15Th Edition - Spring 2014 Hello and Welcome to the Spring Edition of SIS LIFE Magazine

LIFE15th Edition - Spring 2014 Hello and welcome to the spring edition of SIS LIFE magazine. The time of year is appropriate because it really does feel like a new beginning for SIS, with the rolling out of several new initiatives to further build upon our market-leading position. The closure of our OB Business was always going to be difficult for everyone, not just those directly involved. I want to say thank you to all of you for your understanding and professionalism throughout. We wish all the OB staff well in their future roles. SIS LIVE remains Europe’s largest satellite uplink provider, with SIS Betting a leading supplier of betting industry products and services. Over the last few months we’ve focused on harnessing our unrivalled expertise in those areas, to create new opportunities and cement our strategic plans for growth. One of the most exciting growth areas is in betting and especially the digital space, where our newly-formed task force has been working hard to develop new products and services. Paul Baker and his team are continuing SIS’s innovative tradition to meet the surge in betting via mobile and PCs, particularly in-play. Our innovative ‘open streaming’ offering is particularly exciting, allowing punters to view free content before they bet. We have already been talking to customers and feedback so far has been very positive. SIS LIVE already boasts unparalleled high bandwidth connectivity between all our sites and many other sites, including major UK broadcasters. We are now moving things on to the next level by rolling out dedicated fibre links to sports grounds across the country. I am pleased to announce that David Meynell and his team have signed our first major fibre contract for BBC’s Match of the Day, via OB provider CTV. The project involves installing managed fibre links to all 20 Premier League football grounds by August. This is a significant step in our strategy to become the leading supplier of media fibre and SNG services to the UK market. Our product design, commercial and marketing teams have been busy and our tripod style VSAT terminal, ManPak@100, was launched at CABSAT in March. This new two box solution is already proving attractive to the military, emergency services and broadcast markets. It was a pleasure to see our products and services showcased to an international audience at high profile exhibitions and conferences like CABSAT in Dubai, NAB in Las Vegas and ICE gaming in London. Current and future customers were rightly impressed by our relentless desire to innovate and maintain our market- leading position. The hard work of our projects team paid off with the delivery to ITN of the first two vehicles in their Ka band SNG fleet, part of our seven-year contract with ITN and ITV. We have completed the build of a further four trucks for ITV and four for ITN. On Good Friday I was among the capacity crowd at the first All- Weather Championships finals at Lingfield Park. The meeting was a triumph for SIS, not only for its comprehensive betting shop service, but also its impressive new SIS-produced on-course coverage for the Arena Racing Company (ARC). Well done to all concerned. Thanks to everyone who completed the recent Talk Back staff satisfaction survey. We value your feedback and will report back in due course. We also hope to see you at one of our series of Town Hall meetings this month. Thanks once again for all your hard work over the past few months. Gary Smith CEO

SIS NEWS FLASH SIS LIVE achieves Guinness World Record for most concurrent live web streams of one event. This is for our work on Red Bull Revolutions in Sound where 31 simultaneous streams were broadcast LIVE

2 from the London Eye back in November. SIS LIVE is pleased to announce services; a highly capable team comprising The design and careful selection of its agreement with Sky News for camera operators, satellite engineers and technology enables a lone operator the provision of six new satellite all necessary support functions. to manage the whole broadcast and newsgathering (SNG) vehicles which The six trucks are based on the transmission process, including everything will deliver HD contribution feeds from highly compact Mercedes Benz Vito from driving to acquisition of the satellite breaking news events across the UK. vehicle and use the very latest satellite and transmission to camera operation. David Meynell, Managing Director, SIS We have been Sky News’ SNG provider technology. Our DriveForce antenna LIVE said “I am delighted SIS and Sky for many years offering the technology and features the best wind performance on the market and its reduced weight allows News have reached an agreement on expertise required to capture and transmit for more broadcast equipment to be the build and delivery of a new fleet of award-winning news coverage from all installed in a smaller vehicle. This not automated DriveForce uplinks. over the UK, 24 hours a day. only avoids the 56mph speed restriction We have enjoyed an amazing partner This comprehensive service includes of larger vehicles allowing the swiftest type relationship for many years and I the design, build and maintenance of response to breaking news stories, but am proud that our uplink systems and a dedicated SNG fleet; the provision of also provides a more comfortable ride for people support such ground-breaking satellite capacity and uplink/downlink reporters and operators. news coverage.” Good Friday an all-round success! The launch of Good Friday racing Vic Ridley, Operations Manager, SIS bespoke Corals and Ladbrokes coverage in the UK was declared an all- Betting Support and OB Services, said: also benefited from top-class pictures round success by bookmakers, “From an Outside Broadcast perspective and our customers definitely benefited racecourse bosses and SIS after it was a fantastic day for us because it all from the days’ racing. our comprehensive coverage from went like clockwork. In Scotland both slips and turnover Lingfield Park went entirely to plan. “There was an awful lot going on, but at Scotbet shops more than doubled Lingfield’s first All-Weather through the hard work of the right people on Good Friday. National chains and th Championships finals on 18 April doing exactly what was required of them independents also reported a massive attracted a record capacity crowd, who we delivered a superb service to both the boost in business. Dave Pluck Ltd, which enjoyed new SIS-produced on-course shops and the on-course screens.” has 40 Shops located in the North-West, coverage, which delighted owners Arena Punters watching coverage on At The enjoyed a 70% increase in business Racing Company (ARC). Races, in SIS betting shops and the compared with Good Friday last year. Kate Hills, ARC’s spokesperson, said: “The entire production was a great success.” Our outside broadcast vehicle, HD4, was at Lingfield providing the production facilities along with 13 cameras broadcasting live pictures, not only for betting shops but also for Lingfield’s on-course screens, as well as bespoke live programming for At The Races, Coral and Ladbrokes. On-site uplink services were provided by SIS 10, SIS 61 and SIS 67 with seven cameramen using wireless radio cameras to capture the action. Roving reporters, super slow-motion shots from the finishing line, live sectional timing and live Twitter updates on three big screens all added to the outstanding coverage. Hills said the SIS-produced ARC TV coverage was “very much a team effort.” She added: “As well as carrying out the scheduled winning connections interviews and race previews, our two presenters mingled with happy racegoers and took in the atmosphere around the course. “The head-on super slow-motion pictures went down a big hit with race goers, who also benefited from the sectional timing shown on the screens.” 3 TAKING THE INITIATIVE

