SIS is establishing a new broadcasting site in Salford Quays made up of nine satellite dishes transmitting live sports programming to more than 10,500 bookmakers shops around the world.
Chief executive David Holdgate said the firm decided to leave its London headquarters because building development in the area had threatened to block transmissions from its dishes. He was also tempted to Salford to maintain close ties with the BBC sports department.
SSI bought the BBC's outside broadcast operations four years ago and still works closely with the broadcaster providing equipment and expertise for coverage of sports events, music festivals including Glastonbury and The Proms and royal events including the Jubilee and Royal Wedding.
He said: “We want to build a capability to do more production work and win business from the BBC, ITV and independent production companies. “At the moment we are not a production company, we are a facilities provider and broadcaster, but we have ambitions to get in to general TV production.”
SIS is 13 per cent owned by Warrington-based bookmaker Betfred, which bought a 7.5 per cent share in the £256m turnover business in 2077 and acquired another 5.5 per cent of the firm which was owned by the Tote when it bought that business last year. SIS broadcasts 15 channels of live sport to betting shops as well as the At The Races horseracing channel on Sky.
Source: MEN
