BL
What do you mean it's not their function?
If someone contacts an MCR and because a line they need hasn't been switched and it's needed ASAP you'd expect them either to do it there and then or reassure you that it soon will be.
Not say 'sorry its not my function to promise or reassure you of anything'
Maybe, or some sort of fault/error that derouted the line or prevented it being routed .
I'm not doubting their professionalism
Maybe we are confusing the use of the term ‘confirming’ between us. If the news on air time had been agreed between THS/LWT transmission controller and the ITN studio PA producing the news, then the network switcher at THS/LWT would have expected the circuit bars coming from ITN to be replaced by the studio source at typically 30 secs before the on-airtime. If this hadn’t happened by say 15 secs to go I would have expected the net switcher to have buzzed ITN MCR on the 4 wire asking where the studio was. If I was sat at ITN MCR I would have noticed the THS/LWT 4 wire button flashing and buzzing and my eyes would have flicked towards the monitor stack and (hopefully) I would realise what was (not) happening and switched the studio output to line. Then I would have answered the 4 wire. It’s a sort of pavlovs dog reaction.
I did not mean to infer that ITNs MCR would not confirm that they would perform a source switch, I meant that this particular routine was indeed so very very routine a confirmation would not expected or given, and as you would appreciate it’s quicker to actually ‘do’ the line switch than confirm you’re about to do it.
ITV MCR’s did not routinely contact each other to confirm line or studio switches as it was an absolute ‘given’ that these switches would take place as scheduled. Indeed, even the MCRs at THS/LWT did not have 4 wires to all the other companies and had on occasion to rely on the simple telephone.
iTN’s MCR would not have confirmed anything with anyone as it was not their ‘function’.
What do you mean it's not their function?
If someone contacts an MCR and because a line they need hasn't been switched and it's needed ASAP you'd expect them either to do it there and then or reassure you that it soon will be.
Not say 'sorry its not my function to promise or reassure you of anything'
Quote:
Maybe the start time of the news was changed and no-one told ITN’s MCR? - unlikely as ITN were very professional. More likely someone was distracted I would think.
Maybe, or some sort of fault/error that derouted the line or prevented it being routed .
I'm not doubting their professionalism
Maybe we are confusing the use of the term ‘confirming’ between us. If the news on air time had been agreed between THS/LWT transmission controller and the ITN studio PA producing the news, then the network switcher at THS/LWT would have expected the circuit bars coming from ITN to be replaced by the studio source at typically 30 secs before the on-airtime. If this hadn’t happened by say 15 secs to go I would have expected the net switcher to have buzzed ITN MCR on the 4 wire asking where the studio was. If I was sat at ITN MCR I would have noticed the THS/LWT 4 wire button flashing and buzzing and my eyes would have flicked towards the monitor stack and (hopefully) I would realise what was (not) happening and switched the studio output to line. Then I would have answered the 4 wire. It’s a sort of pavlovs dog reaction.
I did not mean to infer that ITNs MCR would not confirm that they would perform a source switch, I meant that this particular routine was indeed so very very routine a confirmation would not expected or given, and as you would appreciate it’s quicker to actually ‘do’ the line switch than confirm you’re about to do it.
ITV MCR’s did not routinely contact each other to confirm line or studio switches as it was an absolute ‘given’ that these switches would take place as scheduled. Indeed, even the MCRs at THS/LWT did not have 4 wires to all the other companies and had on occasion to rely on the simple telephone.