At the heart of SIS’s plans for the Now with the increasing use of the internet future is the Growth Initiative team on PC and mobile devices and the growing led by Paul Baker, Director of popularity of betting in-play, it is important Strategic Development. that we embrace these changes and As many of you will be aware, and will continue to innovate. For this reason, we have read in Gary Smith’s interview have put together a task force to develop with Bill Barber in the Racing Post, new products and services to support the SIS is adapting to meet the demands next phase of the company’s growth. of the evolving world of betting, We have identified a number of initiatives particularly in the digital market place. to leverage existing capabilities to create SIS has been an innovator since packages of digital content and bespoke it revolutionised High Street data, as well as developing our digital betting in the 1980s, leading the distribution. These initiatives, many of way in the collection, distribution, which are highlighted here, will give us and production of live data and a strong base for the future and put us pictures, as well as the management in an even better position to support an and production of channels to enlarged customer base. betting shops including bespoke If you would like to know more, or have any Paul Baker programming for the likes of Betfred, ideas you’d like to submit, please feel free Director of Strategic Coral, Ladbrokes and William Hill. to contact [email protected] Development

OPEN STREAMING

SIS is challenging the existing model of online gambling by introducing an innovative Open Streaming solution. Until now, you had to have a bet on an event before you were able to watch it on a bookmaker’s digital platforms. SIS Open Streaming allows betting customers to view video content free of charge before placing their bets. This will generate increased traffic for bookmakers, who are charged a flat fee for every customer who watches a stream during a session, usually 24 hours. SIS Open Streaming replicates the tried and tested betting shop model, which allows punters to view free content before they bet. Our solution will provide a huge range of top sporting, gaming, virtual and archive content and offer hundreds of thousands of betting opportunities each year. We are in the early stages of negotiations with customers, so watch this space for further updates. 4 GAMING Penalty shoot-out The appetite for football betting and for gaming continues to grow. The SIS Virtual Penalty Shoot Out game combines the two, capturing the atmosphere and excitement of a shoot-out and making it available to customers all day, every day. Developed with gaming technology specialists, Veros Digital, the game is a graphically rich, broadcast-style, video game and offers multiple betting opportunities both in-play and pre-game, ensuring users can bet exactly when and how they want to. Archive dogs SIS has delved into its vast archives of greyhound racing to develop a new fixed- odds betting game. SIS Pre-recorded Greyhound Racing offers players betting opportunities on events from a huge library of pre-recorded races. Each race is selected via a random number generator to ensure absolute integrity; the game can be played every 3-5 minutes; and the service is available online, on mobile internet devices or via self-service betting terminals in betting shops. Mobile SIS is developing a suite of virtual games to play on mobile phones and tablets. These games differ from traditional virtual games in that they are not scheduled or video streamed – so users get to play their own game, at whatever pace they like. We will be integrating these games with leading wallet system providers and customising the look-and-feel for each bookmaker.

SOCIAL MEDIA IN-RUNNING DATA

SIS is moving further into social media by SIS is revolutionising the production of horse racing “listening in” to Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. programming, for retail and online, by gathering and Working with experts iris Concise, SIS is developing processing in-running data during a live race. sophisticated search tools to monitor social Formula 1 audiences are treated to a feast of live on-screen comment. This will be filtered by date, sport, information, such as car speeds and rev counter readings, territory, betting trends, bet-types and markets, while in football, fans are able to see instant statistics enabling SIS to produce a wealth of data around a relating to possession, pass completion and shot accuracy. given sport whether it’s football, horse racing, tennis, SIS is now aiming to offer a similar wealth of data for or a major event such as the World Cup. It can then horse racing, meaning that viewers and punters can turn that into useful applications to help all sides of enjoy the very best production that technology can offer. the betting industry. Using cutting edge GPS and RF systems, each horse and Paul Baker, Director of Strategic Development, said: jockey is tracked around the course, with highly accurate “People usually discuss their plans before acting and reliable data collected and processed instantly and on them, and that’s reflected in their social network turned into on-screen statistics or data products. Trials are activity. We can gather an enormous amount of currently under way at Leicester and Towcester. data and develop a range of products to help our customers and their customers.” Baker also points out this is not a case of being Big Brother. “It’s all done on a non-personalised, aggregated basis, and complies with all relevant DIGITAL RIGHTS privacy policies.” SIS is making progress on several fronts as it looks to expand its digital rights portfolio to embrace new sports. New rights will enable SIS to compile a 24/7 digital package of live sports to offer to customers and is anticipating the opportunity to showcase its ability to provide a top-class offering to the betting industry in a variety of sports. We are in negotiations over data and video streaming rights in a range of sports both in the UK and overseas - and expect to be able to unveil the first of many new sets of rights in the very near future. 5 60 Seconds CLAIRE TAYLOR Senior HR Business Partner I’ve worked in HR for too long to confess, for a variety of organisations before I joined SIS, including BBC, NHS and universities. I really enjoy the variety the role provides, and the occasional frustration.

What do you most enjoy about your role? Which three famous people (living or What’s the most dangerous or challenging People! dead) would you invite to your dinner thing you’ve ever done? What do you least enjoy about your role? party? This interview! People! Nelson Mandela, Twiggy and Rick Stein What’s your favourite smell? What has been your funniest moment at What sporting moment from history would Lavender SIS/SIS LIVE?? you most like to have been at? Describe yourself in five words? Persuading a French Border official to let Newcastle united winning something… Fun, hardworking, enthusiastic, caring, eats me onto a train to Paris with my 18 year old anything …it’s a short list to choose from! too much…(I know that’s a cheat and more stepsons passport instead of my own as ID! Which animal were you in your previous than 5 6words!0 5 Where were you born? Where did you life? What was the last film you watched? Cat grow up? Partially, Les Miserables!!!! Newcastle Upon Tyne Do you have a secret special skill? What would be your specialist subject on I keep hens! Train A, traveling 70 mph, leaves Westford 5 Mastermind? 0 5 1 heading toward Eastford, 260 miles away. If someone made a movie of your5 life what Food I have eaten!6 5 10 0 At the same time Train B, traveling 60 mph, would it be called? 5 Who/what really annoys you? 1 leaves Eastford heading toward Westford. CHAOS!!! 0 Selfishness5 5

When do the two trains meet?

