RK
On the promo for Impact with Yalda Hakim they show various behind the scenes images of getting the show on air. One part showed one of those monitor showing the status of the show and there was a couple of things labeled TBU 2, TBU 3, TBU 4 two of which were highlighted supposedly as the show went live. I'm curious what does TBU mean?
DE
Telephone Balance Unit. It's a piece of equipment that enables telephone calls to be taken live to air. The indicators go red when a phone call is connected on those lines. They don't normally go live when a show goes on air, so I suspect that footage was used simply as a device by the trail producer to show 'stuff happening' without necessarily knowing quite what it actually means!
RK
I googled and got that result but was surprised that they'd use it for a show that has very few phoners. But your explanation that a producer was just hitting buttons makes sense.
Thanks!
Telephone Balance Unit. It's a piece of equipment that enables telephone calls to be taken live to air. The indicators go red when a phone call is connected on those lines. They don't normally go live when a show goes on air, so I suspect that footage was used simply as a device by the trail producer to show 'stuff happening' without necessarily knowing quite what it actually means!
I googled and got that result but was surprised that they'd use it for a show that has very few phoners. But your explanation that a producer was just hitting buttons makes sense.
Thanks!
DE
Phonos are used quite extensively in breaking news situations, particularly at first, as it's often easier to get eye witnesses and reporters on the phone than it is to get them to a sat truck, or live point etc (or rather to get live facilities to them!) Increasingly I am sure it will become more commonplace to take Skype-type calls from reporters' phones in breaking situations.
All galleries at BH have several TBUs as standard, so that taking phone calls is possible whatever programme is using the gallery at the time.
All galleries at BH have several TBUs as standard, so that taking phone calls is possible whatever programme is using the gallery at the time.
NG
noggin
Founding member
The other main use for TBUs is for comms.
It isn't unusual to use a TBU in a gallery to accept a phone call from a remote SNG truck or 3G/4G backpack camera in the field and use that connection for Clean Feed (aka Mix-Minus aka IFB) to the reporter in the field, so they hear the presenters in the studio (but not themselves)
In larger installs these TBUs would often be in a separate MCR area (aka SCAR at the BBC) so that reporters can be handed between studios without having to re-dial for their talkback, but in smaller studios they are likely to be integrated with the main control room.
Some talkback systems popular in the US even have phone keypads on the talkback panels to let you dial out for the clean-feed to the reporter in the field, and have integrated TBUs (aka Hybrids) within. That's often why you'll see a reporter holding a piece of paper with their IFB phone number on it before US lives. UK (and European) talkback systems usually use a different model, and so the number keypad isn't as widespread over here. (We also don't use a Production Loop in the same way as the US does)
It isn't unusual to use a TBU in a gallery to accept a phone call from a remote SNG truck or 3G/4G backpack camera in the field and use that connection for Clean Feed (aka Mix-Minus aka IFB) to the reporter in the field, so they hear the presenters in the studio (but not themselves)
In larger installs these TBUs would often be in a separate MCR area (aka SCAR at the BBC) so that reporters can be handed between studios without having to re-dial for their talkback, but in smaller studios they are likely to be integrated with the main control room.
Some talkback systems popular in the US even have phone keypads on the talkback panels to let you dial out for the clean-feed to the reporter in the field, and have integrated TBUs (aka Hybrids) within. That's often why you'll see a reporter holding a piece of paper with their IFB phone number on it before US lives. UK (and European) talkback systems usually use a different model, and so the number keypad isn't as widespread over here. (We also don't use a Production Loop in the same way as the US does)
SP
In the days before ISDN was common "music lines" needed a separate circuit for talkback and cue, which was sometimes a simple phone line.
Later examples of the venerable Local Radio Mark 3 desk had a thing called the Point 13 mod which made using a TBU to achieve that much simpler.
http://mk3desk.blogspot.co.uk/2010/02/training-manual-part-two-using-desk-and.html?m=1
A few of these desks are still in use, although ViLoR means their days are numbered, but the source selection is all handled by BNCS these days.
Later examples of the venerable Local Radio Mark 3 desk had a thing called the Point 13 mod which made using a TBU to achieve that much simpler.
http://mk3desk.blogspot.co.uk/2010/02/training-manual-part-two-using-desk-and.html?m=1
A few of these desks are still in use, although ViLoR means their days are numbered, but the source selection is all handled by BNCS these days.
SR
Why did BBC World News just report on a man being murdered in a town in the UK?
I know World News Today is a simulcast, but surely that news is meaningless to international viewers.
EDIT: Had a think about this, and as there is usually a brief break at 20past ish it was probably a mistake and they failed to opt.
I know World News Today is a simulcast, but surely that news is meaningless to international viewers.
EDIT: Had a think about this, and as there is usually a brief break at 20past ish it was probably a mistake and they failed to opt.
Last edited by SomeRandomStuff on 19 July 2015 9:29pm
GM
Yeah it was more than likely the World break, and a UK story fills the break for viewers on the NC.
Why did BBC World News just report on a man being murdered in a town in the UK?
I know World News Today is a simulcast, but surely that news is meaningless to international viewers.
EDIT: Had a think about this, and as there is usually a brief break at 20past ish it was probably a mistake and they failed to opt.
I know World News Today is a simulcast, but surely that news is meaningless to international viewers.
EDIT: Had a think about this, and as there is usually a brief break at 20past ish it was probably a mistake and they failed to opt.
Yeah it was more than likely the World break, and a UK story fills the break for viewers on the NC.
DA
Yes Maleen Saeed is normally based in London usually presents World News and World Business Report. Due to the Singapore move Ben Bland is presenting Newsday from london solo - are the headlines recorded or did he just get the time wrong at midnight(UK)?
They don't always opt out, depends on your feed of World News.
Maleen Sayeed covering Asia Buisness Report in London, is she usually based there? If Mariko Oi is in London, then wouldn't using her be ideal?
Maleen Sayeed covering Asia Buisness Report in London, is she usually based there? If Mariko Oi is in London, then wouldn't using her be ideal?
Yes Maleen Saeed is normally based in London usually presents World News and World Business Report. Due to the Singapore move Ben Bland is presenting Newsday from london solo - are the headlines recorded or did he just get the time wrong at midnight(UK)?