GV Node and Cisco switches power state-of-the-art Broadcast Data Center

MONTREAL, April 25, 2017 — BBC Wales is a national broadcaster, providing a wide range of programs and services for audiences across Wales, as well as flagship programs for the BBC network. Like all broadcasters, the BBC is always looking to leverage the latest technology advances to improve production efficiency, so when designing its new national production center in Wales, an IP infrastructure was the obvious choice.

The BBC chose the Broadcast Data Center from Grass Valley, a Belden Brand, to fulfill its IP aspirations. GV Node, a key enabler of the Broadcast Data Center, provides vertically accurate switching along with other signal processing and routing capability using the Cisco IP Fabric for Media networking solution, based on Cisco Nexus® switches and SDN Controllers to enable the migration from SDI to IP.

An active member of the Advanced Media Workflow Association (AMWA) and the Networked Media Open Specifications (NMOS) projects, the BBC saw the leadership that Grass Valley provides in those initiatives as well as its role as a founding member of the Alliance for IP Media Solutions (AIMS) and felt secure in Grass Valley's vision for creating a true IP solution for live broadcast.

"So much work is being done by the industry and by the standards bodies, making it clear that IP is the way to go for broadcasters moving forward," said Roger Crothers, BBC Wales's Head of Technology. "With SMPTE 2110 on the horizon, we'll see a clear set of standards specifying the carriage, synchronization, and description of separate component streams over IP for the purposes of live production. The implementation of IP in broadcast is the next big step for our industry."

The new BBC Wales broadcast center under construction in the heart of Cardiff's city center is being built around the IP infrastructure that is enabled through the GV Node Real Time IP Processing and Routing Platform. The partnership between Grass Valley and Cisco made it easy for the BBC to get an integrated IP solution that is serviced and supported by Grass Valley, providing a future-ready network that will maximize production efficiency.

"Open standards are very important to the BBC, as they should be," noted Neerav Shah, senior vice president of sales and marketing, Grass Valley. "We have always pushed for an open-standards approach and believe that our customers benefit most when they can select the technologies and products that work best to meet their needs. Our Broadcast Data Center solution delivers on that commitment."

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For information about Grass Valley solutions and services, please visit grassvalley.com.

About Grass Valley

Grass Valley is a trusted partner completely focused on empowering customers to create, control and connect content wherever, however and whenever it is consumed. In this ever-changing media landscape, content remains the most important element. Many of our customers are faced with the need to create and support new workflows while continuing to operate their legacy workflows, simultaneously broadcasting through traditional channels, Over-The-Top platforms, and Video-On-Demand as well as to tablets, PCs, and mobile devices.

We provide the innovative tools and expertise to help customers improve the efficiency of their operations while telling better stories to attract and keep viewers. With Grass Valley's integrated solutions that enable flexibility, efficiency, cost-effectiveness, quality and scalability, broadcasters and content creators have what they need to sustain their businesses. Headquartered in Montreal, Grass Valley has been in the broadcast business for nearly 60 years and is part of St. Louis-based Belden Inc. For more information, visit www.belden.com.

Belden, Belden Sending All The Right Signals, and the Belden logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Belden Inc. or its affiliated companies in the United States and other jurisdictions. Grass Valley and GV Node are trademarks or registered trademarks of Grass Valley. Belden Inc., Grass Valley, and other parties may also have trademark rights in other terms used herein.

About BBC Wales

BBC Cymru Wales is the national broadcaster for Wales, providing a wide range of English and Welsh language programmes and services for audiences across Wales, as well as flagship programmes for the BBC network. It has the largest BBC newsroom outside London, serving audiences across Wales with live news across television, radio and digital platforms seven days a week.