Which actor/actress would play you in a

What’s your guilty pleasure?2

Hopefully never or there will be a number 0

film of your life? 4

Crisp clean or new bed linen

of casualties! Helen Mirren in the character she plays in 2

What’s your favourite cuisine and what

3 5 0 3

If you could live in any other country, Red would your last supper be? which one would you live in and why? 0 Do you have any phobias? Chip butties and sea salt chocolate 1 Italy for the warmth, food and wine Spiders and / or being5 stuck in a lift with a An interesting fact people do not know 5 What is your most embarrassing moment? Sunderland fan! about you? Being locked out of our temporarily rented What are the three most important things I’m really 5 foot 10 but I shrank! home, in my PJs and having to be driven by in your life? the bailiff who had turned up to speak to

Family, fun and travel

the previous tenant to the estate agents for

the spare set of keys

5 2

4 0

In June and July, SIS LIVE’s uPod control of the uPod from the tailboard

uPod scores in Brazil

satellite uplink units will be sunning of the news trucks.

themselves in Brazil, covering the Globo Comunicação e Participações

most famous football tournament S.A, also known as Rede Globo, is the 2

in the World. We will be supplying

largest media group in Brazil. Among

six 1.2m uPod units to TV Globo other enterprises it controls the leading

and RBS TV in Brazil. These units

broadcast television network in Brazil,

will initially be used to transmit

the leading pay-TV programmer in

5 3

3 0

news coverage from the 2014 FIFA

Brazil, as well as internet content

World Cup before fulfilling regular and service provider, music label and newsgathering duties. magazine publishing companies. TV Having previously purchased two Globo is the second-largest commercial uPod terminals in 2011 and 2013, TV network worldwide, measured in TV Globo once again selected uPod annual revenue. for its flexibility, reliability and track RBS TV is a Southern Brazilian television record of delivering impeccable HD network owned by Grupo RBS, and one news coverage. At TV Globo’s request of the oldest affiliates to Rede Globo. SIS LIVE’s in-house engineering team RBS TV owns 18 television stations will customise the design to allow full spread over two Brazilian states. 6 Going the extra 26.2 miles SIS LIVE played a key role in the Millions of TV viewers across the world successful TV coverage of the 34th tuned in to see an estimated 36,000 London Marathon on Sunday 13th April, people, from elite athletes to charity fun relaying race coverage from various runners, taking part in the historic race, points around the 26.2 mile course. sponsored by Virgin Money. Seven of our high definition MPEG 4 The marathon runners included Britain’s satellite uplink trucks transmitted and Olympic gold medallist Mo Farah, received race pictures from the start at former England footballer Michael Owen Blackheath and landmarks along the and our own graphic designer, Mick route, as well as providing a total of Warnes – along with a fridge, a toilet 153MHz of satellite bandwidth on IS-905. and a pair of dolphins. Our uplinks transmitted feeds to SIS 58, David Meynell, Managing Director, SIS one of SIS LIVE’s dual antenna uplink LIVE, said: “The London Marathon production trucks parked at the Mall once again provided us with the perfect finish line, which then distributed them platform from which to demonstrate to CTV’s outside broadcast operation our considerable expertise in the for coverage by the BBC and other provision of satellite connectivity broadcasters around the world. solutions. We are proud to be involved SIS LIVE also delivered a four camera with the TV coverage of this prestigious 60 5 outside broadcast of runners snaking round event broadcast to millions of viewers around the world.” the Cutty Sark in Greenwich, via SIS 67.

5 60 5 1 5 5 1 0 5 0 DUBAI DELIVERED!

th th 1 From 7 November 2013 until the 29 Ben Honey, Head of Technical Operations high level of concentration is required and 0 5 5 March 2014, a team of SIS Betting (Production) for SIS explains “We have close liaison between our operations staff,

5 and SIS LIVE staff were stationed in two important functions whilst at the the race stewards and cameramen is

Dubai, providing technical facilities racecourse, delivery of pictures to our crucial. These well practised and refined

4 5

and creating compelling coverage of client Sunset+Vine, and delivery of

skills are demonstrated on a daily basis

5 0 3

the racing season from the esteemed integrity services to the Stewards. Both in the UK by our Racing OB fleet, who 0 Meydan Racecourse.1 of these require great care in ensuring the provide a comparable level of service for 5 quality of coverage is second to none. The season is divided5 into three parts our racecourse clients and the British beginning with the ‘Meydan Winter Those who watch racing will be familiar Horseracing Authority. Racing Carnival’ showcasing up and with the award winning productions “In addition to this we also provided

delivered by Sunset+Vine, but not many coming talent from the UAE. The ‘Dubai will be aware of the integrity service Sunset+Vine with an HD studio and

World Cup Carnival’ starts in January

supplied to race officials. production gallery at our MK studio base,

and covers a series of 11 meetings

which brought in live feeds from the

culminating in the ‘Dubai World Cup’ “The integrity of racing is paramount and

racecourse and then complemented it

(DWC). The DWC features the very best SIS is pleased to be part of this important

with graphics, live comment and analysis

competitors from around the world over process. After each race the Stewards

2 from the Studio’s host and guests, before

nine races, with over 27 million dollars’ will view a replay of the race, analysing

4 0 it is sent out to Sky for transmission.

worth of prize money at stake. every incident from every camera angle

SIS has been heavily involved in providing and will decide if the rules of racing have Thanks are due to everyone who has

been upheld or broken and if any jockeys worked on this important event, we are very

coverage of every race from all but one

need a talking to! As you can imagine a proud to supply these important services!”

season in recent history, and this year

worked closely with production company

Sunset+Vine for clients Dubai Racing Club.

