outside broadcasting
{{short description|Remote production of television or radio programmes}}
{{more citations needed|date=June 2018}}
File:Sky Sports British GP 2014 Croft & Herbert 001.jpg on an outside broadcast in 2014.]]
Outside broadcasting (OB) is the electronic field production (EFP) of television or radio programmes (typically to cover television news and sports television events) from a mobile remote broadcast television studio. Professional video camera and microphone signals come into the production truck for processing, recording and possibly transmission.
Some outside broadcasts use a mobile production control room (PCR) inside a production truck.
History
{{Expand section|1=additional information on early broadcasts, and history beyond 1953|date=November 2019}}
File:Radio Times - 1937-05-07 - front cover - Christopher Richard Wynne Nevinson.png, by C. R. W. Nevinson, marking the televised Coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth - the first coronation to be broadcast, and partially televised, live ]]
Outside radio broadcasts have been taking place since the early 1920s{{cite web| last= Seatter| first= Robert| title= The cello and the nightingale| url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-35861899| date= 25 March 2016| website= BBC News Online| access-date= 30 March 2020 }} and television ones since the late 1920s.{{cite web |title=How the BBC took the news outside |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-35752560 |website=BBC News - In Pictures |publisher=BBC News |access-date=16 November 2019 |date=10 March 2016}} The first outside broadcast by the British Broadcasting Company was of the British National Opera Company production of The Magic Flute from the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden on 8 January, 1923.Asa Briggs. The Birth of Broadcasting, OUP (1961), p. 275 The first large-scale outside broadcast was the televising of the Coronation of George VI and Elizabeth in May 1937, done by the BBC's first Outside Broadcast truck, MCR 1 (short for Mobile Control Room).{{cite web |title=Coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, 12 May 1937 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0208j0g |website=History of the BBC |publisher=BBC |access-date=16 November 2019 |date=3 June 2014}}
After the Second World War, the first notable outside broadcast was of the 1948 Summer Olympics.{{Cite web|url=http://www.tvobhistory.co.uk/bbc-mcrs---b--w.html|title=TV OUTSIDE BROADCAST HISTORY|website=TV Outside Broadcast History|language=en|access-date=2018-05-28}}{{cite web |last1=Webb |first1=Dr Alban |title=1948 London Olympics |url=https://www.bbc.com/historyofthebbc/100-voices/birth-of-tv/1948-london-olympics |website=History of the BBC |publisher=BBC |access-date=16 November 2019 |language=en}} The Coronation of Elizabeth II followed in 1953, with 21 cameras being used to cover the event.{{cite web |title=The Coronation and The BBC |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/aboutthebbc/entries/6e258b7f-3b29-399e-9356-c538706ff933 |website=About the BBC Blog |publisher=BBC |access-date=16 November 2019 |language=en |date=28 May 2013}}{{cite web |title=Television reigns: Broadcasting Queen Elizabeth's coronation |url=https://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/objects-and-stories/television-reigns-broadcasting-queen-elizabeths-coronation |website=Science Museum |access-date=16 November 2019 |language=en}}
File:TVS OB Unit 1.jpg OB Unit 1 as seen in 1991]]
In December 1963 instant replays were used for the first time. Director Tony Verna used the technique on the Army-Navy game which aired on CBS Sports on December 7, 1963.{{citation |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/01/20/378570541/he-invented-instant-replay-the-tv-trick-we-now-take-for-granted |title=He Invented Instant Replay, The TV Trick We Now Take For Granted |date=January 20, 2015 |publisher=NPR |work=Morning Edition}}
