Duke of Edinburgh: Funeral Build-Up

[Jeff]

I'd have thought they would be wanting a 5 News Update scheduled for 1500 to incorporate the silence (which is what they do on Remembrance Sunday every year), not 1515 part way through the funeral

You would think the schedule will be altered before Saturday to allow what you suggested to happen

[James Martin]

Not to sway too much from the build up intention of thread,
In today's episode of his podcast, Jordan North has briefly gone into what it was like being on air on Radio 1 at the time of the announcement, plus some general chat about the topic and the funeral.
https://play.acast.com/s/sextedmyboss/he...ngtolondon

Speaking of Radio 1, it was quite a plesant surprise that once they separated for the joint coverage that the presenting line-up largely stayed as normal. It would've been quite easy to draft in 'safe pair of hands' but they kept faith in the usual DJs at those times who were excellent.

The radio coverage in the hours following the death did seem to miss the mark - doing a joint broadcast covering all the BBC national stations for several hours did seem a error as what your 1Xtra listener wants will be very different to a Radio 4 listener and everybody airing the same may've reduced the chance of any oversights but left no choice for listeners so you end up just driving quite a few away. The several hours bit being the issue more than the initial joint broadcast itself.

I can't help thinking that doing joint broadcast in the first hour then pairing up certain stations might've done better (e.g. Radio 1/1Xtra/Asian Network simulcasting together, Radio 2 & 6 Music airing the same output and then Radio 4 & 5 Live airing joint more speech-heavy output).
However, I guess in the situation the BBC are in where they'll get pelters whatever they do they chose to choose the least risky option and just do the one broadcast.

I did find the instrumentals played by Radio 1 at first an odd choice, you'd have imagine they'd have a more sombre playlist ready to go but that still had appropriate lyrics. It almost made it seem like Prince Philip didn't like lyrics and actually makes the whole situation feel much more uncomfortable than if they'd just played slightly calmer songs than usual but with lyrics. Similarly going to the simulcast so abruptly cutting stations off mid-song and sometimes sentence and without warning probably caused more worry than actually giving DJs on air some pre-warning that there'd be simulcast at X point and allowing the DJs to explain that we'd be joining the joint broadcast for an "important update"/"news on the royal family"

And given the endless complaints and even complaints about complaints etc I am slightly surprised Radio 1 playing 'Drivers Licence' slipped under the radar. It's a suitably slow song but given Phillip's motor accident a few years back, it didn't the wisest song to give a play and the sort of thing that normally the tabloids and #DefundTheBBC lot would leap on and have pitchforks at the ready.

I generally agree with this. Interestingly, Radio 1 didn't join the all-network programme for Diana but I wonder if, back in 1997, Matthew Bannister felt it imperative that the audience were given a "newsbeat" angle on the story? Radio 1 was still going through the (at that time) maligned evolution from the "old" era to the youth station it emerged as at the end of the decade, and I wonder if it was important that the Newsbeat team, not Radio 4, looked after that particular audience.

[Steve in Pudsey]

I'm not convinced that the choice of whether to join the all network programme was within the gift of individual Heads of Station this time.

[Brekkie]

Yes, from what Jordan said on his podcast a three hour break for an obit was always planned.

[william]

Few brief thoughts:

- all cameras within St George's Chapel will have to be 100% remote-operated? but freedom to use jibs etc. outside, and maybe a hoist at the end of the Long Walk looking up towards the castle as a beauty shot?
- perhaps a camera inside one of the arches, like that shot - at Horseguard's Parade I think - during Diana's funeral - to get an overhead shot of the land rover to cover one of the moments it will be out of view during the procession
- the BBC surely need to confirm their TV and radio schedules for Saturday within the next 24 hours or so?
- surprised we've heard nothing about the BBC commentary / presentation team either. Were it my choice, I would use Huw for presentation and have David Dimbleby commentate on the service itself.
- wonder if both BBC and ITV will put their studio inside the castle

[aaron_scotland]

Few brief thoughts:

