Forum for former BBC staff

Forum for former BBC staff
http://www.ex-bbc.net/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl >> News and Comment >> Political Conferences. http://www.ex-bbc.net/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1476616659 Message started by Administrator on Oct 16^th, 2016, 11:18am

Title: Political Conferences.
Post by Administrator on Oct 16^th, 2016, 11:18am

BBC Newsgathering Operations shot a time-laps sequence.

"Each year BBC Newsgathering brings you coverage from the political conferences. This year we used an IP circuit to deliver radio and HD TV circuits, carrying all rushes and cut packages, live broadcasts and multi-camera OBs for Newsnight and Daily Politics. "

The YouTube video may be seen here.

It lasts just under three minutes.

A lot of cable is used!

Title: Re: Political Conferences.
Post by WG on Oct 17^th, 2016, 9:39am

Gosh--how much did this all cost? fine if it was for major popular sports OB or a national Royal event--but not worth it for party conferences?

Title: Re: Political Conferences.
Post by Burstner55 on Oct 20^th, 2016, 7:51pm

In 1980 I covered the NUM conference in St Helier for ALL local radio stations >:( >:(carrying off the plane a NAGRA, a UHER, one of those things football commentators use (sorry, memory!) and a lot of reels of tape, some razor blades and pencils. Yes, just me. Network radio sent John Hosken (Industrial Correspondent), Roy Roberts (Welsh Industrial Correspondent), an SM and a bit more gear. We were working in 90 degrees in the roof of the Hotel de France. I had no help from the others but had to share the one line to BH. But I did not miss one single regional angle of the whole conference when Joe Gormley was handing over to Scargill. Where did I go wrong?

Title: Re: Political Conferences.
Post by Director_General on Oct 21^st, 2016, 8:53pm

[quote author=1B2C2B2A2D373C2B066C6C590 link=1476616659/2#2 date=1476993035], one of those things football commentators use (sorry, memory!)

That would be a COOBE methinks!

Title: Re: Political Conferences.
Post by Burstner55 on Oct 22^nd, 2016, 10:15am

Yes it was! The acronym completely slipped my mind...Commentator Operated Outside Broadcast Equipment....i.e. a lip mic and a plug in line mixer....I'm told they now do TV OBs with a rucksack containing a cocktail of 3G and 4G...a wireless multiplex transmitter, WMT.....or is that WTF ? And I hope they are talking about the good old days of tape, sticky tape and yellow pencils at training school just to show the newcomers how it all started! ;D

Title: Re: Political Conferences.
Post by Amigo on Oct 22^nd, 2016, 10:38am

A "COOBE", was preceded by a "SOOBE".

The Self Operated Outside Broadcast Equipment....

As referred to in Andy Walmsley's "Random Radio Jottings" section on "Sports Report" here.

A suitcase, an STC 4104 Lip, an FX mic and lots of HP2 batteries if my memory serves me correctly.

The STC 4104 was preceded by the L1 and L2.

Title: Re: Political Conferences.
Post by RobR on Oct 23^rd, 2016, 4:18pm

Amigo wrote on Oct 22^nd, 2016, 10:38am:

And COOBEs were succeeded (in BBC Sport at least) by SABREs - Self-Activated Broadcast & Receiving Equipment.

Title: Re: Political Conferences.
Post by Amigo on Oct 23^rd, 2016, 5:21pm

Probably made by Glensound? !

Title: Re: Political Conferences.
Post by Dickie Mint on Oct 23^rd, 2016, 6:36pm

Alice according to TFPRO's website.

And here's the EDI for the EP11/1 version.

A very efficient idea! Permanent lines of music and control were connected from the local exchange to a COOBE/SOOBE box socket at a sports ground. The Comms dept of a Region would test the loop on a Friday, and someone would nip out if it wasn't there. Usually caused by the commentator forgetting to put the looping plug back in!

Title: Re: Political Conferences.
Post by Burstner55 on Oct 25^th, 2016, 6:39pm

And that answers the question why I was told I needed a NAGRA as well as a Uher which I was much more accustomed to.....the output from the NAGRA matched the tape input but the Uher didn't. Does that sound logical? On the other hand a Uher was much more flexible to haul around the conference hall to grab interviews and soundbites. But what I could really have done with was an SA to do the techie stuff whilst I was grabbing all the tape I needed to satisfy the newsrooms in all the "coalmining stations...." Derby, Nottingham, Leicester, Stoke, Brum, Lancs, Macnchester, Leeds, Tees, Newcastle and Sheffield....and, oh yes, Kent and Bristol (still a mining area in the Mendips in those days). All those breakfast producers looking to me to provide their top stories! I was flattered to be trusted with the job, stupid to do it! But it was worth it to see Gormley, bacon buttie in one hand, champagne glass in the other, sticking two fingers up to Scargill.