Technicolor Network Services in the United Kingdom was this week awarded a long-term contract by ITV plc to handle the broadcast and transmission operations for its six existing channels including ITV1, the leading commercial channel in the country, writes Fergal Ringrose.
Under the terms of the ITV agreement, Thomson assumes control of ITV’s northern and southern transmission centres in the United Kingdom. In addition, approximately 120 employees from ITV will join Technicolor Network Services.
TNS will manage a significant investment in new technology to provide ITV with a scaleable platform from which to evolve its business, supported by a range of services including content preparation, media management, network management, transmission services, and disaster recovery capabilities. Current ITV playout operations include channels ITV1, 2, 3 and 4, Men and Motors, CiTv and ITV Play. In addition, ITV1 has 25 regional feeds that are supported with unique advertising insertions and programming announcements.
This agreement reinforces a trend by major broadcasters to partner with managed service providers and further expands Thomson’s growing network services business in Europe. This year, Thomson has added activities in France (TV5 and France 24), The Netherlands with NOB and significantly expanded its range of services in London. Technicolor Network Services now provides managed services to over 200 channels from 12 facilities in the United Kingdom, France, Holland, Japan and North America.
