SIS and Peel Media are to jointly provide BBC North with studios, post and technical services at MediaCityUK in Salford after securing a 10-year deal.

The contract – which includes running the studios and providing post-production capabilities - will be delivered through a new joint venture company headed up by Peel Media’s chief executive Sinead Greenaway and its head of studios Andy Waters and Phil Aspden of SIS.

As part of the agreement the Central Technical Area in the MediaCityUK studio block will be upgraded in order to enable site-wide and global connectivity and further post and content services.

The joint venture will also work with the BBC, Salford University and other media partners to develop new technologies and services.

Richard Deverell, chief operating officer, BBC North, said: “This new agreement with Peel Media will help ensure that BBC North becomes a leading innovator in digital media and content production in the UK. Additionally we hope that the deal will make MediaCityUK a first choice destination for companies interested in working in partnership with the BBC.”

SIS – which operates the OB company SIS LIVE - unveiled plans earlier in the year to relocate its production and engineering operation to MediaCityUK, employing 100 staff, from its headquarters in London.   

David Holdgate, chief executive of SIS, said: The opportunities for the broadcast community offered by these new facilities are vast, and we look forward to developing long-term relationships with many organisations within the broadcast community as part of this.”

BBC North expects to begin operating at MediaCityUK from May 2011.