Using a specially modified eight camera

flyaway2 system SIS delivered HD

4 5

pictures to a plethora of screens around

the stadium, all captured and delivered

by SIS using two RF and six big lens

cameras and including the longest

5 3 3 0

screen in the world. Measuring 110m across - this screen is so wide it takes five simultaneous feeds to fill it! The flyaway kit is installed for five months of the year and this event demonstrates the impressive level of teamwork promoted at SIS, with staff from MediaCityUK and Milton Keynes working collaboratively to install and operate the equipment and gallery in the TV Control Room at the racecourse. 7 Contact Focus on ̒ it ̕ To contact IT in the first instance call x5757, email [email protected] or via the self-service portal http://supportworks/sw/selfservice/ IT Overview I often get asked to describe the IT Department at SIS and I always give the same response, classic IT function: 1st, 2nd and 3rd level Craig Wilson support. This description is partly true but it’s slightly different Head of Information Technology here at SIS because of the diverse nature of our business, our I manage the team and generally infrastructure and our applications. As well as keeping things running represent our internal service and and helping implement new products and services, our role is to technical capability by making a enable all SIS staff to undertake their jobs in the best way possible; nuisance of myself; ensuring that best in-class for the industry and environment in which we work. we get involved in new projects We tend to undertake a support role in many projects across the and initiatives, that any IT elements business as well as deliver our own pure IT projects. Recent projects conform to standards and policies but include the deployment of Microsoft Lync and SharePoint 2013, without any perceived red-tape and playing an architectural role in the ITV/ITN project, implementing undue process. Most of all, we want to disaster recovery in our datacentres as well as supporting the add value to the business and enable deployment of fibre and other growth initiatives like in-running our colleagues to do their jobs. and streaming. We adopt the ITIL Framework for the delivery of It’s hard to present disparate teams all of our services. More information can be found at www.itil- and groups as one team sometimes officialsite.com when we are spread all over the place, but I have a vision for the role of our Craig Wilson team as enablers and push each of the Head of IT managers in the direction which gets us i where we need to be. IT Facts ●● The teams are on-site from 5am to midnight seven days a week; ●● We have staff on call 24/7/365; Kate Parrish ●● Our infrastructure consists of around 80 network devices, 320 Service Desk Manager servers, 22 firewalls, 500 desktop devices and over 100 different Kate runs our Service Desk and applications and technologies; they’ll deal with calls about anything. ●● We deal with around 1500 calls a month; Problems with betting data, virtual products, display systems, network ●● We make around 70 changes every single month, 15 of which connectivity, requests for new are between midnight and 5am; equipment as well as classic problems ●● There are around 40 IT related projects in-flight at any one time. with laptops and printers! i COLLABORATION IS COMING! Following a successful pilot in January, we are now in a position to start to roll out Microsoft Lync and SharePoint 2013 to the rest of the business. In a nutshell this platform will give you and your teams the opportunity to: ●● Collaborate in teams on project and team sites; ●● Automate business processes with built-in workflow capability; ●● Upload, share and follow documentation, being notified when updates are made; ●● Use presence to show when staff members are available, in meetings or busy; ●● Use instant chat for two or more people in groups; ●● Peer-to-peer HD video conferencing from the desktop, mobile device or meeting room, or a combination of all three; ●● Run online meetings, sharing your desktop, presentations and other applications over the new network. We will be in touch on a departmental basis, to run demos and train you on the product before discussing how best your business area could leverage this new technology. 8 Rich Lewis Kin Wan Infrastucture Architect and Security Technical Projects Manager Officer Kin’s team lead the implementation of Rich is responsible for the way we do all of our major IT projects. Recent things, what standards we adhere to and projects include the build at MCUK, the is generally the brains behind the scenes ongoing disaster recovery work and of most things network related. Rich also providing technical network resources has responsibility for the security of our to SIS LIVE connectivity projects. data and other logical assets.

STAYING SECURE Teleconferencing Here are some handy tips for maximising your security when using To save money and provide a better, public Wi-Fi: more consistent service, we have recently ●● Always use an HTTPS or SSL connection when possible. In a launched our own SIS teleconference browser you should see the ‘padlock’ in the address bar; bridge, which can be dialled internally on x6789 or externally by dialling 0845 307 ●● If the service is not HTTPS/SSL enabled, be aware that any 6789. To schedule a meeting, please contact passwords or other personal information you enter can the service desk. be very easily captured by anyone else on the network. You may want to reconsider using these services on public networks; ●● Don’t be tempted by networks that have names like ‘Free Wi-Fi’, especially in locations that have no obvious sponsor Corporate Wi-Fi of the network. Networks like these can be honey-pots that The new SIS corporate Wi-Fi is now live and are run by bad guys to entice you to connect and then they you don’t need to do anything if you’re in capture all your traffic; MK, MCUK or Portland Place. If you have a ●● When in doubt, just don’t connect. If your online activity SIS issued laptop we’ll push the configuration can wait, just hold off until you’re sure you’re on a secure details to your machine in the form of a network that you trust (home or work, for example). certificate and it will just work. Guest Wi-Fi If you have any questions regarding information security, please for actual visitors and an additional wireless contact Rich by email, [email protected]. network for BYOD iPads and similar devices are to follow in the coming weeks, watch this space.

VPN access End of Blackberrys?

I’m afraid so, at the time of writing we’re in advanced Did you know that if you simply want to negotiations with a preferred supplier to make some read your email you don’t need to access efficiencies on our telecoms spend, but also to refresh our the VPN? We’ll be replacing the current mobile telephone estate. We’ll be announcing the details VPN solution later this year but if it’s shortly but the plan is to present you with not only your just email that you’re after, simply open email but your office documents and other applications such Outlook and enter your domain password as Lync and SharePoint in the palm of your hand. Further and you’re in. Simple and much faster. phases will allow access to other internal systems either via the browser or new SIS ‘apps’, Details to follow!

Russell Webster Mick McNulty Infrastucture Manager Senior Service Manager Russell and his team sit in the Mick looks after our telecommunications background and manage our core suppliers and tries to keep them on the infrastructure. Working Monday to straight and narrow, not always an easy Friday and on-call 24/7/365 their task! Networks are core to our business main responsibility is our server and and managing the likes of Vodafone network estate, including our external and BT keeps him very busy indeed. connectivity to our suppliers and customers. 9 We’ve got a bigger ManPak!

