• Arqiva provides live studio facilities for BBC3 highlights show
• 32 matches downlinked and streamed for BBCi
• Millions expected to tune in for the final on BBC2

Arqiva has today announced that it is supporting the BBC and Sunset+Vine to bring coverage of the Africa Cup of Nations 2008 to the UK. This definitive African football competition, hosted by seven-time finalists Ghana, is seeing fifteen qualifying teams compete with Egypt, the current title holders. Featuring numerous British-based African players, the 32 matches began on 20 January 2008 with Ghana v Guinea with the final being held on 10 February 2008 at the Ohene Djan stadium in Accra.

Arqiva's Chalfont Grove facility was selected for its high levels of connectivity and ability to co-locate many of the elements of the broadcast chain. The availability of a fully tailored studio space, supported by a full range of post production facilities, enabled Sunset+Vine to establish its entire broadcast operation on a single site. The co-location of satellite and fibre links further simplifies the downlinking of matches from satellite and the on-pass of the live match highlights programmes to BT Tower for broadcast on BBC3. The final will be similarly downlinked and broadcast live on BBC2.

In addition Arqiva is providing broadcast services for BBCi. All the downlinked games are being fed through a purpose-built transmission facility at Chalfont Grove where some will have live English language match commentary added. The live matches are then independently fed to BT Tower for broadcast on BBCi.   

Sports specialists Sunset+Vine, a leading independent supplier of sports programming to broadcasters in the UK, has a strong and established relationship with Arqiva which has provided services to support a number of major sporting events including coverage of UEFA Cup football matches. BBC live studio transmissions with Arqiva have included the Africa Cup of Nations 2006 and the Cricket World Cup 2007.

Gary Franses, executive producer at Sunset+Vine, said: "Having worked extensively with Arqiva on many high-profile broadcasts we are excited to be further expanding our relationship using the facilities side of its services. Arqiva's ability to provide connectivity, studio and broadcast facilities on a single site was a key factor in our decision to use Chalfont Grove. Our commitment to bringing the Africa Cup of Nations 2008 to a large and passionate UK audience demands the highest levels of technical expertise and reliability and we have every confidence in Arqiva's ability to deliver this."

Barrie Woolston, commercial director of Arqiva's Satellite Media Solutions division, added: "As an established customer, we are pleased to be able to provide Sunset+Vine with studio facilities for this important broadcast project. The demanding schedule, which requires the rapid processing of a high volume of material, is certainly simplified by the co-location of so many elements of the broadcast chain on a single site. We look forward to expanding our service offering still further in future collaborations with Sunset+Vine."  

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