Company

Latest News

SIS COMPLETES ACQUISITION OF BBC OUTSIDE BROADCASTS DIVISION

1st April 2008

Satellite Information Services Ltd (SIS) has announced today that it has completed the acquisition of the BBC Outside Broadcasts division from BBC Resources Ltd, and that the business and staff of BBC Outside Broadcasts have now transferred to SIS.

The acquisition means that SIS will now own and operate the BBC Outside Broadcasts fleet of television production units, plus sound, support and communications vehicles, and award-winning special cameras, adding to the biggest satellite uplink fleet in Europe that SIS has built since its foundation in 1987. This follows the announcement in February of the strategic alliance between SISLink, the satellite transmission division of SIS, and Intelsat, the leading worldwide provider of fixed satellite services, introducing SIS into the USA.

The BBC Outside Broadcasts move is part of the continuing expansion of SIS, to become a major player in the UK and international broadcast services market. SIS is already the foremost supplier of television programming and data services to the UK and Irish betting industry. The addition of BBC Outside Broadcasts will enable SIS to cover many of the world’s big news and sports events, including Formula One motor racing, the Rugby World Cup and the European Tour Golf, plus events it transmits through its long-term contracts with ITN, Sky News, Channel Five, Sky Sports News and ITV and Setanta Sports.

SIS Chief Executive David Holdgate said he was delighted to complete the BBC Outside Broadcasts deal. “The chance to acquire something of the size, range and impeccable reputation of BBC Outside Broadcasts is almost a once in a lifetime opportunity, and one that we were determined not to miss out on. As well as ongoing relationships with the BBC, we look forward to developing new business across the industry. We have bought a business that has fantastic assets in its people, reputation and range of output, and we have substantial plans in place to match that with a modernised equipment fleet, to take advantage of market opportunities.

“The Outside Broadcasts business sits absolutely perfectly with the rest of our business, with very little overlap, and offers good opportunities for opening up new markets with a joint operation”, added Mr Holdgate.

Since its launch 21 years ago, SIS has been recognised by the betting and racing industry as the main global provider of pictures and data.

The acquisition of BBC Outside Broadcasts and the alliance with Intelsat have together turned SIS into one of the world’s leading companies in the television broadcasting industry.