The Newsroom

BBC News Laptops

I know it may be a daft question (August 2004)

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KA
Kacas
any idea where on t he site please Embarassed
GS
Gavin Scott Founding member
Why don't you just the whole thing, Ka ka? Thats what the rest of us are doing.
DA
Dan Founding member
There don't seem to be any full-screen shots though. Bizarre. It's a bit like this:

http://www.ap.org/broadcast/art/enps.gif
KA
Kacas
looks very cool
GE
thegeek Founding member
rts posted:
As long as the computer has the amazing piece of software called NTPS (or something like that) they are happy. It shows the whole running of the programme, and even other programmes previously done. Anyone in a BBC building has access to the running order, but usual after a programme has been broadcast.

Well, not on every PC - only those with ENPS installed. It's not a cheap bit of software, so they only pay for as many copies as they need. One newsroom I've been in had a couple of copies for the newsroom, and a KVM switch and extender so that they could also access one of the newsroom PCs from the radio studio, because it presumably worked out more cost effective than paying for ENPS for a machine used for, say, half an hour a day.
BB
BBC TV Centre
thegeek posted:
rts posted:
As long as the computer has the amazing piece of software called NTPS (or something like that) they are happy. It shows the whole running of the programme, and even other programmes previously done. Anyone in a BBC building has access to the running order, but usual after a programme has been broadcast.

Well, not on every PC - only those with ENPS installed. It's not a cheap bit of software, so they only pay for as many copies as they need. One newsroom I've been in had a couple of copies for the newsroom, and a KVM switch and extender so that they could also access one of the newsroom PCs from the radio studio, because it presumably worked out more cost effective than paying for ENPS for a machine used for, say, half an hour a day.


This isn't in Newsbeat is it?

What do all the controls do on the screen? The screen shot looks really old.
NG
noggin Founding member
Prior to ENPS the BBC ran a system called BASYS (invented by ITN ISTR - but first used by CNN? and eventually marketed by Digital) This used a central computer (like a VAX) with lots and lots of green/amber screen dumb terminals (not really computers - just screens and keyboards) These were what you saw on BBC sets until the late 90s. (So to be strictly accurate the presenters didn't have a computer in their desks - just a terminal in most cases - until about 6 or 7 years ago)

BBC Bristol was the first region to go to ENPS (Electronic News Production System) - and BBC News 24 the first network news area to move to it in 1997. ENPS was commissioned by the BBC and sub-contracted to AP - who now market it to other customers. It was and is Windows based (a Mac version was promised but doesn't seem to have appeared...) and much more powerful than Basys - with much greater archiving and better search facilities. (However Basys let you see scripts in two column mode - something ENPS STILL doesn't do......)

The BBC installation is now worldwide - meaning a journalist in Baghdad can easily look at what Look East were running in their breakfast bulletins if they wanted to. It also has integrated web browsing and hooks into other systems - allowing audio and video editing applications to be integrated with it.

A presenter will usually have the running order for the programme they are presenting open - allowing them to look-ahead at scripts, edit them, approve them, look at wire reports, message correspondents around the building (there is a quick messaging system built in), as well as gossip with people in the newsroom or gallery...

As to the makes of computers in use - the majority of the TV Centre Newsroom PCs are still Compaqs (mainly DeskPros) - though Dells are appearing as upgrades slowly. Most laptops are Dells - though there are also Toshibas in use.
GE
thegeek Founding member
BBC TV Centre posted:
This isn't in Newsbeat is it?

It's entirely possible that they use the same kind of system, the setup I saw was some 500 miles further North..
KA
Kacas
I hope to be working for the bbc news team by the time im 30ish
DA
Dan Founding member
Slightly more up-to-date screenshot:

http://www.rp-networkservices.com/tvforum/uploads/enps_copy2.jpg

313 days later

JW
JamesWorldNews
Sorry to drag this up again, but I have noticed on The World that whenever Zeinab Badawi presents, she NEVER has a laptop or a computer on the news desk, but all of her replacements on her days off (Nisha Pillai / Mishal Husain / Brian Hanrahan) all DO use the laptop.

Is it a case of presenter's choice whether they have a PC or not? I thought it would be mandatory for certain info to be passed across to her/him during a bulletin these days.

(Just to buck the trend, Zeinab DID use a laptop on one night last week only. First and last time maybe.)
DO
Dog
Kacas posted:
I hope to be working for the bbc news team by the time im 30ish


Perhaps by then you'll have learnt grammar etc.

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