General Presentation/Logistics Questions

Bit of a random question guys, but I was just wondering, back in the day when BBC News 24 came from N8 and BBC World came from N9, on the odd occasion News 24 used to temporarily broadcast from N9, (presumably) so maintanance work could take place in N8. For example, in this clip:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQUnfTS-6ZI

My question is, which studio/set did BBC World use whilst N24 was in N9?

During that era I seem to recall BBC World used to re-locate to either N6 or TC7, though I can't remember which exactly (possibly both?).

During the previous era (1999-2003) both channels used to come from N9 for a 'joint weekend'. In a similar fashion to overnights, a generic BBC News bulletin would be provided on the hour to be broadcast on both N24 and World. Then, N24 would take over for the back half hour. I remember TV Forum used to be buzzing with excitement during such weekends because it was one of the few opportunities to see N9 in the UK. The only other time it was seen was at 9.30am every day, when BBC World produced a short world news bulletin for N24, and eventually when The World Today launched in September 2001.

A similar arrangement was put into operation after the TVC bomb exploded in March 2001. The bomb exploded outside the News Centre entrance and because N8 and N6 are closest to that part of the building they were sealed off. As a result, N24 and World both came from N9 and, as I recall, the BBC1 news bulletins were presented from the Breakfast set in TC7. This was happening just as TV Forum was born and provided much fodder for our early discussions

However, the most memorable instance of studio-swapping was when N8 was being re-designed for the December 2003 rebrand of BBC News. News 24 relocated to a virtual re-creation of the old N8 in TC10 (I think) for about 3 months. As I recall, due to the CSO background and poor lighting, all the presenters looked horrendous. Similarly, I also remember in 2002 or 2003 they re-created N6 virtually when that studio was being re-built. It was quite clever and effective at the time.

Thanks for that, Rob. I also think it was around 2006/07 when News 24 started to make use of the BBC One studio N6 during weekends/periods of maintenance, as shown here:

http://thetvroom.com/images/pool-misc/bbc-news-24/2006/main-474.jpg
(Image courtesy of The TV Room)

and here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_QohYKIYIw

Then, of course, N6 became home to both the re-named BBC News Channel and BBC One bulletins, so now during periods of maintanance, the News Channel either move to TC7 or, as in the case of Christmas 2009, the now vacant N9.

I'm almost certain I recall World being in there when it was the plain white frosted glass desk and wooden floor that was used from 2003 until 2006. Hopefully one of the other members might be able to confirm/deny that.

EDIT: Ah, here we go: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSU8TxLX6EE

To confirm, here's BBC World coming from TC7 in 2007:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xyBHTey63k

I don't know whether you've missed my post in between yours there (we were posting at the same time) but this video proves that BBC World used N6 in 2004: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSU8TxLX6EE. I think that's the first time they ever used N6. I certainly don't remember them being in N6 during the china red and cream era (1999-2003). Like I said earlier, before 2003 they used to share N9 with N24 for 'joint weekends'.

This sounds interesting. Can you find any videos of this?

I *think* I encoded some videos at the time - let me have a dig around on my external HDD and I'll see if I can find them for you.

I've found a still of the occasion when the Ten had to use TC10 due to a power cut. N24, which had been in TC10, shared with World in N9
http://tvfeatures.thetvroomplus.com/images-bbc-power/images-2003/main-4.jpg
from http://tvfeatures.thetvroomplus.com/feature-4.html

I tried uploading the following videos on YouTube but for some reason they ended up out of sync. Must be YouTube, as they work fine on my computer. So, I've put them on the Metropol Upload service. Unfortunately, they're Real Media files as that's what was popular back when I recorded them. Hope most of you can still play them:

BBC News 24 in TC10, 2003: http://up.metropol247.co.uk/itsrobert/TC10.rm

Joint Weekend, 2003

Breakfast: http://up.metropol247.co.uk/itsrobert/Joint%20Breakfast.rm

BBC News 24: http://up.metropol247.co.uk/itsrobert/Joint%2024.rm

There's some video/pictures of the virtual N6 on TV Newsroom: http://tvnewsroom.co.uk/bbc-news/bbc-miscellaneous/bbc-misc-nationals-from-cso-set-2698/.

If you didn't tell me that was CSO I wouldn't have known. It's very well done.



There was one time when BBC World used N6 for 'The World' which was also on BBC Four (although at this time I think it was called 'BBC World News' and 'BBC Four News' respectively). I don't know why though or whether the bulletins prior to and following The World were in N6 as well.