Why is Media Stream AI Investing £50m in a UK Data Centre?
Media Stream AI (MSAI) has announced a £50m (US$67.2m) investment into a new AI data centre in the North West of England, alongside a robotics lab and production facility.
The project, located at Anchorage Place in Salford’s Media City, will bring £150m (US$201.7m) to the local economy over the next five years and create 70 full-time jobs in the first 12 months.
The company has confirmed plans to target a valuation of £2.5 billion (US$3.36bn) at IPO in December 2026. Its Canal Side AI Data Centre is intended to strengthen UK AI sovereignty while contributing to the wider digital economy.
“Having only started in February of this year, Media Steam AI’s meteoric rise is a testament to the hard work and ingenuity that has been harnessed to bring this new company to market,” says Christopher Kenna, CEO of Media Stream AI.
“From contributing to the UK’s sovereign AI capacity, and developing novel clean tech to new broadcasting capabilities and robotics, I’m extremely proud that all this innovation, as part of our global growth strategy, has been built and delivered here in the North West of England.”
Canal Side AI data centre
The new facility will be a fully owned and operated 2MW data centre designed with advanced cooling and infrastructure solutions.
Through a Lenovo TruScale agreement, MSAI will deploy Lenovo ThinkSystem servers with Neptune warm-water cooling technology on a pay-as-you-grow basis. This Infrastructure-as-a-Service approach allows the company to scale its resources in line with growth while maintaining energy efficiency.
The Canal Side site will integrate industry-leading broadcasting technology, virtual production facilities and clean tech solutions to help cool the infrastructure.
In addition to its UK build, MSAI has finalised an agreement with the Government of Jamaica to construct and operate the first AI data centre in the country. This facility is due in June 2026.
Together, the two sites will allow MSAI to service Europe and Latin America.
Robotics and automation
MSAI is also investing in robotics with the development of AI-led robotic camera arms in the North of England. These systems are designed to enhance efficiency and quality across global production processes, delivering technology to the creative sector worldwide.
The company’s AI VP Studio will act as a fully automated AI-driven production space, using robotic arms built in-house. Designed to serve the film, television and digital content industries, the studio will not require human presence for operation.
Broadcasting technology
Alongside data centre infrastructure, MSAI is introducing IntuiTV, a proprietary broadcasting platform with two applications. The first applies AI to optimise transmission efficiency and reduce resource usage. The second focuses on personalisation, offering users their own tailored TV channel.
By using biometric and mood data captured through wearables and devices, IntuiTV aims to deliver customised programming in real time, reducing reliance on manual search and addressing streaming fatigue. This technology can be layered onto existing services, providing a differentiated experience for consumers.
Partnerships for growth
To accelerate innovation, MSAI has joined the Lenovo AI Innovators programme. This gives the company access to Lenovo’s AI labs, technical expertise and global network of partners. For MSAI, the partnership means solutions can be validated and scaled more quickly, with responsible, secure and sustainable AI infrastructure at the core.
The company’s collaborations extend internationally, with the Jamaica data centre providing a foundation for operations in Latin America. These projects align with MSAI’s ambition to integrate infrastructure, robotics and content technology into a single global platform while anchoring investment in the UK.
Driving regional impact
The Salford development highlights the role of data centres in regional digital transformation.
By combining AI-ready infrastructure with robotics and broadcasting technology, MSAI is creating a model that supports national AI goals while contributing to local employment and economic growth.
With completion expected within 18 months, the Canal Side AI Data Centre will become a key part of the UK’s sovereign AI infrastructure, positioning Salford as a hub for next-generation digital capability.