Our product design, commercial and marketing teams This powerful new product can be fully tailored to meet a range of have been busy over the last few months, designing and requirements and looks set to take the market by storm this year. researching the market ready for the launch of our new David Meynell, Managing Director, SIS LIVE, said: “We launched product – ManPak®100. ManPak100 at CABSAT this year, it is always a great opportunity ManPak100 is based on ManPak®60 technology and leads for us to bring our current and future customers up to speed on the way in the next generation of VSAT terminals. This 1m and our many developments and the launch of ManPak100 at the 1.2m tripod style antenna makes the manual acquisition of show proved successful. At SIS LIVE we continually strive to satellites simple, even for non-technical users, through the use push the boundaries in the development of our product range, of two simple wheels controlling the azimuth and elevation, and work to enhance our proven, market-leading systems. and an award winning graphical user interface (GUI). The unit is incredibly quick to set-up and can be deployed and connected to a satellite in less than three minutes. This lightweight unit is fully IATA (International Air Transport Association) compliant and comes in two cases which lock together for easy transportation. The completely waterproof and rugged design allows for operation in even the most challenging of conditions, be that in a war zone for military communications; capturing breaking news stories from the front line; or distributing CCTV from remote locations on international borders. This versatile product, currently available in Ku and Ka, features a variety of optional extras which mean it can be customised for a range of uses. The option of an integrated COFDM (Coded Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing) or wireless receiver means that no cabling is required to connect to a camera, giving users the flexibility to capture images from mobile sources which could include everything from HD broadcast cameras, to miniature helmet-mounted cameras, to airborne drone cameras. An optional Wi-Fi router affords the user internet connectivity without the need for ethernet cables, meaning a secure satellite internet network can be easily provided. OUT & GBGB awards night The best of British greyhound racing was celebrated at the Greyhound of the Year Awards at a new Manchester ABOUT th venue on 19 January. The sell-out Exhibitions, conferences & events Greyhound Board of Great Britain We’ve clocked up a lot of road and air (GBGB) annual event recognised the miles to make sure we’re spreading achievements of greyhounds and the word about our products, services their trainers, owners and kennel staff and winning new business. throughout 2013. ICE Totally Gaming Exhibition, London More than 400 of greyhound racing’s 4th-6th February top players stepped back from the helter-skelter pace of race meetings to Broadcast Awards, London reflect on a year of great competition 5th February and industry developments galore. SIS Customer Race Day, Taunton was pleased to play a role in one of the Betting Shop Manager of the Year Aidan th 27 February successes of 2013, the reintroduction of Connelly and wife Kerri joined SIS’ table CABSAT Exhibition, Dubai Sky Sports greyhound coverage. It also on the night to celebrate a vintage year 11th-13th March sponsored the Marathon Performer of for a sport which is well and truly on the Customer Race Day, Hexham the Year award won by Musical Gaga. up. Other awards presented were Coral 31st March The most coveted title – Greyhound of Newcomer of the Year (Jaytee Lighning), NAB Exhibition, Las Vegas the Year – was awarded to Farloe Tango, GBGB Bitch of the Year (Droopys Danneel) 7th-10th April which was also named as Stayer of the and Racing Post Greyhound TV British- Bred Greyhound of the Year (Adageo Bob). Intralot Incentive, London/Romford Year. The racing category awards were 11th-13th April & 25th-27th April voted for by the Greyhound Writers’ Trainers and managers from Sheffield’s Owlerton Stadium were also formally Racing Welfare Charity Golf Day Association, whose chairman, Jonathan presented with their trophy as winners of 27th April Hobbs, presents the SIS-produced live greyhound racing on Sky Sports. He and the 2013 BAGS/SIS Track Championship. Ambition & Counter Terrorism, London SIS Sky Sports show reporter Darrell Find out more at www.sis.tv/news and 29th-30th April Williams hosted the awards. watch the video on our YouTube channel. 10 Tweet all Cool New Digital Products about it SIS joined the leading players in the betting and gaming industries on 4th- Two very nice th 6 February to discuss its new digital @SIS_LIVE KaSAT trucks products with existing and prospective customers at ICE 2014. (see pages four and five for more info). Delegates from all over the world battled tube strikes to attend what is said to be All SIS’ streamed content, along with the biggest business event in world some broadcast pictures, can be found gaming, held at the ExCel exhibition on Self Service Betting Terminals (SSBTs) centre in east London. SIS Retail and are proving popular in overseas Account Managers were in attendance retail betting outlets. SIS executives also SNG Broadcast @OB_Services nd alongside the Growth Initiatives team, met with retail customers to discuss the 22 April meeting customers old and new. company’s key services, including SIS Too much fun for a Paul Baker, SIS’ Director of Strategic data feeds, which offer comprehensive Monday morning with the Development, said: “ICE attracts horse racing and greyhound racing ITV Daybreak crew, thank businesses from all over the world, service from meetings in the UK, Ireland you @KatyFawITV and the rest of the world. which makes it the perfect platform for @SIS_LIVE us to discuss forthcoming products Feedback from the show was and services. It’s an exciting time at SIS overwhelmingly positive, with SIS because we’re moving into the digital delegates reporting a high quality of space and have several new multi- exhibitors and visitors, a good turnout platform products and services in the from all major customers and some very final stages of development.” productive meetings.

Claire MacGregor @Clairemac340 Greyhounds offer Eastern Promise 24th March SIS Betting has joined with partner, the chance to take a trip to London, leading international operator see the sights and experience racing at Our final website to look at INTRALOT, to help promote greyhound Romford greyhound stadium. today is sislive.tv if you’re into media this one rocks racing to punters in Eastern Europe. The ten were chosen on a range of @SIS_LIVE The companies have a long-term criteria including biggest increases in relationship, with SIS supplying revenue and turnover. Dreamteam365 @thedreamteam365 3rd March live and virtual dog racing which SIS and INTRALOT flew the ten winners INTRALOT packages and distributes in from Azerbaijan over to London on @SIS_LIVE on DCI Banks! a range of territories. Friday 11th April, to take a trip on the Retail operators from two of those London Eye to see the capital from a countries – Azerbaijan and Poland – bird’s eye view. The next day they were were given the opportunity to come to photographed with the GBGB Big Dog London and witness top class BAGS Limo, greyhound racing’s promotional (Bookmakers Afternoon Greyhound vehicle, before attending Romford dogs Service) action close up, while the races in the evening as guests of SIS. were promoted back home to a live A similar scheme has been completed audience in betting shops. for Poland where INTRALOT supplies Eagle-eyed Louise (Internal INTRALOT, via its local joint venture SIS services to around 300 shops via Comms Exec) spots one of our Azerinteltek, supplies around 500 outlets its local subsidiary Totolotek. Winning uplinks in the popular TV series. in Azerbaijan. In a new scheme to help operators visited London for the same Louise Connolly @LouiseConnolly1 promote the sport and incentivise retail experience from Friday 25th April to 3rd February owners, the leading ten operators earned Sunday 27th April. Kayf Moss & @rhys_flint after winning The @totepool National Spirit Hurdle @FontwellPark @SIS_Betting ©PA Images

