BBC News Studio B: Ask Me Anything

[deejay]

Well I guess given the news that the forum is closing, now’s the time to ask any questions you have about the set up in B.  I’ll do my best to answer them.  I can’t remember if I’ve posted this already (or whether anyone else has) but here’s how it looks when the screens are all off:




Work is well underway to design the new Kuenssberg programme, which looks very interesting, although I can’t say much about that for obvious reasons.

[neonemesis]

Great photos, answers a few questions about the distance the set is from the studio walls and the depth of the mezzanine.

I have a question regarding the intended usages of the Mez as it was being designed. Was it designed so that it could be used as a presentation area? ie can support weight, has access etc...? Or is it a purely visual design feature?

Also, is there technology in place to enable virtual set extensions for more setpiece events such as the election?

Thanks for all you have contributed!

[Rob]

I've split this from the dedicated Studio B thread so that it doesn't get lost amongst the ongoing discussion.

[Dylan2001]

Who designed the globe loop on the screens?

[Worzel]

Hi Deejay, thanks for doing this.

How involved were the presenters in the set design and updated presentation for the new national bulletins?

Is the desk movable on the baking tray for a sofa/coffee table to be added?

Can the catwalk screen be raised up, or is it at a fixed height?

I've not seen this covered anywhere, but what upgrades were done to the studio B gallery? Was it basic kit or was say, a new vision mixer or sound desk installed?

[TVenthusiasm]

When BBC London moves in to Studio B, how will the handover from the national news to London be handled? And will the London presenter be displayed on the curved video wall at the end of the national news?

[Renap]

Do you know if there have been more than one "set designs" made yet for the screen graphics or just the BBC news set?

For example, something darker rather than red, as it's very likely to be used for this purpose unfortunately, such as a royal death.

[Stuart]

Thanks for the pictures deejay.

Is the orientation of the set the same as previously, as in the location of the curved wall is roughly where the old curved LED wall was placed?

[Brekkie]

Must be quite claustrophobic having all that kit hanging above you.  If the cameras don't get you something falling from the roof might.

[Joe]

Must be quite claustrophobic having all that kit hanging above you.  If the cameras don't get you something falling from the roof might.

Although ceiling rigs tend to be very safe – each piece of equipment must be chained/wired onto the rig separately from its ‘proper’ mount and everyone involved is highly safety trained. 

But yeah… it can be a bit like flying in a plane. You know how safe it is, but you don’t always feel it!

[deejay]

Great photos, answers a few questions about the distance the set is from the studio walls and the depth of the mezzanine.

I have a question regarding the intended usages of the Mez as it was being designed. Was it designed so that it could be used as a presentation area? ie can support weight, has access etc...? Or is it a purely visual design feature?

Also, is there technology in place to enable virtual set extensions for more setpiece events such as the election?

Thanks for all you have contributed!

It’s largely a design feature, but the staircase is weight bearing, as is some of the mezzanine.  It’s use is limited at the moment because a straight news bulletin isn’t really the place for it, but the Ten trail did make use (ever so slightly) of the staircase.  Those trails are currently not scheduled, but may return, who knows.

As for VR/AR, you’ll have to keep watching!

---

Who designed the globe loop on the screens?

All GFX were done in house.

---

Hi Deejay, thanks for doing this.

How involved were the presenters in the set design and updated presentation for the new national bulletins?

Is the desk movable on the baking tray for a sofa/coffee table to be added?

Can the catwalk screen be raised up, or is it at a fixed height?

I've not seen this covered anywhere, but what upgrades were done to the studio B gallery? Was it basic kit or was say, a new vision mixer or sound desk installed?

The presenters were involved all along, and naturally involved in the pilots.  Their input was vital in making it work and flow, especially as there is more movement than there is in E.

I can’t go into to too many specifics about the flexibility of the space, but with the cameras on tracks with set positions, many of the main set elements naturally have to remain in fixed positions.  The height of the catwalk is fixed (it’s a fairly massive structure).

The gallery got a new vision mixer and the installation of the Electric Friends camera system as part of its upgrade.

---

When BBC London moves in to Studio B, how will the handover from the national news to London be handled? And will the London presenter be displayed on the curved video wall at the end of the national news?

You’ll see in due course!

---

Thanks for the pictures deejay.

Is the orientation of the set the same as previously, as in the location of the curved wall is roughly where the old curved LED wall was placed?

The old set was a figure of eight design, with the desk (Barcos) and Catwalk (Plasmas) at one end and the soft set (curved LED wall) at the other.  Cameras tended to work broadly in the middle of the floor, facing one way or the other.

