Ericsson secures Channel 5 playout deal

The multi-year deal includes playout, media management, metadata, access services and disaster recovery services.

Ericsson will provide these services for Viacom-owned Channel 5’s portfolio of terrestrial and digital channels, including Channel 5, 5*, Spike and 5USA, as well as for its catch up offerings, including Channel 5+1 and Channel 5+24.

Ericsson will also deliver media management services for the broadcaster’s Demand 5 video-on-demand platform.

All services will commence in May 2016.

Rival playout firm Encompass currently handles distribution of the broadcaster’s channels.

Channel 5 chief operating officer Paul Dunthorne said: “Ericsson showed a clear understanding of our complex playout requirements, including the extra demands of live and fast-turnaround shows, such as Big Brother, which are a crucial part of our schedule.

“And they promise to offer us the robust and flexible support we need as we continue to roll out our highly popular Demand 5 player, which is already available across more than 25 different video-on-demand platforms in the UK. We look forward to working with them over the coming years.”

The deal means that Ericsson now handles playout for the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, UKTV, BT Sport and now Channel 5.

In August the company’s playout deal with ITV was extended.

Earlier this year, the BBC signed a seven-year extension to its playout contract with Ericsson.

Thorsten Sauer, head of broadcast and media services at Ericsson added: “This multi-faceted deal is a significant win for Ericsson and really illustrates our ability to provide a truly world-class, end-to-end offering.

“The industry is undergoing a huge transformation, driven by consumer demand and enabled by technology. Our aim is to help our clients stay ahead of the curve and ensure they continue to provide their audiences with the very best TV experience anytime, anywhere.”