BBC Technology Announces Deal That Will See in a New Production Era for the BBC.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

IBC 2003

Stand 9.131, Hall 9

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 15, 2003

BBC Technology's Colledia(TM) for Production to Underpin BBC

Production Modernisation Initiative

BBC Technology today announced a deal with the BBC that will see Colledia(TM) for Production underpin the BBC's One Vision project -- a key element of a BBC-wide initiative to modernise production across its organisation. In the first pilot deployment, Colledia(TM) for Production will be trialled at the BBC's Natural History Unit.

One Vision is a joint project between BBC Production, BBC Technology Direction, BBC Information & Archives and BBC Research & Development. It is part of a BBC-wide initiative to modernise production processes and technology that aim to make production more efficient, interactive and collaborative.

Colledia(TM) for Production will allow BBC production teams to work more efficiently on programme material on a single digital platform. The BBC's One Vision project team was led to Colledia(TM) for Production because of its ability to deliver the benefits of collaborative workflow across the entire production process and media lifecycle, from ingest through to archive. The BBC will benefit from improved workflow efficiencies, which in turn will increase productivity and reduce costs.

Says Ann Wilson, managing director, BBC Technology: "We are delighted to provide the BBC with technology integral to its production modernisation initiatives in programme making. On the back of our deal with ESPN for Colledia(TM) for Sports, we're proud that a Colledia(TM) product is fundamental in the production of such crucial programming. This is testament to the benefits Colledia(TM) brings to broadcasters in enabling them to re-engineer the entire media lifecycle, from idea to broadcast and archive."

Colledia(TM) for Production is a digital production tool that manages and automates complex productions such as documentary and magazine programming. It combines collaborative working with tools for ingest, playout, storage, transcode and access, making production workflows highly efficient and automated. This enables the entire production process to be managed by multiple workgroups who can share production information and work on material simultaneously.

The BBC's Natural History unit is a world-renowned producer of natural history programming. Its next landmark will be the wildlife series Planet Earth. The pilot project at the BBC's Natural History Unit will deploy Colledia(TM) for Production in Autumn 2003.

About Colledia(TM) for Production

Colledia(TM) for Production manages and automates complex productions such as documentary and magazine programming. Built on the Colledia(TM) Workflow platform, Colledia(TM) for Production digitises and seamlessly integrates the entire production process, addressing the problems inherent in tape-based production. It supports ingest, play-out and transcode at production quality with collaborative support. It is based on open standards, so it integrates easily with existing systems; and it scales from small departments to enterprise-wide deployments.

Colledia(TM) for Production is a key element of BBC Technology's products and services portfolio which, based upon its Media Lifecycle Management model, enables broadcasters and producers to manage entire production processes, seamlessly and efficiently on a single, digital platform.

BBC Technology at IBC 2003

BBC Technology will be exhibiting Colledia(TM) for Production as an element of its Colledia(TM) product portfolio, which enables broadcasters and producers to integrate entire production processes, seamlessly and efficiently, on a single digital platform.

Designed by programme-makers for programme-makers, Colledia(TM) places the benefits of a completely digitised system into the hands of everyone involved in the production cycle. Encompassing all functions of the media lifecycle, from content creation through to multi-platform distribution, Colledia(TM) Workflow has been developed for News, Sports and Production.

BBC Technology's IBC stand is also featuring:

1 Colledia(TM) Control -- which provides control and monitoring

for broadcast equipment and infrastructure.

2 Media Communications -- global, broadcast quality,

point-to-point and point-to-multipoint satellite and fibre

solutions for content contribution and distribution. This

includes the London Media Gateway -- unlimited,

cost-effective, self-serve connectivity to the BBC and other

media organisations.

3 Internet Solutions -- combining BBC Technology's skills in

content distribution, digital rights management and Internet

hosting to enable content creators to promote and sell content

to acquisition managers worldwide.

4 Consulting -- solving the complex business issues faced by

companies with significant media assets when strategy impacts

operations and the demands of people, process and technology

need to be balanced within an appropriate budget.

Visit BBC Technology at Stand 9.131, Hall 9.

About BBC Technology

Founded in March 2001, BBC Technology provides products and services for both the BBC and other global media-driven organisations. Drawing on eight decades of pioneering technical expertise and innovation for the BBC, BBC Technology helps organisations create, manage and distribute content more effectively across multiple platforms. BBC Technology's products and services include: the award-winning Colledia(TM) media lifecycle management portfolio, Colledia(TM) Control, Media Communications, Internet Solutions, Project Management and Consulting. Customers include: BBC News, BSkyB, DIRECTV, Inc., ESPN, Inc., Hutchison 3G, SABC and Scottish Enterprise.

BBC Technology is part of BBC Ventures Group, the BBC's new business to business commercial division comprising four operating businesses: BBC Technology, BBC Broadcast, BBC Resources and BBC Vecta. The group provides a full range of managed media services and facilities to the BBC and other media companies both in the UK and internationally. It has been tasked with maximising commercial return back to the BBC for the benefit of programme making and other BBC services.