Winners from Azerbaijan at Romford Stadium PA Racing&Bet Pics @PA_ImagesRacing 24th February 11 SIS LIVE was credited through its involvement with many high And the winner is… profile live events at this year’s Broadcast Awards, which took place at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel on the 5th February in front of an audience of 1,300. SIS LIVE was involved in several nominated programmes, including ITV News at Ten, Isle of Man TT Races, BBC Sports Personality of the Year, and the Wimbledon Men’s Final, with the BBC’s Glastonbury coverage landing the award for Best Music Programme. As sponsors of the Best News & Current Affairs Programme, SIS LIVE MD David Meynell took to the stage to present the trophy to Channel 4, for their programme Syria: Across the Lines - Channel 4 Dispatches. Commenting on the Awards, David Meynell said, ‘We can take a lot of satisfaction that SIS LIVE is the name behind a lot of award-winning work. These clients are at the top of their game and we’re right behind them providing the services they need. Congratulations to all nominees and winners.’ ITV was crowned Channel of the year, with key shows Broadchurch, Coronation Street and Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway also picking up prizes. Channel 4’s Gogglebox was named both Best original programme and Best popular factual, while Best documentary series went to Channel 4’s Educating Yorkshire. Twofour, was named Indie of the year and Best Soap / Continuing Drama went to Coronation Street. 60 Seconds MARTIN EVANS IP Sales Manager As IP Sales Manager, Martin’s remit is to develop SIS LIVE’s innovative Internet Protocol sales strategy to promote both short term and long term growth through new business as well as securing current revenue streams by developing relationships with our key customers in existing and new markets.

What do you most enjoy about your role? If you could live in any other country, which What’s the most dangerous or challenging Working at SIS LIVE which is a focused one would you live in and why? thing you’ve ever done? brand in the innovative global internet TV Bangalore, India because I have over a Building a swaying rope bridge over a deep entertainment world with companies such hundred first cousins who live there mountain chasm as part of the Boy Scouts as SKY, Apple, Microsoft, Sony and Google What is your most embarrassing moment? Survival Skills Activity Badge What do you least enjoy about your role? Putting petrol in my diesel car... What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever ‘stealth’ cameras on M1 Which three famous people (living or dead) been given? What has been your funniest moment at would you invite to your dinner party? The man who never made a mistake never SIS/SIS LIVE? Richard Burton, Dylan Thomas and Tom did anything As an Account Manager at The One Show in Jones What person do you most admire and why? my previous role, I accompanied Christine Which animal were you in your previous Owain Glyndwr, leader of Welsh nation 1401 Bleakley to an England match at Wembley life? - 1403 60 5 Stadium. The next day our photo appeared A Welsh Dragon What was the last film you watched? in the newspaper, asking had Christine Do you have a secret special skill? Gravity at IMAX 3D cinema dumped Frank Lampard for a mystery man Wiggling my left ear What’s your favourite cuisine and what (me!!)? If someone made a movie of your5 life what would your last supper be? 1 Do you play an instrument? If so, which? 5 A South Indian60 family 5 Dosa, all six feet of it would it be called? 5 10 0 Violin and piano and passed Grade 8 with plenty 5 of ghee “Evans Above” or “Thank Evans” 1 Are you a tweeter and who do you ‘follow’? 0 An interesting fact people5 do not know Best thing on TV at the moment? 5

I follow SIS LIVE of course, which one

about you House of Cards & Homeland on Netflix 2

day will overtake Katy Perry’s 55 million 5 0

My uncle4 Murray Humphreys was a Chicago

Do you have any phobias?

followers

mobster nicknamed ‘The2 Hump’ derived

4 5

Finding glass in a sandwich

3 5 Where were you born? Where did you from his surname.0 He was Al Capone’s right 3

grow up? Describe yourself in five words? hand man and famously organised the St 0 1 Machynlleth, the home of the Welsh Welsh, sporty, fun, hardworking, friendly Valentine’s Day massacre 5 Parliament in 1401-1403 5

