iBURBIA Studios launched a new interactive media lab at MediaCityUK on 1 August. iBurbia@MediaCity is the latest addition to the facilities available to media companies at MediaCityUK. Located at the Greenhouse building on the main MediaCityUK campus, the new interactive media lab brings the first ‘open-access’ to a full suite of UK television systems for software developers, researchers and senior industry managers.
The facility offers users access to working accounts with all the major set top boxes in the UK market, SmartTVs and tablets, games platforms. As part of the network of iBurbia facilities, it also offers access to live TV systems in the US, Ireland and a growing number of European platforms.
It is available for development testing, workshops and strategic review sessions for senior management. By the end of the year, the facility will launch new usability and qualitative research studios – the first in Greater Manchester to offer use of full TV systems and boxes. Through the Autumn, the facility will also host a series of open invite ‘Antenna’ workshops in partnership with media consultancy Decipher.
iBurbia@MediaCity
Stephen Wild, managing director at MediaCityUK said: “The interactive media lab strengthens our current media facility offering by bringing in first class technical amenities to cater for our on-site community and those doing business here.
“We are pleased that iBurbia Studios have decided to locate the lab within the Greenhouse, as it houses a hot bed of media and creative businesses that are evolving with our city. We look forward to seeing the exciting work coming out of the lab and to the events that the iBurbia team are planning.”
iBurbia’s MD Lizzie Newman said: “ It was always our intention to add a MediaCity facility as it is fast becoming the focal point of TV and device innovation in the North West. It’s a natural home for a facility like iBurbia, and we look forward to adding the Research and Usability labs to the capability before the end of the year.”
iBurbia@MediaCity launched with a BBC workshop on the wider Red Button landscape. The team from BBC Red Button made use of the iBurbia facilities to access and review interactive concepts on Virgin Tivo, Sky On-demand, YouView and SmartTVs. The workshop was run by Decipher’s Nigel Walley.
The following TV services are now available to be used as part of a presentation, meeting or for general technical review sessions:
Virgin HD
Virgin Tivo (including second screen apps on iOS devices)
Sky +HD (including second screen apps on iOS deviecs)
Freesat Freestyle (HTML5 interface)
BT Vision (Cardinal)
BT YouView
TalkTalk YouView (arriving 8 August)
Smart TVs (Samsung, LG)
Games Platforms (Xbox, PS3)
