Firm gets vote for TV election night

When the BBC unveils its high-tech election night graphics on Thursday, millions of viewers will be treated to the computer wizardry of a Shropshire company.

Much Wenlock-based Idonix is the brains behind the on-screen images that will chart the progress of the political parties throughout the BBC coverage in both England and Scotland.

Teams from the county firm have been relocated to London and Glasgow for the last two weeks installing their equipment and working on training and rehearsals with the broadcaster's production teams ahead of the big night.

They will also be on hand as the programme is aired to ensure the smooth running of the critical technology, with the Idonix team providing the powerful computers and software that will provide the on-screen displays.

The firm's "IGO" system powers automated broadcast-quality graphics linked to real-time data, fed in from a variety of sources.

With the coming election marked by intrigue and uncertainty regarding the outcome, audience figures are expected to be high and the need for clearly presented information is central to a successful broadcast.

Co-directors of Idonix, Pete Griffiths and Paul Harrison, will be directing operations for the company at the BBC sites.

Pete said: "We're very proud to be playing our role in the election coverage. We have a strong track record with the BBC, having worked with them on election coverage as far back as 1999. The work for this broadcast started for us in August of last year and we're now working hard with the BBC production team to make sure everything goes to plan on the big day which we're confident it will."

Idonix has also provided B­udget coverage graphics for the BBC in the past, as well as completing successful projects for other top companies, including the Disney Corporation and Microsoft. The team are no strangers to supporting live events, with an enviable track record in the delivery of eye-catching graphics with real-time, up-to-the-minute data for conferences, shows and exhibitions, as well as the web and TV.

The company is comprised of five people working from their Much Wenlock base and Pete added: "This is the first time we will have provided support on two sites at once, in London and Glasgow, so it's a bit more challenging but our products are tried and tested and we hope everyone watching the BBC election coverage will appreciate the ways we can present this very important information to them."