The new set is rectangular in shape and most camera positions are along the length of the longer side of the studio.  The new catwalk is roughly where the old soft set was (as seen on Marr), the desk is where the old desk was, the touchscreen (weather) is roughly where the old Catwalk was.

---

Must be quite claustrophobic having all that kit hanging above you.  If the cameras don't get you something falling from the roof might.

It’s not remotely claustrophobic because this studio in particular has enormous height.  I find Studio E far more claustrophobic from that point of view because you can almost touch the lamps.  Most multi-purpose flexible rig studios have great height and, like in B, have motorised hoists that being the lamps down to floor level for rigging.  There are also scenery winches and so on and the grid is designed to support very large loads.  There are strict measures in place, like annual inspections, to ensure safety is maintained.

[DTV]

Interesting to see from the photos that mirrors, albeit in a small way, have made a return to BBC national news sets. From the virtual set onwards, only the cream and red set and the Studio E set haven't featured mirrors somewhere in the design.

[neonemesis]

Great photos, answers a few questions about the distance the set is from the studio walls and the depth of the mezzanine.

I have a question regarding the intended usages of the Mez as it was being designed. Was it designed so that it could be used as a presentation area? ie can support weight, has access etc...? Or is it a purely visual design feature?

Also, is there technology in place to enable virtual set extensions for more setpiece events such as the election?

Thanks for all you have contributed!

Thank you!

It’s largely a design feature, but the staircase is weight bearing, as is some of the mezzanine.  It’s use is limited at the moment because a straight news bulletin isn’t really the place for it, but the Ten trail did make use (ever so slightly) of the staircase.  Those trails are currently not scheduled, but may return, who knows.

As for VR/AR, you’ll have to keep watching!

---

Who designed the globe loop on the screens?

All GFX were done in house.

---

Hi Deejay, thanks for doing this.

How involved were the presenters in the set design and updated presentation for the new national bulletins?

Is the desk movable on the baking tray for a sofa/coffee table to be added?

Can the catwalk screen be raised up, or is it at a fixed height?

I've not seen this covered anywhere, but what upgrades were done to the studio B gallery? Was it basic kit or was say, a new vision mixer or sound desk installed?

The presenters were involved all along, and naturally involved in the pilots.  Their input was vital in making it work and flow, especially as there is more movement than there is in E.

I can’t go into to too many specifics about the flexibility of the space, but with the cameras on tracks with set positions, many of the main set elements naturally have to remain in fixed positions.  The height of the catwalk is fixed (it’s a fairly massive structure).

The gallery got a new vision mixer and the installation of the Electric Friends camera system as part of its upgrade.

---

When BBC London moves in to Studio B, how will the handover from the national news to London be handled? And will the London presenter be displayed on the curved video wall at the end of the national news?

You’ll see in due course!

---

Thanks for the pictures deejay.

Is the orientation of the set the same as previously, as in the location of the curved wall is roughly where the old curved LED wall was placed?

The old set was a figure of eight design, with the desk (Barcos) and Catwalk (Plasmas) at one end and the soft set (curved LED wall) at the other.  Cameras tended to work broadly in the middle of the floor, facing one way or the other.

The new set is rectangular in shape and most camera positions are along the length of the longer side of the studio.  The new catwalk is roughly where the old soft set was (as seen on Marr), the desk is where the old desk was, the touchscreen (weather) is roughly where the old Catwalk was.

---

Must be quite claustrophobic having all that kit hanging above you.  If the cameras don't get you something falling from the roof might.

It’s not remotely claustrophobic because this studio in particular has enormous height.  I find Studio E far more claustrophobic from that point of view because you can almost touch the lamps.  Most multi-purpose flexible rig studios have great height and, like in B, have motorised hoists that being the lamps down to floor level for rigging.  There are also scenery winches and so on and the grid is designed to support very large loads.  There are strict measures in place, like annual inspections, to ensure safety is maintained.

[scottishtv]

Not a criticism, just a clarification question really.  Looking at your first photo, I'm guessing a lack of space meant that the track in front of the huge vertical screen at the front of the studio couldn't turn to be in front of the big touchscreen as well?

When I first started watching output from Studio B, I was a little surprised that the big 'explainer' touchscreen is always shown from an angle, like so:



Unlike in Studio E, where you can also get a 'head on' view of the catwalk screens from across the desk:



That said, the openings from the Six and the Ten in front of the vertical screen look great, so if that compromise was necessary to facilitate those - then so be it (?)

Thanks!

[Stuart]

I'm guessing a lack of space meant that the track in front of the huge vertical screen at the front of the studio couldn't turn to be in front of the big touchscreen as well?

Surely that is the camera used for the touchscreen items. There is no other camera in the studio that would provide the angle as seen on screen.