BBC Technology delivers playout infrastructure control to the BBC’s Broadcast Centre

BBC Technology's Colledia Control product will be used to monitor and control the playout infrastructure at the BBC’s new Broadcast Centre.

Colledia Control will collect, log, filter and present on-screen status information from playout equipment and systems at the Broadcast Centre, enabling operational staff to rapidly assess the nature of any reported faults and identify necessary remedial action. The monitoring system will be configurable to allow flexibility for future changes in equipment and operational process and is designed to scale with BBC Broadcast’s future plans for expansion.

Colledia Control is a software-based product that provides control across all areas of broadcast infrastructure and operations, including both modern and legacy equipment, from one user-friendly, touch screen interface. A single operator can manage an entire broadcasting infrastructure and operation, from content creation to distribution. It enables broadcasters to simplify complex processes involving multiple broadcast components, remotely control offsite equipment from a central location and monitor the status and performance of the ir entire broadcast infrastructure. Colledia Control can interface with more than 5,000 different pieces of broadcast equipment, and does not require upgrades to existing equipment.

The BBC’s Broadcast Centre will house the playout, channel management and creative teams for international channels, BBC channels and other broadcasters. It is at the heart of BBC Broadcast’s vision to lead a major shift in broadcast media management from traditional tape-based formats to digital media, transforming their capability to playout, present, manage and repurpose rich media content for any platform and any broadcaster. Services available from the Broadcast Centre include playout, media planning, monitoring, creative, editing and library services, EPG (Electronic Program Guide) development, subtitling, signing and audio description. The first services from Broadcast Centre are due to go 'on air' in April 2004.