5 2

4 0

0 2

4 5

5 3 3 0

New SNG trucks for ITN and ITV In early February we delivered the first vehicle as part of our seven year Ka band satellite newsgathering (SNG) contract with ITV and ITN. This highly-specified uplink truck will form part of a fleet of 18 HD vehicles, all due to be delivered in 2014. The new fleet, entirely designed and integrated by our in-house project team, is based on Mercedes Sprinter and Vito vans with 1.0m and 1.2m SIS LIVE DriveForce uplinks. DriveForce is the lightest, most flexible vehicle mounted satellite system in the world. Its reduced weight, compared to competing antennas, allows for a higher spec system to be installed in a smaller vehicle, thus avoiding the 56mph speed restriction of the larger vehicles and allowing the swiftest response to breaking news stories. On board equipment includes HD, SDI, fibre and wireless camera inputs as well as highly specified vision and audio mixers. Each truck is dual path capable with redundant transmit chains and features a generator with battery-powered UPS backup. An enhanced dual modem system ensures the most efficient and reliable use of bandwidth for IP over satellite. David Meynell, Managing Director, SIS LIVE said “Working in conjunction with ITV and ITN, SIS LIVE has once again revolutionised the design Malcolm Smith, Head of Newsgathering Operations at ITN, said of SNG trucks. I am immensely proud of the efforts of our “This is the third generation of SNG vehicles that we have leased technical, operational and commercial teams who have got us from SIS LIVE and each generation has been marked by an to this position and look forward to the roll out of the brand new advance in operational capability through the latest technology. fleet in 2014, and to continuing to deliver the excellence that This new truck is the first hybrid combining HD video over has facilitated ITV and ITN’s award winning news coverage.By satellite with IP connectivity. This combines the essential reason designing, delivering and operating our own technology we have for SNG vehicles which is the provision of reliable live inserts to been able to create a seamless solution which includes market- programmes from anywhere in the UK, while the IP facilitates our leading satellite antennae; an integrated online booking system; move to an integrated file based newsgathering workflow using downlink services; and satellite and fibre distribution services. the latest solid state memory ENG cameras. Partner Portal Best Live Webcast At IBC last September SIS LIVE announced its Product Partner Programme. Apart from giving the marketing team a We need your votes! much-needed opportunity for alliteration*, this programme also sought to attract companies all over the world to join the SIS LIVE cause. SIS LIVE already has a portfolio of, let’s face it, pretty awesome satellite and broadcast products, and by joining up with other companies, we’ll be able to extend our global reach even further. SIS LIVE Partners are already bringing local knowledge, expertise and trade show presence to the table and we are doing everything we can to support them in their efforts. Part of this has seen the development of a new, super-exclusive, SIS LIVE is very excited to secret, secure area of www.sislive.tv available only to SIS announce we are nominated Partners. Known as the Product Partner Programme Portal for Best Live Webcast this gives our Partners access to all the latest marketing in Streaming Media’s materials, specifications, brochures, videos, logos etc. Future European Readers Choice developments to the Portal are likely to include updates on Awards 2014. product build progress, forecasting tools, training material and This is for our work on Red 60 5 pricing configurators. Bull Revolutions in Sound *FACT: Marketers must alliterate a minimum of twice a day to last year. SIS LIVE worked fulfil contractual conditions of employment.** with the Red Bull Music Academy, Channel 4 and YouTube 5 1 to deliver an ambitious and unique project which saw music 5 60 5 gigs from the EDF Energy London Eye broadcast live and 5 10 0 streamed simultaneously online. Live, multi-camera feeds 5

1 were produced from 31 moving capsules broadcast in real- 0 5 5 time on channel4.com in the UK and via YouTube for the rest

2 of the world. Thirty SIS LIVE RouteCase® systems were used

in the capsules to produce the video and audio feeds for this

4 musical extravaganza, featuring over 100 DJs and artists, in a 5

3 5 0 3

celebration of UK club culture.

0 1 Check out our case study on sislive.tv and please vote for us 5 by visiting sislive.tv and clicking on the news story. 5

5 2

4 0

0 2

4 5

5 3 3 0

Biking in Beijing SIS LIVE at The Jump On 5th September this year SIS LIVE’s Global Sales Manager Helen Jeffrey will fly to Beijing to take part in ‘Cycle China’, a Women v Cancer cycle ride that raises money for three charities - Breast Cancer Care, Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust and Ovarian Cancer Action. The challenge is a 450km cycle ride across the Beijing province of China visiting the Great Wall, Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square in only five days. Helen has already been doing plenty of training at the gym and out on the road. She is funding the trip herself, so her biggest challenge for now is raising as much money as possible for charity. Donations can be given at www. justgiving.com/Helen-Whitehouse1 and will be gratefully received. Good Luck Helen!

Channel 4’s series The Jump came of eight episodes between 26th January Mick’s great feat to its thrilling conclusion on the 3rd and 3rd February. February and SIS LIVE was there to After losing his father and brother-in- SIS LIVE deployed a mobile satellite transmit all the action. law to heart disease, Mick Warnes, communications engineer and its SIS 47 Graphic Designer in Milton Keynes The Jump featured twelve celebrities uplink vehicle to broadcast all the action, took part in the London Marathon on battling it out in a series of winter sports live and in HD. Sunday 13th April, to raise money for events including speed skating, skeleton SIS 47 is a dual antenna HD production The British Heart Foundation. bobsleighing and skiing. The two and uplink truck, specifically designed competitors who recorded the lowest Mick has kept to offer complete diversity and a blog since scores during the day’s events would unparalleled transmission resilience. his acceptance then go head to head each evening in Used regularly to provide small-scale into the London ‘The Jump’. Three ramps of varying sizes presentation add-ons, this vehicle Marathon back in and difficulties provided the platform for proved ideal for the job, offering live August, right up to each contestant to launch themselves 2-way links using on-board receivers. when he crossed into the air and see how far they could SIS LIVE uplinked a 27MHz feed via the finishing line. travel, with the loser being eliminated the IS905 satellite. This signal was For the warts and from the competition. then downlinked at our teleport at all journey go to Competitors comprised a range MediaCityUK and passed on via the www.warnesy. of celebrities, from singers to TV SIS LIVE fibre network to BT Tower in co.uk/marathon presenters, from investigative journalists London for the Channel 4 broadcasts. To date Mick has to Olympians. The final was broadcast A second, 18MHz backup path was raised over £3400 on 3rd February and saw X Factor winner provided on the EUT12WA satellite and his justgiving page will be active until Joe McElderry crowned champion. The and via the SIS LIVE downlink and July www.justgiving.com/mick-warnes2 show aired on Channel 4 over the course distribution network. Tour de SIS SIS’s finest are taking to the roads on a together – and all the more satisfying because Mini-bus back-up and regular rest breaks charity bike ride next month, with two it will raise money for charity. have been factored in en route, with both teams cycling almost 80 miles each to “We decided it was more sensible to meet teams aiming to reach the pub between 3pm raise money for charity. halfway than to try to cycle from one office and 5pm. Two teams will set off – one from Milton to another over two days. Of course, After recharging their batteries, they will be Keynes, the other from MediaCityUK – and there’s a lot of pride at stake, too. We’re all taking an easier return trip by mini-bus. ride towards each other, aiming to meet determined that our team will get there first!” Phil, who has a family member with halfway between. Phil’s four man team will roll off from diabetes, is racing for Diabetes UK. Go to The North/South rivalry is already hotting up MCUK at 8am, cycling through Stockport, www.justgiving.com/tourdesis to pledge ahead of the challenge, with training (almost) Macclesfield, Leek and Uttoxeter to reach your support. reaching Tour de France proportions! The Old Crown pub in Wigginton. Team Phil G Team Nigel G Phil Goulden, Head of Operations, threw down The three-strong MK team, headed by Nigel Phill Jenkins Les Cannon the ‘Tour de SIS’ gauntlet and will be leading Gough, IP Operations Manager, will set off from Daniel Williams Peter Fuller the MCUK team on Saturday 7th June. He MK at the same time, heading north through Anthony Leigh said: “This is a good way of bringing our sites Towcester, Daventry, Rugby and Nuneaton. Good luck and may the best team win! 14 WHEN IS GREEN ORANGE? In our last issue we reported that David I would encourage you to take a look at Meynell had traded his gas guzzling some of the new green cars out there as Audi S5 in for an electric motor. they have come on leaps and bounds We caught up with Dave to find out over the last couple of years. how he is getting along and why on In 2014 there are some important earth he decided to choose the solar car launches that are definitely worth orange colour! considering, including the VW e-up, the Dave said “I admit to being very Audi A3 e-tron and the Mitsubishi PHEV, apprehensive about changing from a all of which have great electric only large petrol engine to what some people ranges and some with the back-up of a were unfairly describing as a washing decent petrol engine too. machine motor. I am extremely pleased Come on, join me in the electric and relieved to say that I couldn’t be revolution…….just don’t pinch my happier with my new electric dream! charging point though!” Dave and his ‘electric dream’

