The BBC has awarded a seven-year playout services contract to Ericsson, retaining the multi-year deal held by Ericsson’s Red Bee Media.
Playout Services include the technology and operations that allow broadcasters to deliver programs to audiences through network, linear television channels.
The contract was awarded following a competitive tender process and includes playout and media management services for the BBC’s portfolio of TV channels in the UK (BBC One, BBC Two, BBC Four, CBeebies and CBBC) and its interactive Red Button service. The contract also includes playout and media management for the BBC’s commercially funded international news channel, BBC World News.
Bal Samra, Managing Director, BBC Television says: “This is a very good outcome for the BBC which meets all our objectives – guaranteeing quality, flexibility and innovation in a commercial deal which provides excellent value for money. By extending our partnership with Ericsson we have secured the future delivery of these broadcast critical services and delivered significant savings for the BBC.”
Thorsten Sauer, Head of Broadcast and Media Services at Ericsson, says: “We are proud that the BBC has selected Ericsson as its playout partner of choice. The BBC is one of the world’s premier broadcasters and drives innovation in the industry. This continued partnership is very important for our business and demonstrates both our technical innovation and the quality and expertise of our people and our operations in managing highly complex and dynamic media operations.
Red Bee Media was acquired by Ericsson in May 2014 and this week took the name of its parent company. Historically the business is the in-house playout division of the BBC.
Ericsson has successfully built its European playout and facilities business with customers that also include Sweden’s TV and the Dutch public broadcaster NOS.
