DirecTV to Use BBC Tech's Colledia for Remote Monitoring

DirecTV has purchased BBC Technology's Colledia Control monitoring software to remotely manage the satellite broadcaster's two new remote uplink facilities being built in Oakdale, Minn. and Winchester, Va.

The purchase expands DirecTV's use of Colledia, which it had purchased when the software was introduced at NAB2003 in April. DirecTV plans to use Colledia to help increase its audience reach and and expand its local channel distribution from 61 cities in the U.S. to more than 100 by year end. The project represents "one of the most complex and comprehensive monitoring and control systems yet implemented by any broadcaster," according to BBC Technology.

The two new uplink facilities will be an extension of DirecTV's existing up-link infrastructure, currently co-located at broadcast facilities in Castle Rock, Colo. and Los Angeles. While the two new facilities will be managed remotely from the Castle Rock broadcast facility, the Minnesota-based and Virginia-based uplink facilities will enable the service provider to reach cities such as Rochester, N.Y.; Santa Barbara, Calif.; Tulsa, Okla. and Wilmington, N.C. DirecTV will use Colledia Control monitor the health of the remote facilities as well as the quality of the signals being received and transmitted across DirecTV's more widely distributed market. Colledia Control currently monitors and controls over 3,000 pieces of equipment across DirecTV's network.