The 1968 Summer Olympics was the first with competitions televised in colour.{{cite web |title=First summer Olympic Games televised in colour |url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/first-summer-olympic-games-to-be-televised-in-colour |website=Guinness World Records |access-date=26 May 2020}} The 1972 Olympic Games were the first where all competitions were captured by outside broadcast cameras.{{cite web |title=The amazing story of broadcasting the Olympic Games. |url=https://www.olympic.org/museum/interactive-documentary/broadcasting/#1970 |website=www.olympic.org |access-date=26 May 2020 |language=en}}{{cite web |last1=Dormer |first1=Ian |title=Outside broadcast: Then and now |url=http://www.screenafrica.com/2017/04/15/technology/film-tv-video-production/outside-broadcast-then-and-now-2/ |website=Screen Africa |access-date=26 May 2020 |date=15 April 2017}}
During the 1970s, ITV franchise holder Southern Television was unique in having an outside broadcast boat, named Southener.{{cite web |last1=Marshall |first1=Paul |title=Southerner |url=https://becg.org.uk/2019/05/19/southerner/ |website=Broadcast Engineering Conservation Group |access-date=26 May 2020 |date=19 May 2019}}
The wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer in July 1981 was the biggest outside broadcast at the time, with an estimated 750 million viewers.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/july/29/newsid_2494000/2494949.stm|title=1981: Charles and Diana marry|date= 29 July 1982|access-date=13 October 2008|publisher=BBC News|work=On This Day}}
=New technology=
In 2008, the first 3D outside broadcast took place with the transmission of a Calcutta Cup rugby match, but only to an audience of industry professionals who had been invited by BBC Sport.{{cite web |title=Christie HD8K's collaborate with The 3D Firm in groundbreaking stereoscopic event at the Riverside Studios |url=https://www.live-production.tv/news/4k-8k-arising/christie-hd8k%E2%80%99s-collaborate-3d-firm-groundbreaking-stereoscopic-event-riverside |website=Live Production |access-date=26 May 2020 |date=8 March 2008}}
In March 2010, the first public 3D outside broadcast took place with an NHL game between the New York Rangers and New York Islanders.{{cite web |title=Grass Valley Kalypso HD Switcher Handles First Ever 3D Sports Broadcast to the Home {{!}} LIVE-PRODUCTION.TV |url=https://www.live-production.tv/news/4k-8k-arising/grass-valley-kalypso-hd-switcher-handles-first-ever-3d-sports-broadcast-home.html |website=Live Production |access-date=26 May 2020 |date=5 April 2010}}
The first commercial ultra-high definition outside broadcast was a Premier League game between Stoke City v West Ham, televised by Sky Sports in August 2013.{{cite web |last1=Warman |first1=Matt |title=Sky in ultra high-definition TV first |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/10277864/Sky-in-ultra-high-definition-TV-first.html |access-date=26 May 2020 |date=31 August 2013}}
Tests in 8K resolution outside broadcasts began to take place during the 2010s, including tests by NHK{{cite web |last1=Davies |first1=David |title=Live from Wimbledon 2015: NHK undertakes latest 8K trial |url=https://www.svgeurope.org/blog/headlines/live-from-wimbledon-2015-nhk-undertakes-latest-8k-trial/ |website=SVG Europe |access-date=26 May 2020 |language=en |date=3 July 2015}} and BT Sport.{{cite web |title=BT Sport Chooses Ikegami's SHK-810 Camera for 8K Demo at IBC 2019 |url=https://www.sportsvideo.org/2019/09/27/bt-sport-chooses-ikegamis-shk-810-camera-for-8k-demo-at-ibc-2019/ |website=Sports Video Group |access-date=26 May 2020 |language=en |date=27 September 2019}} The first public 8K outside broadcast in the UK took place in February 2020.{{cite web |last1=Bickerton |first1=Jake |title=BT Sport shows UK's first public live 8K HDR sports broadcast |url=https://broadcast-sport.com/2020/02/28/bt-sport-shows-uks-first-public-live-8k-hdr-sports-broadcast/ |website=Broadcast Sport |access-date=26 May 2020 |date=28 February 2020}}{{cite web |last1=Mann |first1=Colin |title=BT claims UK 8K sports broadcast first |url=https://advanced-television.com/2020/02/28/bt-claims-uk-8k-sports-broadcast-first/ |website=advanced-television.com |access-date=26 May 2020 |date=28 February 2020}}
Modern applications
