BBC News Channel General Discussion

In American terminology 'master control' includes what we would call transmission or playout or presentation.

Incidently I think I'm right in saying that MCR traditionally was an ITV term. The BBC equivalents were CAR or CTA

There is certainly MCR at ITN.

Yeah, virtually everywhere with some sort of connectivity has one in some form. It was just the terminology that varied between the commercial sector and the BBC

It varies in different parts of the BBC! CAR, CTA, MCR, TAR, Comms Centre, Switching Centre.

I know there are subtle differences in the roles and scope of these areas but fundamentally they do similar things in terms of circuits in and out of the building.

Yep - the point is that all of these places perform a different role to what is usually called an "MCR" in the US - which we would probably call "Playout", "Presentation", "Transmission" or "TX" in the UK.

This side of the pond MCR, CAR, CCA, CTA, ECA etc. are routing and switching operations - effectively handling lines in, lines out (and the modern IP equivalents) rather than playing out programmes and commercials.

The BBC News Channel doesn't have a separate playout operation, just a routing operation (so that different studios can be routed to the network feed(s) that leaves the building) As others have posted there is the possibility for the MCR(s) at NBH to route this network feed to other sources, for disaster reasons, including a playout server.

Not seen the NC for a while but is that "Coming up on the BBC News Channel" promo new? Some rather swish graphics, promo for the news at 1, papers and other bits, with a nice string-ey bed behind it.

Been in use for a while now, since Business Live and Outside Source started. Not seen that particular version but there always seems to be one at 8:30am. The bed has been used on various promos in the past year or so too.

Surprising they've used a video clip of Reeta for the News at One.

The kerning on the 'News at One' and 'News Bulletin' looks naff.

Who is the female sports presenter currently on BBC News Channel? I don't recognise her.

BBC Newsline reporter Natalie Lindo.

Referring to the 2pm slot as "News Bulletin" is a bit odd.

It also seems to confirm how actual rolling news is so increasingly rare it needs to be flagged up in a promo, whereas before they'd advertise everything but the rolling news.