Launch BBC News: Studio B

[AaronTV]

I did think it was a bit surprising that they’d have done major structural work to create the upstairs balcony area, but the screens do look extremely realistic.

I think what’s perhaps most impressive is the ‘reflection’ of the light rings and any images - is this done by placing actual glass in front of the screens does anybody know?

Watched some of the 10 last night and still can’t help but feel the main anchor shot is the weakest part of the set, which is a bit unfortunate. After previously looking far too bright for 10pm, Huw looked a bit in the dark to me last night.

[aaron_scotland]

10m seems too high but also 2m is too low. They have by the looks of it 6 new cameras which are 4K models, We've heard they have a UHD Vision Mixer so one could assume the entire camera chain is 4K, add in all the robotics, you'd probably be looking at 1-2m just for the cameras.

[neonemesis]

I did think it was a bit surprising that they’d have done major structural work to create the upstairs balcony area, but the screens do look extremely realistic.

I think what’s perhaps most impressive is the ‘reflection’ of the light rings and any images - is this done by placing actual glass in front of the screens does anybody know?

Watched some of the 10 last night and still can’t help but feel the main anchor shot is the weakest part of the set, which is a bit unfortunate. After previously looking far too bright for 10pm, Huw looked a bit in the dark to me last night.

My understanding is that there is actually a balcony, although not very deep. The screen is mounted to the wall, a gap of a couple of feet and then a glass balustrade - on which you can see the reflections of the light rings.

[Stuart]

My understanding is that there is actually a balcony, although not very deep. The screen is mounted to the wall, a gap of a couple of feet and then a glass balustrade - on which you can see the reflections of the light rings.

Indeed, there is a tweet from Matt Taylor (somewhere up thread) of him standing on the balcony. It didn't look very deep, and I don't think it will ever serve any practical purpose.

I think it's just a fairly pointless design feature.

[DTV]

My understanding is that there is actually a balcony, although not very deep. The screen is mounted to the wall, a gap of a couple of feet and then a glass balustrade - on which you can see the reflections of the light rings.

Indeed, there is a tweet from Matt Taylor (somewhere up thread) of him standing on the balcony. It didn't look very deep, and I don't think it will ever serve any practical purpose.

I should imagine that the balcony also isn't structurally able to support more than one or two people. It doesn't look particularly reinforced.

[Renap]

So what parts of the studio are not screens and are permanently painted on or however you would describe it?

[neonemesis]

I think it's just a fairly pointless design feature.

Why pointless?

Yes, it doesn't appear that it's possible to present from up there (although we don't know that for sure). It serves as a really effective way to give the space height. It echoes the glass balustrade that surrounds the newsroom, tying those design aspects together. It adds another texture / material to the palette to provide visual interest and it's reflectivity gives the space depth.

In fact, I wonder if without that glass we would have twigged much earlier that the mezzanine walls are covered with screens - so it adds to the realism of the whole set. Hardly pointless.

[Stuart]

I think it's just a fairly pointless design feature.

Yes, it doesn't appear that it's possible to present from up there (although we don't know that for sure). It serves as a really effective way to give the space height. It echoes the glass balustrade that surrounds the newsroom, tying those design aspects together. It adds another texture / material to the palette to provide visual interest and it's reflectivity gives the space depth.

In fact, I wonder if without that glass we would have twigged much earlier that the mezzanine walls are covered with screens - so it adds to the realism of the whole set. Hardly pointless.

Without wanting to be rude, you've simply described a pointless design feature, then asked why I described it as pointless.

[neonemesis]

I think where our opinions might differ is that you appear to be ascribing value only to a design's practical function, whereas I also ascribe value to its form.

There are a whole host of visual touches in that set that are not required by function, but without them the space would look rubbish.

Good design has to balance both.

[Newsroom]

I think where our opinions might differ is that you appear to be ascribing value only to a design's practical function, whereas I also ascribe value to its form.

There are a whole host of visual touches in that set that are not required by function, but without them the space would look rubbish.

Good design has to balance both.

Are you Jony Ive by any chance? Very eloquent. I can almost hear him saying what you're written. 

[Steve in Pudsey]

It may well be that when the set gets virtually redressed for Laura K's new show or elections and they put something else on those screens it makes more sense.

[Brekkie]

Yes - they need something up there. Thought they'd go for something a bit simpler than screens as they can still change it with lighting effects etc, or just rely on AR, but it's better to utilise the height than just have a void.

That said too although clearly the studio is designed to be wheelchair friendly considering they do have the height to play with maybe having at least having a split-level area which can be used for presentation would have been worthwhile.


P.S. Has the big vertical screen in the middle been used for anything more than the opening shot and then promoting the app/iPlayer etc yet? (Disclaimer - I've not watched a full bulletin since last Monday, but of the clips posted since I've only seen it used in this manner)

[Moz]

P.S.  Has the big vertical screen in the middle been used for anything more than the opening shot and then promoting the app/iPlayer etc yet?  (Disclaimer - I've not watched a full bulletin since last Monday, but of the clips posted since I've only seen it used in this manner)

Yep - has been used a couple of times both by the presenter and by reporters.

In fact I was going to mention that I like the way that there doesn’t seem to be a fixed formula for which screens they use when. It’s a bit of a mix.

[Andrew]

Yes - they need something up there.  Thought they'd go for something a bit simpler than screens as they can still change it with lighting effects etc, or just rely on AR, but it's better to utilise the height than just have a void.

That said too although clearly the studio is designed to be wheelchair friendly considering they do have the height to play with maybe having at least having a split-level area which can be used for presentation would have been worthwhile.


P.S.  Has the big vertical screen in the middle been used for anything more than the opening shot and then promoting the app/iPlayer etc yet?  (Disclaimer - I've not watched a full bulletin since last Monday, but of the clips posted since I've only seen it used in this manner)

It’s been used to show a map of limited rail services every day for what seems like a week

[Joe]

Yes - they need something up there.  Thought they'd go for something a bit simpler than screens as they can still change it with lighting effects etc, or just rely on AR, but it's better to utilise the height than just have a void.

But using screens in this way would be MUCH easier than augmented reality.