| BBC Research |
 |
| Formation |
1993 |
| Legal status |
Subsidiary of the BBC |
| Purpose/focus |
Technological broadcasting research |
| Region served |
UK |
| Membership |
Electronics engineers |
| Controller, R&D |
Matthew Postgate |
| Website |
www.bbc.co.uk/rd |
BBC Research & Development is the technical research department of the BBC.
Function [edit]
It has responsibility for researching and developing advanced and emerging media technologies for the benefit of the corporation, and wider UK and European media industries, and is also the technical design authority for a number of major technical infrastructure transformation projects for the UK broadcasting industry.
Structure [edit]
BBC R&D is part of the wider BBC Future Media, and is led by Matthew Postgate, Controller Research & Development. In 2011 the North Lab moved into Salford MediaCityUK along with several other departments of the BBC, whilst the South Lab remained in White City in London.
History [edit]
The department as it stands today was formed in 1993 from the merger of the BBC Designs Department and the BBC Research Department. From 2006 to 2008 it was known as Research and Innovation but has since reverted to its original name. BBC Research & Development has made major contributions to broadcast technology, carrying out original research in many areas, and developing items like the peak programme meter (PPM) which became the basis for many world standards.
Innovations [edit]
It has also been involved in many well known consumer technologies such as teletext, DAB, NICAM and Freeview. It was at the forefront of development of FM radio, stereo FM, and RDS. These innovations have led to Queen's Awards for Innovation in 1969, 1974, 1983, 1987, 1992, 1998, 2001 and 2011.
Closure of Kingswood Warren and move to London and Salford [edit]
In early 2010 the department had approximately 135 staff based at three locations: White City in London, Kingswood Warren in Kingswood, Surrey, and the R&D (North Lab) at the BBC's Manchester offices at New Broadcasting House, Oxford Road, Manchester. In early 2010 the Kingswood Warren site was vacated and the bulk of the department relocated to Centre House, in White City, London co-locating with the main campus of the BBC in London, whilst a significant number have moved to the new North Lab in Media City UK in Salford.
Future projects [edit]
BBC R&D engineers and researchers are currently active on approximately 50 projects, including 7 active national and international collaborative research efforts.
These include R&D projects built around BBC Redux[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]—the proof of concept for the cross-platform, Flash video-based streaming version of the BBC iPlayer.[9]:15
See also [edit]
References [edit]
External links [edit]
Video clips [edit]
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