Ascent Media inks deal with The Chicago Switch

Ascent Media is looking to make life easier for sportscasters looking to get signals out of Chicago after inking a deal with The Chicago Switch, LLC, the premiere video switching facility in the nation’s third-largest media market. The companies say the new service significantly increases distribution and reception capabilities for broadcasters and corporate video users.

Ascent Media and The Chicago Switch have completed a high-capacity, bi-directional fiber link between the switch and Ascent Media’s Minneapolis uplink facility. The link provides users of The Chicago Switch with the single-source ability to distribute video throughout the world, using Ascent Media’s existing network facilities, as well as a competitively-priced alternative to existing uplink facilities. Ascent Media already has commenced services via the new link with major network programmers and local affiliates as customers.

“Creators and distributors of video in our market have consistently used our switching capabilities to achieve their local communication needs,” said Steve Robinson, Managing Partner The Chicago Switch. “By providing a direct link to Ascent Media’s uplink facilities and global network, we now can enable existing and future customers to have high-quality, highly-reliable access to and from almost anywhere in the world.”

“We view our association with The Chicago Switch as beneficial to both companies, as well as to the Chicago video community,” said John Palmer, Director of Engineering and Operations, Midwest Region for Ascent Media Network Services. “Our new fiber connection broadens our customer base by offering a unified solution to local and global needs, and provides users of video distribution services with a much-needed alternative.”

Located on the 97th floor of the John Hancock Center, The Chicago Switch serves a variety of entities, including local and national broadcast and cable networks, common carriers, post-production houses and other media outlets.