Launch BBC News: Studio B

[Spencer]

It looks as though Plymouth were late to the party.

Isn’t that them in the middle row, three from the right?

[Stuart]

Isn’t that them in the middle row, three from the right?

So it is. They're normally in the middle row of the first column, which had the odd graphic.

[Spencer]

Isn’t that them in the middle row, three from the right?

So it is. They're normally in the middle row of the first column, which had the odd graphic.

Yes, they’ve all been moved around. I’m guessing that one is Wales Today with the camera pointing elsewhere.

[rkolsen]

The nations and regions were in a different order last night. Peter Levy wasn’t in the bottom right corner.

https://twitter.com/gemwhalley/status/15...34531?s=21

I’m looking at this right now. It appears the wall behind the anchor is handled by one of the M/E buses. I assume it’s because it’s more likely to be keyed upon. The back wall looks great to be divided into different sections. I assume the first that’s from a Raven is as it doesn’t change  and the remaining three are of a higher resolution.  I noticed on Twitter it looked like a new switcher was installed which could handle higher resolutions for the backdrop.
I assume the concave wall is handled by a graphics engine in of itself which takes various inputs to handle line feeds or for a look at the nations could take a high res feed and crop it. I realize the regions are handled by various Black Magic multiviewer (ingenious really - I think that’s how WSVN and WHDH handle their video walls showing different feeds).

The switcher looks if I had to guess be a K Frame?

https://twitter.com/deejaycrox/status/15...ZFliha5GuA

Edit I’ve  just noticed the strip or horizontal monitors that appears on ME 3. It looks like the ones I’m studio C and E.

[valley]

The switcher looks if I had to guess be a K Frame?

It’s a Kahuna 9600.

[IanJRedman]

The nations and regions were in a different order last night. Peter Levy wasn’t in the bottom right corner.

https://twitter.com/gemwhalley/status/15...34531?s=21

I'm curious about the thin vertical line running through the "1" numeral on the desk background. I'd assumed it was some kind of join in the screens, but it looks like it's actually part of the graphic itself?

[rkolsen]

The switcher looks if I had to guess be a K Frame?

It’s a Kahuna 9600.

That’s a heavy duty switcher. I imagine they got it partly for UHD video walls. But the large frame can handle 24 M/Es. Any plans of using its processing power for other studios or the other M/Es could even could be used for BBC London to start preparing and trying out their show. They could still use their existing gallery but preview all the video switching and effects ahead of time. The only hitch being a the video walls.

[Steve in Pudsey]

https://twitter.com/gemwhalley/status/15...34531?s=21

I'm curious about the thin vertical line running through the "1" numeral on the desk background. I'd assumed it was some kind of join in the screens, but it looks like it's actually part of the graphic itself?

There are three different gallery outputs making up that image, the line is where the join is. There's another one further to the right.

[neonemesis]

It's always hard to judge online, but I got the impression that neonemesis was joking.

Correct. I considered adding a winky face but that would have taken much of the fun away!

[Transmission]

Looks like the old Studio B set will be seen one last time in the upcoming second series of BBC One drama The Capture. Presumably shot during the period when the studio was out of use. India Varma's character is a Newsnight presenter.



Edit: Just confirmed by Chris Cook -
https://twitter.com/chrisckmedia/status/...2ybBg&s=19

[IanJRedman]

As Clive handed over to Stav for the weather, that was an uncomfortably long hold on the wide shot...

Also, no nations and regions wall? Was something going a bit wrong towards the end there?

[Andrew]

As Clive handed over to Stav for the weather, that was an uncomfortably long hold on the wide shot...

I was thinking the same, Stav was about 2cm tall on screen, surely that angle wasn’t intentional unless they assume everyone is watching on a 100 inch TV in HD.

[DTV]

As Clive handed over to Stav for the weather, that was an uncomfortably long hold on the wide shot...

I was thinking the same, Stav was about 2cm tall on screen, surely that angle wasn’t intentional unless they assume everyone is watching on a 100 inch TV in HD.

This is probably the main critical feeling towards the set that has grown as time has gone on - though good by themselves, the different presentation areas don't seem to be as well integrated as they could be. Handover shots can feel a bit awkward and the BBC News logo on the catwalk in the opening shot is just too awkwardly placed.

I'm also a bit concerned about the limitations of the cameras with regards to versatility and other programmes (e.g. LK's Marr replacement). Regardless of how people feel about the original Studio B set, there is no denying that each programme that used it - including the different BBC World News strands - used it differently, particularly with regards to camera work.

[Steve in Pudsey]

But also no denying that using it in this way is better than it being mothaballed because they can't afford the camera ops?

[Teilifís]

As Clive handed over to Stav for the weather, that was an uncomfortably long hold on the wide shot...

Also, no nations and regions wall? Was something going a bit wrong towards the end there?

It seemed a bit messy alright. On the nations & regions bit, as Clive rounded up the programme, Newsnight was on the large screen instead and he basically said "oh and newsnight is on there on BBC Two". 

As for the camera angle, couldn't help but think it would've been far far far less awkward if Stav was sitting at the desk and the explainer graphic was on the large desk monolith screen, then he took a walk over for the forecast. Speaking as an expert, of course