Peel Media announced today that Andy Waters is to join the MediaCityUK senior management team as Head of Studios.

Andy is one of a team of Resource Managers currently responsible for delivering business for BBC Studios and Post Production. His 20 years of experience has been concentrated in the TV studio environment, having started his career at Limehouse Studios before moving to the BBC.

He has enormous experience in working with many of the country’s leading independent production companies, BBC Entertainment and ITV Studios. Throughout this time, Andy has been supporting programme makers in making some of the largest and most complex of studio productions.

Sinead Greenaway, chief executive of Peel Media, said today: “We’re delighted that Andy Waters is joining us as Head of Studios.  This is a key appointment for MediaCityUK and Andy’s vast experience at both the BBC and with the commercial sector, will be a great asset to our team as we move towards studio operational mode by the end of 2010.”

Andy Waters said on his appointment: “I’m excited to be involved in this fantastic opportunity to create a 21^st century studio facility at Salford Quays where content producers can make their shows the best they can possibly be. I’m looking forward to working at MediaCityUK, an innovative and vibrant hub, where programmes will be at the heart of what we do.”

The Studios at MediaCityUK

Owned and operated by Peel Media, the studio block will include seven high definition television studios, two audio studios (one dedicated to the BBC Philharmonic), and a technical block featuring: fully equipped sound and vision control rooms; core post facilities; CTA (central technical area); dressing rooms; make-up rooms; workshops; set storage; and green rooms.

Breakdown of studio sizes:

• Studio 1, ground floor: 7,646 sq ft (710.3 sq m)
• Studio 2, ground floor: 4,550 sq ft (422.7 sq m)
• Studio 3, ground floor: 6,283 sq ft (583.7 sq m)
• Studio 4, first floor: 1,615 sq ft (150 sq m)
• Studio 5, first floor: 983 sq ft (91.3 sq m)
• Studio 6, ground floor: 12,543 sq ft (1,165.3 sq m)
• Studio 7, first floor: 983 sq ft (91.3 sq m)
• Philharmonic studio, ground floor: 6,339 sq ft (588.9 sq m)
• Multi-purpose audio studio: 1,850 sq ft (171.9 sq m)

The studio block will also house the Open Centre – a split level reception area featuring a bar, cafés and an information point.  In addition, productions are ongoing at The Pie Factory, next door to the main development. The Pie Factory, owned by Peel Media, celebrated its third birthday in January and is already home to twenty businesses offering an array of services from camera and lighting hire to casting, design and IT solutions.

Phase one of MediaCityUK is scheduled for completion in 2011, when BBC North establishes its new headquarters and the University of Salford opens a new higher education centre.

www.mediacityuk.co.uk