Sky Television Selects Pro-Bel

Media Release
9 November 2007

Sky Television Selects Pro-Bel For Its New Multichannel Playout Facility

SKY New Zealand has selected Pro-Bel to provide key automation, media management and control components for the upgrade of its broadcast centre in Auckland.

The broadcaster, whose content is distributed by satellite across New Zealand, is significantly expanding its facilities and upgrading its broadcast infrastructure to access the full benefits of file-based playout.

SKY New Zealand has ordered a 48-channel Pro-Bel Morpheus automation and playout system, as well as Morpheus Control and Monitoring, which will be used initially for soft panel router control. Morpheus will also be handling live, file and tape-based ingest functionality.

“As New Zealand’s pre-eminent sports broadcaster,” says David Elder, Head of SKY Presentation, “we needed a proven supplier in the automation space, with a sound pedigree and a strong understanding of automation requirements in a sports-driven environment.”

“We determined that we need both a greater level of automation, enhanced flexibility in how the playout of channels is handled, and the ability to exploit multiple delivery mechanisms. We also want greater consistency in operational management, improved operational efficiency and the ability to support future requirements.”

“All in all,” adds Greg Drummond, Director of SKY Broadcast Operations, “we need to ensure that we make the best use of technology in support of our operations and ultimately our business strategy. We see Pro-Bel as being well-placed to provide us with this, and also as a vendor with whom a strategic relationship can be developed and grown over time.”

“This is a very significant order for us, both in its scale and scope,” says Graham Pitman, Pro-Bel’s Group Chief Executive. “We are very pleased that SKY recognises both the benefits that we bring to this project, and the fact that we also view this as a long-term strategic partnership.”
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