combined with iDirect’s new X7 modems users can expect great throughput performance.

The multi-satellite hub will provide iDirect-based IP services to well over 100 SIS Live uplink vehicles. SIS Live will also build and deliver up to 20 new Ka band uplinks in 2014.

The service will allow broadcasters to deliver from ‘source to studio’ file-based content and continue to use efficient DVB video encoders for low latency high bit rate live broadcasts.

SIS Live’s Research and Development team are now working on a new version of this DVB/IP sharing system which will use uBook, SIS LIVE’s fully integrated, online booking system, affording users full flexibility and immediate control over both DVB and IP transmissions.

Dimitri Zafiriadis, Sales Director, Northern Europe iDirect commented: “SIS Live has been a major customer for iDirect for many years and we are pleased to be working closely with them to expand their service offerings. They have taken a very innovative approach to assimilate iDirect into their proprietary booking system allowing them to offer their clients a completely integrated and user-friendly system.”

David Meynell, Managing Director at SIS Live says “Our Links division continues to push the boundaries of SNG provision and this is the latest exciting development in a long line of innovation and first-to-market cutting edge services.

“Working with iDirect, we have developed a bookings and IP proposition that is unique to the market place and will appeal to all serious broadcasters in the UK and beyond. Flexing the bandwidth available for IP connectivity, shared by a customer’s fleet of uplink terminals for data and video transfer, whilst retaining the ability for SCPC live critical transmissions truly does offer the best use of satellite bandwidth for the ever-demanding, content-rich world.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Simon Malia .