Though SIS LIVE will be closing its OB division next year, the company continues to expand its IP service offerings with the installation of a new iDirect hub at MediaCityUK, Salford. Operating from SIS LIVE’s Salford teleport, the new hub will provide IP services to major UK and overseas customers and will work alongside the existing SIS LIVE iDirect services operating out of Milton Keynes.
Employing the latest Evolution iDX 3.2 software, the iDirect hub will run on multiple satellites including a new SIS Ka Band service utilising an 8.1m antenna at SIS LIVE’s MediaCityUK teleport. The multi-satellite hub aims to provide iDirect-based IP services to over 100 uplink vehicles. SIS LIVE will also build and deliver up to 20 new Ka band uplinks in 2014.
SIS LIVE engineers have developed a system to allow both DVB carriers and iDirect-based IP carriers to share the same satellite capacity allowing users to maximise the value of satellite capacity. The service will allow broadcasters to deliver ‘source to studio’ file-based content and continue to use efficient DVB video encoders for low-latency high bitrate live broadcasts.
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 said “SIS LIVE 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.”
