Gravity Media has opened a new production centre in Manchester.
The new centre is located in the city centre’s ABC Buildings, which also plays home to Versa studios, BBC, The Farm, Sony, Quay Street Productions and LS Productions.
Recent Manchester work highlights include helping to relocate and set up the five-camera studio for BBC Studios, working in collaboration with Versa Studios, which enabled the broadcast of BBC Morning Live.
Being in such close proximity will also mean Gravity Media can continue to work in partnership with Versa Studios to supply equipment, integrate systems and provide engineering support.
Situated on the 4th floor of the ABC building, the 3,000 square foot space is designed to meet the technical specification needed to service Gravity’s broadcast clients, as well as a new base for their equipment rental team.
The new facility will enable decentralised remote production workflows linking with its other EMEA operations. The space hosts three off-tube commentary booths, two Avid Media Composer edit suites connected to the edit core for a full suite of edit services, a dedicated audio control room and two multi-suite, three-tier production galleries designed with the flexibility to integrate next generation cloud-based, GPU-powered workflows including the likes of MAVIS and GVAMPP.
There is also a large production office, collaboration and meeting area.
Gravity Media can also draw on the pool of skilled next generation talent from the area via the Salford University film, technology and media programmes.
Ed Tischler, Gravity Media – MD, EMEA, says: “As we plan to attract the next generation of northern broadcasting talent to support our next growth phase, we are focused on ensuring we continue to offer the best support for complex broadcast facilities and production services, wherever it’s needed across the North of England.”
The team can also offer specialist camera solutions, housing Gravity Media innovation cameras, from handheld wireless cameras and in-sport on-boards, through to POV cameras, RF facilities and helicopter links.
The Manchester offering will also be able to utilise the Gravity Media’s OB truck, Pictor, which can fit up to 16 fixed cameras and seat a crew of eight and is designed to support both traditional and remote workflows.
Since Gravity opened its original premises in the North of England, it has worked on projects including the 2019 Women’s World Cup for the BBC and forged relationships with the likes of Manchester City and Everton football clubs.
The new Manchester-based Production Centre follows several recent Gravity Media hires to bolster the company’s ongoing global expansion. These include: Sean Seamer as president of US operations, Martin Turner as executive producer and Bruno Senna as motorsport ambassador.
The new location joins Gravity Media’s current global Production Centres in London, Sydney, Melbourne and San Francisco.
Pippa Considine
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