SISLink win contract to supply ITV news uplinks

SISLink, Europe’s largest independent uplink services provider, has begun negotiations with ITV over a five-year contract to supply uplinks for their entire regional news network.
Under the biggest ever SNG uplink contract in the UK, SISLink will provide between one and three uplinks for each region within the ITV network. The uplinks will be based around the UK from Carlisle to Plymouth. This contract is for a complete SNG system including vehicle-mounted uplinks, fixed uplinks and regionally based downlinks. The first of 15 vehicle-mounted uplinks is expected to be delivered by the end of the year.
Mark Chaplin, Director of Technical Operations at ITV News Group, said: “ITV is investing heavily in news technology and the SISLink uPod system meets our criteria of increased production capability at a lower cost. In partnership with SISLink we will be able to expand our regional SNG fleet by over 50% in the next six months”.
ITV will be supplied with SISLink’s advanced uPod system. uPod, launched at the beginning of 2004, is a self-contained automatic uplink that’s proving to be a great success. As an alternative to the standard SNG vehicle, uPod is designed to be smaller and more flexible yet still produce results of a very high quality.
David Meynell, General Manager at SISLink, said: “SISLink have worked extremely hard to produce the industry leading automated uplink system and I believe that this very important contract with ITV indicates the quality and excellence of uPod. We are looking forward to continuing our long running relationship with the ITV regions and will continue to develop our systems and services to retain our position as the leading SNG service provider in Europe.”
The simplicity of uPod allows for ITV operators to operate the SNG uplinks, all of which will utilise the new SISLink online booking system. The system allows instant bookings and access to satellite capacity as and when it’s required. Additionally, each ITV region will be fitted with a 2.4 metre uplink/downlink dish. This enables generation of individual IP carriers allowing them to control the uPod and giving the reporter secure IP connection to the regional Intranet.
SISLink have supplied ITV with SNG uplinks over several years for many of their news regions. The new contract allows SISLink to provide an integrated and comprehensive service to the entire ITV regional news network using their most advanced uplink yet.
(GB)