Salford's MediaCity pushes technology boundaries

Making Media City future-proof

Clennell said that the key strategy for MediaCity is to remain on the cutting edge of technology. Because the technology infrastructure is very centralised, with all content passing through a Central Technical Area (CTA), Peel Holdings will be able to swap out studios on a modular basis.

This is because the CTA, which is the main apparatus area, comprises two distinct rooms. One is a large highly secured apparatus room, containing broadcast equipment such as cameras and vision mixers as well as air conditioning equipment and power supplies.

Next door is the Master Control Room (MCR), which is more of an operational space. This is where all of the operational decisions are made. Operators in the MCR control the arrival and departure of content onto, and off, campus.

“It’s the control centre for the distribution of content across MediaCity,” explained Clennel.

He said that this will make life much easier when new technologies, such as the experimental Ultra High Definition format, gain mainstream acceptance.

Ultra HD is an experimental digital video format, currently proposed by NHK of Japan, the BBC, and RAI, producing an image of 7680×4320 pixels.

“So we can have six studios in HD, and a seventh in Ultra HD, if and when that comes along, because the connectivity between the studio and the CTA is fibre-based and that is very future proof.”

He added that the firm can change the equipment within the studios, swap out cameras, change the kit in the CTA and introduce new broadcast channels and camera chains that support new technologies when they enter the fray.

“We’ve got a very aggressive refresh and depreciation policy here, so that we’re able to replace technologies and buy the very latest on a regular basis and we’re also developing our relationships with major academic institutions such as Salford University and the BBC’s research and development department, because we want MediaCity to be a centre of innovation, where companies and organisations will showcase and try out new technologies – we expect to see a lot of firsts come out of MediaCity," Clennell said.