MARKHAM – The BBC has announced it will use technology from Capital Networks Limited as its content management system in two pilot big screen projects as part of its Public Space Broadcasting experiment in the UK.
Capital Networks’ Audience solution is broadcasting multi-content schedules in Bradford and Rotherham in northern England on new permanent LED screens in city centre squares.
The BBC-led venture an "experiment in the use and development of LED technology for public benefit in urban spaces. It seeks to provide each major city centre and large town in the UK with a big screen digital canvas on which people and local organizations can innovate, create, communicate and entertain each other," says the press release.
"It also sets out to embrace the spirit and ambition of Digital UK with a big screen being a starting point for communities to develop a public screens digital culture whilst providing membership of an exclusive national and international network of interactive big screen cities."
A visual communications platform for creation, scheduling and broadcast. Audience allows users to create and manage multi-zone video, graphics, and text presentations along with real-time data streams including news, weather, sports, financial and event information.
The screens are funded through extended partnerships between city councils, universities and urban regeneration agencies. They do not carry advertising but some are supported by commercial sponsorship. The BBC provides a screen manager to operate each screen and act as editor.
Operating 24-hours a day with audio, the monitors have access to the BBC’s eight free-to-air television channels and its range of information sources, but the emphasis is on generating community content such as local information and films, and providing support for major national broadcasts and local events. An interactive camera is also mounted on each screen. National networking already takes place and international networking with screens in Australia and China is planned for 2007.
The innovative and groundbreaking nature of the project means it is in a constant state of evolution, adds the release. It is no longer just seen as a big TV. "Cities now regard the investment in a Public Space Broadcasting system as important for a variety of reasons:
* Its ability to bring together communities to share local, national and international events and broadcasts
* The development of a digital city centre meeting place
* The creation of a 21st century public news and information point;
* It’s high tech showcase for educational and community activities
* It’s a high profile outlet for digital innovation and local filmmaking and an opportunity to reach new audiences with the arts
* An opportunity for local universities and industry to develop new technology and software applications based on LED screen content and interactivity
* Helps urban regeneration by improving city centre environment and by promoting the screen’s location as a family events space and a nice place to be.
The main project, in which the BBC has so far worked with Philips, has 24 sq-m screens in five major city centres. Two more are scheduled for early 2007 and more than 25 other communities are in negotiation with the BBC.
Bradford and Rotherham embarked on their own individual public projects with other screen providers, and later invited the BBC to become partners. The BBC agreed to work with them on a pilot basis during the summer and until early next year and this included the busy World Cup period. The systems are still being developed to meet the BBC’s requirements and Capital Networks have been providing training support and advice about their content management system.
