Company news
13/09/2006
Virgin Radio tunes in to TelecityRedbus
World’s most listened-to online radio station chooses Europe’s foremost data centre services provider for resilient data centre services
- Online radio listeners now outnumber those using traditional AM or FM receivers*
- Almost one in four (24 per cent) listens online compared with 21 per cent who tune in to analogue broadcasts*
London, 13 September, 2006, TelecityRedbus, Europe's foremost data centre services provider, today announced that it has been selected by Virgin Radio, the world’s most listened-to online radio station, to deliver data centre and infrastructure hosting services to support the network’s online content distribution.
Online radio stations are enjoying an upsurge in popularity with figures released by radio audience measurement body, Rajar†, suggesting that more than half of the UK adult population is now listening to radio using one of the available digital platforms. The percentage of those listening via the internet also increased to 20.8% from 17.3% during the first three months of 2006.
In addition, having recently signed award-winning Christian O’Connell for the breakfast show, Virgin Radio (www.virginradio.co.uk) is set to boost listener figures still further. As the world’s most listened-to online radio station and the first UK radio station to offer a daily podcast, Virgin Radio listeners expect a reliable web site when listening via their chosen format, all of which demands a robust network. It is imperative for the company to optimise connectivity and uptime to ensure an enjoyable, un-interrupted listening experience.
Under the terms of the contract, TelecityRedbus will supply Virgin Radio with core infrastructure services from its Manchester data centre, installed complete with resilient power feeds and supported 24/7 by skilled engineers in a secure, carrier-independent data centre environment. This guarantees that IP and telecoms services are always available to Virgin Radio.
David Jones, Head of Technology Services at Virgin Radio, comments: “TelecityRedbus offered us the most appropriate data centre environment and infrastructure to meet our needs. Their carrier-independent services demonstrate consistently high levels of performance, which is imperative for a radio station that broadcasts worldwide in a variety of digital formats.”
“Virgin Radio’s decision to extend its business critical infrastructure to TelecityRedbus demonstrates that our suite of services continues to impress and convince new customers to partner with us,” adds Mike Tobin, CEO of TelecityRedbus.
“TelecityRedbus is helping to extend the reach of traditional broadcasting and is increasingly at the heart of networked and streamed broadcast services. Growing numbers of broadcast organisations – including the BBC – recognising the value of choosing our data centre services for their infrastructure hosting needs.”
Ends
*Source: Virgin Radio, May 11 2006
†Source: RAJAR Data Release - Quarter 1, May 11 2006
About TelecityRedbus
TelecityRedbus is a leading data centre and managed services company, operating one of the largest networks of carrier-diverse data centre facilities in Europe. TelecityRedbus offers content rich digital businesses, corporate enterprises, communications service providers and the public sector flexible, scalable data centre and IT infrastructure hosting solutions enabling them to meet the growing demands of the 24x7 economy.
On 7 September 2006, TelecityRedbus acquired the European business and assets of Globix Corporation, a leading provider of Internet infrastructure and managed services. TelecityRedbus now has over 300 employees supporting 19 fully fitted data centres across seven European countries, enhancing its position as one of the largest and most advanced data centre infrastructure and managed service providers in Europe.
About Virgin Radio
Virgin Radio is the UK’s only commercial pop and rock music station. It can be heard on 105.8FM in London, 1215AM nationwide, on any DAB Digital Radio, via Sky Digital, Freeview and the cable TV networks and via WorldSpace. Virgin Radio is the world’s most listened to station on the internet and can be heard at www.virginradio.co.uk. Virgin Radio Classic Rock, Virgin Radio Xtreme and Virgin Radio Groove extend the brand across the internet and Sky nationally, and on DAB in London. Virgin Radio is wholly owned by SMG plc.
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