WIREDGOV

On a visit to Sony’s headquarters in Japan today First Minister Carwyn Jones announced the Welsh Government is supporting the development of a new Digital Media Content Management division at its site in Pencoed, which will lead to thirty new jobs.

The £1.1m investment in new digitisation technology at Sony UK Technology Centre (UKTEC) is supported by repayable finance from the Welsh Government which helped secure the project for Pencoed.

The new business takes advantage of the move from analogue to digital content and will convert customers’ video and media content to a digital format to meet the global demand for content that can be published across a growing range of platforms.

The First Minister said:

“Sony UKTEC, one of our anchor companies, makes a significant contribution to the Welsh economy and it’s great news that it is expanding and diversifying and I am delighted that Welsh Government support helped secure this investment for Pencoed.

“It is yet another example of how the senior management team continues to bring new business to the facility, adding yet another string to its bow. The investment will introduce new technology to the site, extend its capability and create a new income stream while also providing opportunities for further growth.

“It will not only create new jobs for the area but help secure its long term sustainable future providing a service to customers around the world.”

Sony UKTEC will work with Sony Professional Solutions Europe in Basingstoke which supplies audio/visual and technology solutions to broadcast and media business worldwide. It aims to be the global leader for content management offering a complete service enabling companies to record, digitise, store, distribute and monetise their video content.

Sony Europe Ltd (‘Sony’) has announced the acquisition of Memnon Archiving Services SA, a Brussels based company providing a world leading service in the field of digitisation and digital archive preservation. Memnon’s archiving services and technologies coupled with Sony’s extensive workflow and media solutions and leadership position in the broadcast industry will create new market opportunities for advanced media asset management and digitisation solutions for media companies, broadcasters and institutions around the world.

Steve Dalton OBE, Managing Director of Sony UK Technology Centre said:

“We are excited to be opening a digital media content division at our site.  We are living in a fast-paced, technology driven world, where consumers demand instant access to information whether that’s audio or visual in a digital format.

“As such the way audio and visual documents are stored is changing and to keep up ahead of the curve it’s essential that we are able to offer existing and prospective customers an option to record, store and to provide immediate access to a digital format. We feel this expansion will complement the existing services we have on offer to our clients and links closely with our tenants who form part of the Sir Howard Stringer Foundation for Media and Technology.”

Sony UKTEC will introduce the digitisation service in a phased development and investment that will see it ramp up over the next two/three years.