Salford's MediaCity pushes technology boundaries

MediaCity studios can be switched from HD to 3D according to demand

Salford-based MediaCity UK is a technologically ambitious, £500m project that will act as a hub for the UK’s top media organisations.

Due to be completed in 2011, the BBC will be moving 2,300 staff across its Children’s, Sport, Future Media and Technology departments to the site next year.

BBC North West is also set to relocate to the site. In addition, Salford University will take up premises in MediaCity to run courses and carry out research. The BBC Philharmonic Orchestra will also make Salford its new home, as will several media organisations.

It will also be the new home of the BBC’s Future Media & Technology department. However, as far as other new media technology companies moving to the area goes, there have as yet been no big announcements, although MediaCity’s owners say this is just a matter of time.

MediaCity has been developed by investment firm Peel Holdings, with phase one seeing the firm splash out £500m of which £50m has been spent on IT alone so far.

Paul Clennell, chief technical officer at Peel Media Group talked to Computing about the technology behind the venture and the company's plans for the remaining phases of the project.

“The uniqueness of MediaCity is in bringing all of those broadcasters together to share that infrastructure – this certainly hasn’t been done before,” said Clennell.

He explained that all connectivity across the site will be based on optical fibre and that the key objective for MediaCity is to remain on the cutting edge of technology. However, the largest barrier that he has faced, he said, has been trying to focus on priorities.

“There’s huge opportunity - the number of possibilities are infinite – and working out what you need to deliver first and which features are more aspirational and to be installed at a later date is essential,” he said.

More aspirational features will include provision for 3D and ultra high definition studios.

“I think there’s a real danger when you’ve got something like MediaCity, which is so exciting and innovative, to end up spending all your time thinking about what can be done. It's vital to just get on and do it.”