Networking
Media City case study
Powering media technology: BT helps to create a world-class hub for creative, digital and media industries, with a state-of-the-art managed network.
October 29, 2019
5 minutes
Networking
Media City case study
Powering media technology: BT helps to create a world-class hub for creative, digital and media industries, with a state-of-the-art managed network.
October 29, 2019
5 minutes
Create a ground-breaking creative, digital and media hub for innovation and content creation from the ground up with no existing architecture or infrastructure.
Build a secure, borderless, infrastructure which enables members of the community to collaborate by sharing information and data quickly and reliably.
Built a network which handles file sharing, digital signage, cloud computing and building management, making Media City a magnet for the most highflying UK media companies.
The challenge
Manchester - already a major centre for the creative, digital and media industries - is really making its mark on the media map with the building of the ground-breaking MediaCityUK development, which features BT technology at its heart.
Starting from the ground up with no existing architecture or infrastructure to constrain them, BT and developers, The Peel Group, are working together to create a world class hub for innovation and content creation, within a community environment.
Located at Salford Quays on the banks of Manchester’s historic ship canal, the MediaCityUK site is the first phase of a long-term scheme which has the potential to grow over 200 acres. It features one of the biggest HD studio complexes in Europe, with 7 HD studios, as well as two audio studios, one of which is dedicated to the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. Two residential towers house apartments, while shops, restaurants, coffee shops, offices and a hotel are all part of the facilities on offer for those who live or work at MediaCityUK.
Our aim is to bring together a range of ingredients that will make MediaCityUK a great place to live, work and visit.
" In order to help deliver this vision, we needed to attract bigger media businesses, which would in turn attract the editing, animation and creative companies who help them produce their programmes. For such companies - and therefore for us - technology is one of the major differentiators." says Paul.
The solution
The media industry has rich content and distribution requirements, so the site is underpinned by a state-of-the-art managed network, capable of managing multiple gigabytes of data. More than 20 million metres of optical fibre connect all the buildings within MediaCityUK (enough to stretch from Salford to Sydney), to carry voice, data, high and standard definition video, and wireless communication services.
We wanted a secure, but borderless, infrastructure which would enable members of our community to collaborate by sharing information and data quickly and reliably,
The result
MediaCityUK is already home to major occupiers including BBC North, ITV, Coronation Street, the University of Salford and Satellite Information Services (SIS). Nearly 2,500 BBC staff working across a wide range of news, sport, and children’s programming, are ensconced at MediaCityUK, plus staff from the corporation’s future media and technology department. ITV is moving its production and news teams, as well as building a new Coronation Street facility on Trafford Wharf, which is due to become operational in 2013.
In addition to the larger corporate names, we have more than 80 smaller creative businesses at MediaCityUK, such as TV producers, marketing agencies and computer game designers
“Our workspaces give small start-ups the chance to be near the centre of this media hub, with self-contained office suites, breakout space and meeting rooms. We like to offer total flexibility to potential occupiers, and technology is an important ingredient within that context.”
Job creation
Future generations of creatives will also be given a helping hand, with the University of Salford setting up a campus on the site to immerse its students in a professional media environment and give them access to the latest technology, underpinned by BT’s network.
For MediaCityUK’s developers, BT was a natural technology partner because of its proven track record, expertise and strong portfolio of solutions. “The team clearly understood our needs and vision, deploying a solution that it supports, monitors and manages - keeping overheads down and freeing up our time,” explained Stuart.
BT has worked very hard, and to challenging deadlines.
“MediaCityUK, due to is unique nature, has been very organic and fluid in terms of overall requirements and defined tenant offerings. Nothing of its kind has been done on this sort of scale before, so we weren’t sure what our tenants would want. BT has worked very hard, and to challenging deadlines, to ensure that its solutions give us a platform for growth, flexibility and agility. Together, and with the support of a variety of partners, we aim to deliver an amazing experience for existing and potential tenants.”
About
- Company
MediaCityUK is a mixed-use property development on the banks of the Manchester Ship Canal. Developed by Peel Media; its principal tenants are media organisations and the Quayside MediaCityUK shopping centre.
- Industry
Media & retail
- Organisation size
There are over 250 businesses based at Media City.
- Location
MediaCityUK, Salford, M50 2NT.