{{Main|Production truck}}
Modern outside broadcasts now use specially designed OB vehicles, many of which are now built based around IP technology rather than relying on coaxial cable.{{cite news |last1=Bickerton |first1=Jake |title=Arena reveals OBZ, its fourth UHD-HDR IP truck |url=https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/tech/arena-reveals-obz-its-fourth-uhd-hdr-ip-truck/5130251.article |access-date=24 June 2019 |work=Broadcast |date=19 June 2018 |language=en}}
There has been an increasing rise in the use of flyaway or flypack Portable Production Units, which allow for an increased level of customisation and can be rigged in a larger variety of venues.{{cite news |last1=Dams |first1=Tim |title=Trickbox TV unveils 12-camera 4K flypack |url=https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/tech/trickbox-tv-unveils-12-camera-4k-flypack/5130287.article |access-date=24 June 2019 |work=Broadcast |date=19 June 2018 |language=en}}
In the past many outside broadcasting applications have relied on using satellite uplinks to broadcast live audio and video back to the studio. While this has its advantages such as the ability to set up anywhere covered by the respective geostationary satellite, satellite uplinking is relatively expensive and the round trip latency is in the range of 240 to 280 milliseconds.{{Cite web|url=http://www.satsig.net/latency.htm|title=Geostationary satellite latency and time delay 240ms - 279ms|website=www.satsig.net}}
As more venues install fiber optic cable, this is increasingly used.{{cite news |title=SIS LIVE expands Anylive network |url=https://www.tvbeurope.com/ibc/anylive-expansion-announced |access-date=24 June 2019 |work=TVBEurope |date=11 September 2016}} For news gathering, contribution over public internet is also now used. Modern applications such as hardware and software IP codecs have allowed the use of public 3G/4G networks to broadcast video and audio. The latency of 3G is around 100–500 ms, while 4G is less than 100 ms.{{Cite web|url=https://www.oreilly.com/|title=O'Reilly Media - Technology and Business Training|website=www.oreilly.com}}
Gallery
File:Outside broadcast vehicles at Raymond James Stadium in advance of Super Bowl LV.jpg|Outside broadcast vehicles at Raymond James Stadium in advance of Super Bowl LV
File:02292jfHoly Wednesday Good Friday processions Baliuag Bulacan Augustine Parish Churchfvf 11.JPG|An ABS-CBN OB van transmitting a satellite feed
File:FOX news trucks Harvard Square 050429.jpg|WFXT's trucks in Boston's Harvard Square
File:Camera 3 England v Czech Republic Wembley.jpg|Camera operator working on an outside broadcast of a football match at Wembley Stadium
File:Outside broadcast van.jpg|A BBC Radio outside broadcasting van at New College, Oxford
File:AUT U-21 vs. FIN U-21 2015-11-13 (269).jpg|An Ikegami camera with Canon DIGISUPER lens of ORF at a football match
File:TVN24 van satellite Mercedes.jpg|A TVN24 outside broadcasting van in Poznań, Poland
File:OB suite-tennis.JPG|OB for tennis tournament: Extendible-sided production van, satellite dishes, generator truck; see two OB cameras and three announcing booths at top of stadium beyond. Kooyong, Victoria, Australia, 2008
File:Virginradioobstudio.jpg|Klotz Digital's Vadis DC II mixer for use at a Virgin Radio outside broadcast at the V Festival 2007
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|Outside broadcasting}}
- [https://doi.org/10.17637/rh.5987908.v1 Recreation of a full 1970s BBC Outside Broadcast production]
- [https://doi.org/10.17637/rh.5989756.v1 Technical planning stage of a 1970s Outside Broadcast production]
- [https://doi.org/10.17637/rh.5990641.v1 Demonstration of the 'lining up' process for EMI 2001 OB camera from the 1970s]
- [https://doi.org/10.17637/rh.5989075.v1 Discussion and demonstration of the microphone and communications set up for a sports OB]
- [https://doi.org/10.17637/rh.5990962.v1 BBC Outside Broadcast crew reflect on their careers in OB production]
- [http://www.tvobhistory.co.uk/bbc-cmcrs---colour.html TV Outside Broadcast History Website]
{{Broadcasting|state=collapsed}}
Category:Broadcast engineering