SIS LIVE is pleased to announce its David Meynell says “This important new agreement with Sky Sports News agreement with Sky Sports is yet further Following SIS’ sign up to the for the provision of satellite capacity proof of SIS LIVE’s position as the Racing Post Jobs website, we have for its newsgathering operations. preeminent supplier of satellite services experienced wider coverage of We have a long relationship with Sky to the UK broadcast market and as a our vacancies across the industry, Sports News having provided its SNG significant customer to the major satellite with the ‘Day in the life’ features published not only on the website services and satellite capacity for many providers. This position enables us to but also in the daily Racing Post years. This four year contract delivers benefit from the best market rates and newspaper. 73MHz of capacity on the Eutelsat offer tremendous value to our customers, E16A satellite for the Sky Sports and With this insight into the roles at SIS, alongside our other SNG service Sky Sports News fleet of satellite we will continue to recruit outstanding offerings. We will continue to use this newsgathering (SNG) vehicles, which we candidates to join our exciting also supply and operate. Sky Sports will position of strength to ensure the very business. Check out the latest SIS also make use of this satellite bandwidth best services, utilising the very latest in news stories and features on www. for its live coverage of weekend football innovative technology, and continuing rpjobs.co.uk matches, again transmitted by SIS LIVE to drive and lead the provision of SNG SNG vehicles. services in the UK.” SIS LIVE achieves ISO9001:2008 Blue through

SIS LIVE is pleased to announce and through! its achievement of ISO9001:2008 certification, recognising its robust approach to quality management, specifically in relation to the design, manufacture and sales of satellite communications and broadcast ISO 9001 applications to worldwide military and commercial markets; and the design, Registered project management, integration and Quality commission of systems integration Management including TV studios and galleries, 015 teleport infrastructures, outside broadcast and uplink trucks. our customers by applying our quality David Meynell, Managing Director, SIS management procedures to each aspect LIVE says “In achieving ISO9001:2008 of our operations. This pursuit for quality certification we have proven that we is an on-going and iterative process, and George Irvine, Managing Director, one we will continue to strive for. I would have strong quality management Betting and International helped like to thank all those involved in the systems in place and the ability to HRH Princess Anne present winning consistently provide products that certification process, particularly Mark connections prizes for a SIS sponsored meet our customers’ needs as well as Newman as the Quality Management race, during Plumpton racecourse often stringent statutory and regulatory Representative who has administrated charity race day on Monday 31st March. requirements. The ISO9001:2008 the quality system into the audit and registration recognises SIS LIVE’s finally to certification; and Chris Wright Hopefully George remembered objective to improve the satisfaction of as the ISO9001: 2008 project sponsor.” his Ps & Qs! 15 PHOTO COMPETITION - GET THE PICTURE?

Thanks to everyone who entered the competition, do please keep your 1st photos coming. We are always on the look out for great shots featuring £150 the SIS and SIS LIVE logos. Entries can be sent to [email protected]

Paul Pigott’s Marathon Effort! Congrats to Paul for winning first prize for his arty shots at Westminster. SIS 68 kept on running for Paul who was there transmitting coverage from the Marathon on April 13th.

2nd £100

Glynn Ford, how many SIS LIVE uplinks at Manchester United?! Glynn sent this shot from Old Trafford, showing a selection of SIS LIVE SNG trucks reporting on the sacking of David Moyes. How many of our trucks can you spot? We can see two of the new Ka Band ITN trucks on the left!

3rd Special £75 £25

James Bennetts, horsing around with Colin Jackson, CBE Derek Cook, it was all white on the night Olympic medallist and world champion hurdler Colin A nice shot from Derek, who was in Innsbruck, Austria with a snowy Jackson, CBE with James Bennetts and our SIS 51 uplink at SIS 47 transmitting Channel 4’s ‘The Jump’ final. Horseguards, at the marathon. Spreading the word Say what u c results Congratulations to

E V E U P L I N K R L Y V B To enter, Adam Baker, Head of photocopy this HR Operations, who T E B D K G O N L I N E R K Win page, find and answered the 3 say E G U A A R N A N N E T N A mark the 14 words £75 below on the what you c answers C A C T O E M K X X H R Q G grid and return to correctly and guessed R M S A D Y Z S G D O Y H J [email protected] or the marketing A Telly Savalas/Port =Teleport team in MK. that 327 hot drinks O I P H S H P T N R R M H Y Winner will be chosen at were served at IBC. F N A O J O X R S L S K F C random from correct entries. Adam was closest to E G E C B U M E L I E G Z T the correct answer V L R Q F N A A O M R M H Z ANTENNA HORSERACING DATA MANPAK of 355 hot drinks I V B E E D N M P U A B W R (and most of those DIGITAL MHZ Ford Ka/Band = Ka Band R B I Z C S P I Q J C Y Y D DRIVEFORCE ONLINE B were coffee for Dave D Z F C F L A N P T I F Q G EGAMING SNG Meynell!) S K J Z Q R K G R A N R T S FIBRE STREAMING GREYHOUNDS UPLINK Enjoy your £75 of V J L H L H L A T I G I D W shopping vouchers Adam. Good luck and happy word hunting C Royal/Ass/Cot = Royal Ascot 16