Welsh facility Barcud Derwen is investing£3m in a high-definition outside broadcast truck in a bid to win new BBC Wales contracts.
Welsh facility Barcud Derwen is investing £3m in a high-definition outside broadcast truck in a bid to win new BBC Wales contracts.

Barcud currently runs three standard-definition OB vehicles catering for predominantly S4C productions including Noson Lawen and Dechrau Canu.

'We have a choice either to pull out of OB all together or to invest in HD,' explains managing director Bryn Roberts. 'If we don't invest we would lose our current contracts which are likely to be renewed in HD. We are also geared up to win key BBC contracts which may soon be tendered.'

Roberts cites BBC Wales' 80 match per year Welsh rugby contract as a target, but he adds that no kit specifications for the vehicle have been released while negotiations with suppliers are ongoing.

The truck is expected to be ready by the end of the year and, if successful, a second, smaller vehicle is planned.

Barcud has also appointed Huw Edwards as group finance director as part of a management restructure which sees Roberts and technical director Stephen Cowin move to oversee the group's business development.

Rhys Bevan, formerly head of events at BBC Wales, has been bought in as managing director of Derwen. Bevan will also develop Safon, the firm's events management subsidiary.

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