- all cameras within St George's Chapel will have to be 100% remote-operated? but freedom to use jibs etc. outside, and maybe a hoist at the end of the Long Walk looking up towards the castle as a beauty shot?
- perhaps a camera inside one of the arches, like that shot - at Horseguard's Parade I think - during Diana's funeral - to get an overhead shot of the land rover to cover one of the moments it will be out of view during the procession
- the BBC surely need to confirm their TV and radio schedules for Saturday within the next 24 hours or so?
- surprised we've heard nothing about the BBC commentary / presentation team either. Were it my choice, I would use Huw for presentation and have David Dimbleby commentate on the service itself.
- wonder if both BBC and ITV will put their studio inside the castle

I saw a truck full of camera peds go into the Castle this morning, So could either be for the Chapel or BBCs Studio which is on the wall. I also believe Sky will have a studio up there too.

EDIT: NEP Connect dual satellite truck arrived this morning too

[Jamesypoo]

If the comment about remotely operated cameras has been made due to the 30 people pandemic limit, then I think this wouldn’t apply to camera operators as the limit is 30 *attendees*, not 30 *people* at the funeral. The limit excludes anyone working at the funeral.

[eyeTV]

ITV have their coverage listed between 1.15pm - 4.30pm Prince Philip - A Royal Funeral

[XIII]

3 hours or so was what I was expecting given it’s a smaller scale event. I think Charles and Camilla’s wedding was similar in length although that was different in that the wedding itself wasn’t broadcast

[James2001]

Yes, from what Jordan said on his podcast a three hour break for an obit was always planned.

Didn't it go on for quite a bit longer than 3 hours? I think it was more like 5.

[valley]

If the comment about remotely operated cameras has been made due to the 30 people pandemic limit, then I think this wouldn’t apply to camera operators as the limit is 30 *attendees*, not 30 *people* at the funeral. The limit excludes anyone working at the funeral.

Correct. They're going to be trying to reduce people inside due to the pandemic though, also remote cameras can get better angles than local cameras can in the chapel.

[william]

If the comment about remotely operated cameras has been made due to the 30 people pandemic limit, then I think this wouldn’t apply to camera operators as the limit is 30 *attendees*, not 30 *people* at the funeral. The limit excludes anyone working at the funeral.

Correct. They're going to be trying to reduce people inside due to the pandemic though, also remote cameras can get better angles than local cameras can in the chapel.

My interpretation of the rules is they were written to cover people officiating, plus the ushers, any pall-bearers, any other church or crematorium staff., i.e. anyone who needs to be there for the service to take place in a legal and sufficiently dignified/organised matter; I doubt anyone had "state" occasions in mind (not that this is a state funeral).

My guess would be that caveat was put there just to make it things simpler for people when they were planning who to invite, so they didn't have to agonise over how many staff might be there, or indeed avoid situations where people would try and to hold a funeral without the correct people present, so they could accommodate one or two extra mourners.

You could stretch things - but it wouldn't look good for the BBC or any other broadcaster for that matter - "oh really, so the prime minister can't attend, but you think it's fine for you to bring along six cameramen, a commentator and a producer?" etc. People might also reasonably ask why it's necessary if news bulletins and hours of parliamentary coverage can use cameras controlled from elsewhere. Or "I had to watch a friend's funeral online and it was just one camera at the back of the room and it didn't even move."

Of course the limits are incredibly arbitrary - the logical thing would to determine the limit based on the size of venue. I'm also highly suspicious where the limit for one thing (funerals) is conveniently exactly double the limit for something else (weddings). (Is it because funerals are exactly twice as important? Will people be at a wedding twice as long, or get twice as close? etc.)

Anyway let's see what they do; I guess the technical consideration is just as much about lenses, lighting and racking.

[aaron_scotland]

Wasnt most the Royal Wedding filmed with UHD Remote heads too? As said they can be placed more discretely and closer to the action - though Im not sure we really need closeups of the Queen this time round.

[Ash101]

Yes, from what Jordan said on his podcast a three hour break for an obit was always planned.

Didn't it go on for quite a bit longer than 3 hours? I think it was more like 5.

Radio 1 / 1 Xtra / Asian Network opted out at 4pm.

[AllWillBeWell]

Sky looks like it is showing the funeral on Sky News and Sky One.