BBC’s new HQ is at the vanguard of broadcasting technology

THE new £120m headquarters for BBC Wales at Central Square in the centre of Cardiff will be the first location for the public service broadcaster in the UK to benefit from next generation internet protocol (IP) technology.

In a major boost the new HQ and broadcast centre, which is scheduled for completion in the spring of 2018, will be the first BBC facility to deploy IP technology across both its production and broadcast operation.

IP revolutionises the way data and signals are carried, providing far greater flexibility and enabling BBC Wales to adapt quickly to future requirements.

The value of the investment has not been disclosed.

The broadcaster will work with Canadian company Grass Valley and the US technology giant Cisco to introduce the new IP technology at its Central Square headquarters.

It is expected to replace much of the traditional SDI technology (serial digital interface) that is currently used extensively by the BBC and other major UK broadcasters.

Gareth Powell, BBC Wales’ chief operating officer, said: “IP is an investment in BBC Wales’ creative future – and will put us at the vanguard of broadcast technology developments in Europe.

“The new technology is also very scalable, which means we’ll be able to adapt quickly to future demands for higher bandwidth or better video resolution.”

The introduction of IP will also enable BBC Wales to use their facilities at Central Square more flexibly.

Unlike SDI, IP data and signals can flow in every direction, which means different devices dotted around the building will be able to recognise and “talk” to one another.

This will mean, for example, an IP-enabled microphone can be controlled by any sound desk anywhere in the building, and any TV gallery could control any IP-enabled camera.

Mr Powell added: “This will give us a level of creative freedom about how we produce our content that we’ve never had before.

“We want to harness the benefits of IP technology to provide the best possible tools to our content-makers and to free them from many of the historic constraints we’ve faced at our current HQ in Llandaff.

“I believe this investment will help make Central Square one of the most creative, collaborative and open broadcast centres anywhere in the UK.

Following the fit-out of its new HQ, some 1,200 staff are expected to move into the new building in late 2019 or early 2020.