BBC News Channel General Discussion

No that definitely is Studio B, you can see Huw's reflection - unless the BBC have upgraded their VR package then there is now way it is Studio A. It always made it slightly disconcerting when they'd stand up in the News at Nine with no reflection. Also that 'catwalk', which doesn't seem to have any purpose, doesn't slope down at one end - its probably the fact its being filmed with a slightly wide angled lens that makes it look a slightly odd shape.

It is quite possible that the Lyse Doucet one was filmed in a virtual studio - the BBC actually has a very good VR model of Studio B, i've seen it used for Marr, Newsnight, Global and the US mid term elections last year. It's much better quality than their Studio C model.

Last night's special was indeed in B.

The early evening bulletin this evening opening on an outside broadcast - once again highlighting the need for better opening titles in these situations.

They do seem to have screwed up that one though, they didn't play the longer titles - instead playing the shorter titles and leaving the globe to spin for a long time instead of the usual studio pan...

I really don't get why they don't do what everyone else does, including BBC World News I think, and roll the titles as normal, have the OS on a screen in the studio with the studio pan being the shot going towards the catwalk rather than the desk.

Unlikely to happen due to the nature of the weekend schedules so the alternative surely is to just let filler air on the top of the hour (or push back the back half hour show 5-10 minutes) so they're not repeating themselves after 5 minutes.


Highlights how poor the screens are in the main studio compared to this much more effective CSO effort.

CSO? If it's in B they are real screens.

Indeed - it highlights the quality of the screens in studio B - which is somewhat to be expected from what I guess is a more flagship studio.

The big screen in B is the same technology as the background in C - LED (note not LED backlit LCD). The one in B can often be seen pixilated on close ups during interviews on Newsnight, so it isn't a viable solution for the catwalk screens in B, C or E.

Though you'd think in that case they'd have a better solution for the main studio where the three screen option just looks nasty TBH.

There are three options for large screens:
1) LED - as used for the background screens in B/C, but not usable for close ups due to the size of pixels
2) Large TVs - as they used, but have a couple of gaps
3) Projection cubes or borderless TVs - as used in N6 / TC7, but have lots of lines and colour issues

For what they use the catwalks in B/C/E for, the big TVs were and are still the best option.

And indeed the BBC have been rather indecisive and used all three in Studio B. (<tongue in cheek>)